Valvoline Forest Rally championship moves to Waterford
The Valvoline Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally championship moves to Waterford for this weekend’s third round at the Willie Loughman Memorial Rally.
The opening rounds have been dominated by Philip Morrow (Evo 9) and Mick O’Brien (Focus WRC) who have a win and a second place each and thus they are joint championship leaders with 40 points each. In third place is Martin Cairns (Impreza WRC) with 33 points. Outside the podium is Josh Moffett (Evo9) with 32 points with Shane Mc Girr fifth(Starlet RWD) with 29 points, just one point ahead of Mickey Conlon (Escort Mk2).Mc Girr leads the 2WD section while Dean Raftery (Civic) is command once again of the Junior class.
All these drivers are entered for the Willie Loughman and a classic rally is anticipated. A plethora of other drivers will be in the frame if any of the big names slip up.Take your pick from Owen Murphy (Evo9), Josh Moffett (Evo9),Pat O’Connell (Evo9),and Vincent Mc Aree (EVo9).
If tail sliding is your thing, look no farther than the RWD cars of Shane Mc Girr (Starlet RWD) and the Escorts of Michael Conlon, Martin Mc Cormack, Seamus O’ Connell, James Coleman and Paul Fitzgerald. Desi Henry and Mark Donnelly are bringing their Citroen DS3’s for some pre BRC practice and it will be very interesting to compare their pace with Conlon, Mc Girr, Mc Cormack and company. For a glimpse of the future the junior category is best. Dean Raftery is the current junior champion and benchmark in this category but Daniel Cronin (Civic) Conor Mc Carthy (Civic) and David Carney (C2R2) are catching up.
The Willie Loughman Rally is hosted by Carrick on Suir Motor with Andrew Purcell as Clerk of the Course. The event includes a total stage distance of 100 kms, with nine special stages in the forests near Mullinavat, Inistioge, New Ross, Slievenamon and the famous forest complex in Gurteen Kilsheelan. It is based at the Rhu Glenn Country Club Hotel Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny, Via Waterford, Ireland, Tel: 00353 (0) 51 832 242.First car is away at 07.45 on Sunday with the finish at 1815. Local hero and current SWRC Champion Craig Breen will drive the OO car, an exercise that is run in conjunction with Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.