By Martin Walsh Saturday March 14th, 2009
CLONAKILTY becomes the centre of attention for motorsport this weekend with the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally that, essentially, is a battle between Cork and overseas drivers. Double winner, Donie O'Sullivan heads the entry for the sixteen-stage event.
The Cullen-born driver will pilot a Proton Satria S2000 car that gave a great performance on the opening stages of Rally Ireland where it was driven by former Production World champion, Niall McShea. O’Sullivan, who won the Clonakilty-based event last year onboard a McKinstry Subaru WRC, also won the 2006 rally in a Ford Focus WRC.
He will be co-driven by Killarney’s Paul Nagle, who partnered Kris Meeke to victory in the Rally Internacional de Curitiba in Brazil, the second round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Welshman, John Dalton in the nimble Darrian, is seeded at number two and should conditions remain dry over the two days, he will pose a real threat and victory for the Lampeter man would not be surprising.
Liam McCarthy spearheads the West Cork challenge in his Toyota Corolla WRC. The Dunmanway driver has led the Clonakilty based event on numerous occasions; however, so far, victory has eluded him. There is little doubt that 2005 was the closest he came to a maiden victory. He led another West Cork driver, Denis Cronin, but lost out on the closing stages. McCarthy won the Fastnet Rally last October and that should act as a confidence booster. British driver, Jim Harrison, who made a return to the sport on the recent Nenagh Rally, will drive a McKinstry prepared Subaru WRC.
Londoner, Harvey Bell will call the notes for the Macclesfield driver. Like McCarthy, Harrison is also a Fastnet winner and there’s no doubt he has the potential to win the Clonakilty event. Former West Cork winner, Denis Cronin, is another possible winner.
His recent third place in the Mitchelstown based Tipperary Forest Rally will stand him in good stead. Whilst it’s the same car that he drove to victory in 2005, the car has the benefit of newer specifications in the engine compartment. West Cork regular, Phil Collins in his Mk. 2 Ford Escort should provide the usual spectacle for the fans and is well capable of keeping his seeded position.
Much will be expected from Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin in his Mitsubishi Evo9. A winner of the opening round of the Irish Forest Championship in Mitchelstown, Cronin can be expected to match the more powerful cars on the 16-stage encounter. Last season, Group N cars performed admirably in some rounds of the Irish Tarmac series and Cronin’s talent should ensure something similar in Clonakilty. Indeed, it would not be that surprising if both Denis and Keith Cronin finished on the podium. Alan Ring (Subaru) has withdrawn his entry.
The original top ten also features Wexford’s James Stafford (Darrian) and Carrigaline’s Brian O’Mahony (Renault Clio S1600). Stafford should be very prominent, much like Dalton, while O’Mahony, who was the top two-wheel drive competitor in Mayo last week, should also figure well. LOCALS Meanwhile, Ashley Field (Darrian) is seeded at eleven ahead of a plethora of Ford Escorts driven by Kevin O’Donoghue, Adrian Hetherington, Manus Kelly, John O’Donnell, Fergus O’Meara, local Ballineen driver, Fintan Canty, Ed O’Callaghan and Leonard Downey.
Those drivers should provide plenty of entertainment. Other Cork drivers in the top thirty are Lissarda’s Philip Cross (Escort Cosworth), who is seeded at 24 and Niall Guinevan (Ovens) in a Subaru, who will occupy the number 27 berth. One of the most popular features of the event is the class battles involving local West Cork drivers. In Class 11, three locals, Damien McCarthy (Barryroe), David Guest (Clonakilty) and Jason McSweeney (Dunmanway) will also battle for honours in the Honda series where Youghal’s Jason Ryan is also competing.
The Toyota Corolla trio of Lyre’s Michael McKennedy, Rossmore’s Vinny Bennett and Dunderrow’s Shaun Quin are also amongst the Class 11 entries and competition is likely to be intense. Class 13 features Ardfield’s Eoghan Calnan and Diarmuid Keohane (The Pike) both in Ford Escorts while Drimoleague’s Martin Lordan (Ford Escort), the Vauxhall Nova trio of Leap’s James Collins, Bandon’s Peter Desmond and Ray O’Sullivan from Durrus will battle in Class 9.
Elsewhere, another class with a strong local content is Class 10 with Stephen Sheehan (Coachford), Victor Beamish (Bandon), David Jennings (Clonakilty) and Jerry O’Mahony (Rosscarbery) flying the local flag. Other local entries are Bandon’s Sean O'Donovan (Subaru); Rossmore’s John Buttimer (Subaru); Dunmanway’s Ger O'Connell (Escort), Clonakilty’s Steve Roberts (Escort), Skibbereen’s Bernard O’Brien (Escort) and Innishannon’s John O’Shea (Honda). The cars leave Parc Ferme (Model Village) on Saturday morning at 9.45am.
The first stage, Ballinascarthy, is scheduled to begin at 10.23am. Servicing at the Darrara Agricultural College complex follows throughout the day at 11.43am; 1.43pm; 3.28pm and 5.30pm. A stage at Clogagh completes the opening pair of stages that are repeated after service.
The afternoon stages are at Ring and Dunworley. On Sunday, the opening stage Sam’s Cross (S.S. 9) is at 10.54am. This is followed by a stage at Rossmore, both are repeated after service. Ardfield and Hayes’ Cross are the afternoon stage locations. Servicing after S.S. 10 takes place shortly after noon, the other service times are at 2.06pm and 3.45pm. The finish ramp celebrations in Clonakilty are scheduled for 5.45pm, prizegiving takes place at the Quality Hotel later in the evening.
source: The Southern Star
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