2013 TRITON SHOWERS

South East Stages Rally Championship

SEVEN ROUND DUAL SURFACE CHAMPIONSHIP

THREE FORESTRY RALLIES:

• The Munster Moonraker Rally, Sunday 03 March
• The Willie Loughman Memorial Forestry Rally, Sunday 14 April
• The Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally, Sunday 16 June

 FOUR TARMAC RALLIES:

• The Carlow Stages Rally (MK2 challenge), Sunday 12 May
• The Ravens Rock Stages Rally, Sunday 30 June
• The Stonethrowers Stages Rally, Sunday 11 August
• The Dick Bailey, Wexford Stages Rally, Sat. 7; Sun. 8 September

PROMOTED BY:  THE CARLOW; CARRICK-ON-SUIR; MUNSTER; TIPPERARY AND WEXFORD MOTOR CLUBS LTD.

Round two of the 2013 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship was the Carrick-on-Suir Motor Clubs Willie Loughman Memorial Forestry Rally. It was by all accounts a tough and long rally that used some forestry sections not previously rallies. Clerk of the Course and his hard working team deserve massive credit for their enthusiastic approach and execution of the event. It’s probably fair to say that they heightened interest in Irish Forestry rallying.

Just two crews from the first round failed to make the start line and with one newly registered support for the 2013 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship is holding remarkably well.

After the Moonraker the overall position was shared by several crews but already there is a definite structure to the championship positions. Shane McGirr / Jackie Elliott in their well modified Toyota Starlet (class 5) which is competitively and flamboyantly driven are well ahead on 45 points. Two class wins and bonus points from the Moonraker have given them breathing room ahead of the 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship victors.

Sharing second overall are Pascal O’Shea / Robbie Hennessey, Escort MK2, class 2 and the class 6 Toyota Corolla WRC of John Reid / Enda Shiels both on 40 points. Pascal and Robbie are attempting to get back to back wins of the TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship. It’s great to see the Toyota WRC out in the woods again.

Third overall are Pierce Dohany / Tommy Hayes, Opel Corsa, class 1 on 36 points. Their ‘never say die’ attitude and approach is paying off in spades. Despite hitting a bit of bother on the stages their rewards at getting going has rewarded them with two second in class results. This proves the old adage that the rally isn’t over ‘till the final control is visited.

Class 1. Emmet Cronin / Adam Coffey Escort MK2 are really setting the pace in class 1. Class winners in both the Moonraker and Willie Loughman has them on 30 points but they are keeping their powder dry declaring their bonus point round. Always flamboyant the Escort is a real screamer and hard to believe that it’s 1400cc. Second are Ken Treacy / martin Comerford, Peugeot 206 on 11 points. They has a great start in the Moonraker but failed to finish the Carrick event.

Class 2. Mike Garaghy / A.N. Toher, Escort MK2 are on 25 points. Mike served his time with former multiple TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship winner Mick Nevin before taking over the driving duties in the well prepared red Escort. Speaking of whom, the said Mick Nevin / David Forde, Escort MK2 are just one point behind on 24 points. No doubt but as the season progresses we can anticipate a change in positions.

Class 3. Paul Fitzgerald / Pierce Dohany (jnr) Escort MK2 are well ahead on 31 points. A bonus point’s class win on the Moonraker set them off on their championship quest but they recorded a DNF in the Carrick event. Richard Dalton / John Smithwick in the Honda Civic are on a progressive learning curve in the forestry. From a third in the Moonraker to a win in Carrick is grand progress. Simon Reid / Billy Ryan, again in a Honda Civic are on 13 points.

Class 4. Ray Benskin (jnr) / Nicky Hegarty, Escort MK2 won the class in the Moonraker but were another to record DNF in Carrick are on 31 points. Sean W. Benskin / Joe Fitzgibbon, Escort MK2 are on 16 points having won the class in the Willie Loughman.

Class 5. James Coleman / Liam Brennan, Escort MK2 are class leaders on 24 points. The new partnership is still on a learning curve and may soon to be regarded to be going steady!! Get well soon Kaye….. Second is the self-regarded statesman of rallying, Ed Colton / Claire O’Mahony, Peugeot 306 on 3 points.

Class 6. Making a return to the woods in a different marque is Mark Murphy / Alister Wyllie, Mitsubishi Lance EVO 8 on 32 points. Fellow Corkonians, Owen Murphy / James O’Brien, Mitsubishi Lance is on 17 points. Sponsor of the TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship, Kevin Barrett, Sean Mullally, Subaru WRC won the class in Carrick but recorded a DNF in the Moonraker are on 17 points.

Juniors. Dean Raftery / Aileen Kelly, Honda Civic, 22 points. This pairing is the ‘new class act’ in Irish rallying. Their stage times are nothing short of exceptional and are a force to be reckoned with.

This weekend, the Carlow stages rally is the third round of the 2013 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship. It’s also the first tarmac round and with a massive push for championship competitors, the standing will change again

2013 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship Registrar; Ann Fitzgerald, The Cross, Mooncoin, Via Waterford. ‘Phone / fax 051 895238. Email; info@carrickonsuirmotorclub.co.

Press officer, Joe O’Brien, Carrick Beag, Carrick-on-Suir. 086 3154442