2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship

SEVEN ROUND CHAMPIONSHIP

 

THREE FORESTRY, FOUR TARMAC

 

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

 

The Willie Loughman Memorial Forestry Rally, promoted by the Carrick-on-Suir Motor club, was the opening round of the 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship. The rally started with a 25 Km. stage that used most of the roads in Gurteen. It was tough and demanding, mentally, physically and mechanically. Half way through the stage some crews wondered if it would ever end, others just revelled in the test and conditions. Ireland’s current rallying star, Craig Breen and Wales Gareth Roberts were using the event to keep sharp for the forthcoming WRC Rally of Portugal, and set a time that displayed their talent and professionalism. They have registered for the 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship but an exciting deal to compete on extra IRC events may prohibit them from contesting some of the remaining rounds.

 

Two further stages in Portlaw followed, which were new to many crews, and were a bit green and slippery,(the stages not the crews!!) demanded respect in their own right. A repeat of the stages at night led to some crews suffering from exhaustion and frustration. One competitor on the second run in Gurteen was quite pleased with his progress until he saw the lights of the next crews in the mirrors, thought he was being caught, upped his pace from competitive to exciting, not realising that the lights were on a parallel road well behind him….

 

The 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship was well supported on this first round with 34 crews registering for the championship. All 6 classes have registered competitors, this should bode well for the remaining events and the championship.

 

As the TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship is class based, class winning competitors may share the championship lead until about the third round. But the bonus points may alter this position in favour of crews who are not class winners but have doubled their points using the bonus system. As it happened, four crews were class winners with this event their declared bonus round.

 

Sharing the lead on the 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship are; Class 2, Paschal O’Shea / Robbie Hennessey, Ford Escort MK2.

Class 3. Adrian McElhinnery / Shane Buckley, Peugeot.

Class 4. Ray Benskin (jnr) / Nicky Hegarty, Ford Escort MK2.

Class 5. Shay Power / John Rafter, Ford Escort MK2. (WINNERS of the 2011 Championship)

All of the above have 30 points.

 

Class 2

1. Pierce Doheny Damian Lawlor Opel Corsa             24 points.
2. Dario Tempesta Ger Brett                      Nova                                        20 points.

 

Class 3

1. Andrew Fanning Derek Gibbs                 Ford Puma                               12 points.

 

Class 4

1. John Murphy Niall Fitzpatrick            Ford Escort                              12 points.

 

Class 5

1. Mickey McGillen Aaron Johnson Ford Escort                              24 points.
2. Ed Colton Claire O’Mahony         Peugeot 306                             10 points.

 

Class 6

1. Garry Jennings AN Other                     Subaru Impreza                        24 points.
2. Craig Breen Garath Roberts Ford Fiesta R2                         15 points.
3. Gemma Kerley Lynn Martin Subaru Impreza                        14 points.
4. Vincent McAree P. McAree                Mitsubishi Evo 9                       10 points.
5. Niall Henry John Rowan                 Subaru Impreza                          9 points.
6. Ger Connors Owen O’Neill               Subaru Impreza                          8 points.

 

Juniors

1. Ian Downey                 Sean Barron                 Opel Corsa                              15 points.
2. Dean rafter Mark Kirwan               Honda Civic                             12 points.

(note) Crews scoring less than 2 points ie. Non finishers are omitted from this report)

 

The Munster Moonraker is the second round and is also a forestry event. It will use the fast sweeping roads situated in Co. Waterford in the hinterland of Lismore, Dungarvan and the Vee.

 

The remaining rounds of the 2012 TRITON SHOWERS South East Stages Rally Championship are:

The Munster Moonraker.  Lismore. Sunday 15 April.                            Forest rally.

The Carlow Stages Rally. Tullow, Sunday 13 May.                                           Tarmac rally.

The Ravens Rock Stages Rally, Kilkenny, Sunday 24 June.                   Tarmac rally.

The Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally. Mitchelstown.  Sun. 08 July.           Forestry rally.

The Stonethrowers Stages Rally, Clonmel, Sunday 12 August.                           Tarmac rally.

The Dick Bailey, Wexford Stages Rally, Wexford, Sat.8, Sun 9, Sept.   Tarmac rally.

 

2012 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