Hurson Triumphs In Cavan As Irish Crews Struggle In Portugal
Peadar Hurson and Damien Connolly took a convincing win on this weekend’s Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally. The Co. Down native took the lead of the rally on stage 1 and never looked back, extending his lead throughout the day to eventually win by 53 seconds in his Formula Karting backed Subaru Impreza World Rally Car.
Hurson was followed home by multiple Cavan winner Niall Maguire in another Subaru while former Irish Tarmac Rally Champion Garry Jennings took the final podium place. Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne had a fantastic run to finish top 2 wheel drive and top local crew in their immaculate Ford Escort. In Cavan Motor Club’s inaugural Pinto Challenge, Brian Armstrong and Mark Tierney took the honours while Martin Swimburne and Gretchen Fegan won the junior section of the event in their Toyota Corolla.
In Rally de Portugal this weekend there were mixed fortunes for Irish competitors with Keith Cronin, Daniel McKenna, Craig Breen and Dean Raftery all encountering difficulties. Cronin’s difficulties began before the rally started, damaging the car in a pre event test meaning he could not start the event. WRC2 contender Craig Breen saw his rally cut short with engine failure on the second stage of the even in his Peugeot 208 T16. Dean Raftery saw his Junior World Rally Championship début finish prematurely with throttle issues forcing him to retire while fellow JWRC contender Daniel McKenna, retired on the opening day, putting his Citroen off the road. McKenna and co-driver Andrew Grennan restarted the following day and despite a puncture, they eventually finished 8th in the Junior World Championship category. Killarney navigator Paul Nagle guided Kris Meeke to 4th overall in their Citroen DS3 World Rally Car. Pic: Sean Hassett
MOTORSPORT IRELAND – Results for 23/24 May 2015
CO CAVAN M C HOTEL KILMORE STAGES RALLY AT CAVAN (Rd 3 OF SLIGO PALLETS BORDER CHAMPIONSHIP):
1 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 57m 36s,
2 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Impreza WRC) 58m 29s,
3 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 58m 46s,
4 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Escort) 59m 37s,
5 Gary Kiernan/Niall Tierney (Escort) 59m 52s,
6 Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan (Escort) 60m 01s,
7 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Escort) 60m 04s,
8 Russell Woods/Pauric Sheridan (Escort) 61m 04s,
9 Eugene Meegan/Sarah Whelan (BMW M1) 61m 18s,
10 Paul Clarke/Philip McEntee (Escort) 61m 45s.
Group N Production class: Pat Kirk/John McElhinney (Lancer Evo 9) 61m 48s.
Juniors: 1 Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan (Corolla) 43m 03s,
2 Stephen Reynolds/Derek McCarthy (Civic) 47m 05s,
3 Adam Faulkner/Brian Brady (Civic) 49m 07s.
CLARE M C LOOSE SURFACE AUTOCROSS AT CASTLEARMSTRONG, BALLYCUMBER, CO OFFALY
(Rd1 OF 5 STAR CATERING NATIONAL LOOSE SURFACE AUTOCROSS
CHAMPIONSHIP):
1 Seamus Donnelly (Semog Buggy) 2m 09.13s,
2 Mac Walsh (Semog Buggy) 2m 09.89s,
3 Padraig Egan (Semog Buggy) 2m 10.07s.
Best saloon overall: Matt Shinnors (Impreza).
Class winners: Joe Shinnors Jnr (Nova), Mick Nevin (Escort), Alan Moran
(Peugeot 206), Walter Burke (Escort), Mike O’Connor Snr (Impreza), James
Lucey (Subaru Special), Mary O’Shea (Peugeot 205), Brian Hassett (Semog
Buggy), Cathal Scullion (Semog Buggy).
SKIBBEREEN & DISTRICT C C NORMAN GILES MEMORIAL AUTOTEST AT KILBROGAN,
BANDON, CO CORK (Rd 4 OF PREMIER AUTO PARTS MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP) (DAY 1):
1 Timmy Lynch (Westfield) 503.8s,
2 Ian White (Mini) 534.2s,
3 Liam Croston (Nova) 554.4s,
4 Alan Clarke (Mini Special) 554.7s,
5 Liam Cashman (Westfield) 559.9s,
6 Michael Cashman (Corsa) 566.8s.
Class winners: Ian White, Alan Clarke, Martin Walsh (Starlet Special)
609.0s, Liam Cashman, Stefan Walsh (Starlet) 621.6s, Liam Croston, Brian
O’Connell (Micra) 735.9s, George Swanton (Starlet) 722.0s, Sharon Lynch
(Starlet Special) 741.7s.
SKIBBEREEN & DISTRICT C C NORMAN GILES MEMORIAL AUTOTEST AT KILBROGAN,BANDON, CO CORK (Rd5 OF PREMIER AUTO PARTS MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP) (DAY 2):
1 Timmy Lynch (Westfield) 501.5s,
2 Liam Croston (Nova) 523.3s,
3 Liam Cashman (Westfield) 527.7s,
4 Don Giles (Westfield) 542.3s,
5 Peter Desmond (Westfield) 546.1s,
6 Mike Mulcahy (Mini Special) 566.9s.
Class winners: James Mansfield (Mini) 607.3s, Mike Mulcahy, Martin Walsh,
Liam Cashman, Michael Lynch (Starlet) 610.3s, Liam Croston, Brian O’Connell
(Micra) 691.5s, George Swanton (Starlet) 675.1s, Patricia Denning (Starlet)
677.5s.
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