Mayo & District Motorsport Club Joint Treasurer Sinead McHale presents Rachel Dooley (Community Fundraiser Cancer Care West) with donation raised by collection at club meetings in recent months in memory of Margaret McGreal
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mayo & District Motorsport Club regret to inform that our upcoming Loose Surface Autocross event, due to be held on Sunday July 24th has had to be cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause competitors and we appreciate your understanding
Tyrone driver Paddy McVeigh and his Donegal co-driver Garry McElhinney in their Subaru Impreza WRC claimed victory on the Herron Auto-Sligo Park Hotel Rally, in a wet Sligo on Sunday last. They finished the event 4.4 seconds ahead of the Escort of Damian Toner and Denver Rafferty while Enda McCormack and Colin Fitzgerald were third in another Subaru Impreza WRC.
Castlebar’s Barry Cuffe repeated his 2015 feat of top Mayo crew across the finish line. This year he had Westport’s Stephen McGing alongside in his Ford Escort Mk2, finishing an excellent 23rd and claiming 3rd in Class 11R. Achill’s Brian Lavelle put in an excellent drive in his Honda Civic to take top spot in Class 1 and finish in 26th place overall. Crossmolina native Brian Moore who works as a mechanic for Bentley Motorsport in the Uk took time out to return west and it proved fruitful as he won Class 2 and finished 31st overall also in a Honda Civic.
Next Mayo member to finish was Darragh Mullen who was navigating for Gary Cooney in a Subaru Impreza finishing 33rd and taking second in Class 15. Pat McGuiness who had Cian Gorman alongside in his Subaru Impreza finished 42nd and 3rd in Class 15. Pat also celebrated the amazing achievement of being the only competitor taking part in 2016 that also competed in the event 30 years ago in 1986.
Crossmolina’s John Duffy and John Egan missed out on winning Class 3 by seven hundredths of a second having to settle for 2nd and 45th place overall in their Honda Integra. Paul and Kathleen Kennedy made a return to tar in their Honda Civic and claimed 3rd in Class 2 and 50th place overall. Ballina’s Tony Langdon and Brendan Greavy brought their Honda Civic across the line 6th in Class 11F and 54th overall. Foxford’s James McGreal and Chris Mitchell took advantage of Rally 2 rules after breaking a shaft in their Mitsubishi Evo on the opening loop to re-join the event and finish in 57th place and 4th in Class 15. The pair were also the winners of the Sligo Pallets Border Drive of the Day, a fitting reward for the Mayo crew.
Other locals taking part in the main field that were not so lucky included Aidan Gannon who was navigating Anthony O’Brien in a Mitsubishi Evo. They retired on the opening loop with mechanical trouble. Derek Bolton and Lorcan Moore crashed their Subaru Impreza out on the final stage surrendering valuable championship points.
In the Junior category of the event Foxford’s Alan Moran who had David Loughney on the notes put in another superb drive in their Peugeot 206 to take second place on the podium. Ballina’s Keith Jacob and Michael Carr brought their Ford Ka home 5th while another Ballina man, Derek McCarthy who was navigating for Stephen Reynolds retired from the event on the second stage.
Round 3 of the popular Mayo & District Motorsport Loose Surface Autocross Championships will take place on Sunday July 24th. It will be held in the usual venue of Harrington’s Quarry, neighbouring Ireland West Airport.
Following consultation with the National Autocross Committee, we regret that the event will run without National Championship Status. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Mayo & District Motorsport Club are unable to run Classes 6, 7 & 10 for Buggies and Specials at our Harrington’s Quarry venue for the 2016 season.
We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause competitors and we appreciate your understanding.
The event will be a counting round of the Frank Harrington Championship and the Mayo & District Young Driver Championship.
Regs and Entry form will be available to download in the coming days from our club website www.mayomotorsportclub.com
Monthly Club meeting takes place on Wednesday evening at 9pm in Ballinrobe Community School.
Please attend.
Shrule’s Jason Murphy took the Class 9 win at Galway Motorclub’s Autocross (grass surface) held at Loughrea on Sunday last. The 18 year old South Mayo man was quickest throughout the day in his 1.4 Honda Civic
Donegal’s Declan and Brian Boyle in their Fiesta WRC won the Trim based ALMC Rally, the fifth round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship on Sunday last.
Taking the lead on the second stage they went on to finish the event almost a minute clear of the Ford Fiesta WRC of Tipperary’s Roy White.
Crossmolina’s Lorcan Moore was navigating for Kildare’s Darren Barret in the junior section of the event. An off road excursion during the last stage in their Honda Civic resulted in them unable to make the finish line.
Westport’s Stephen McGing navigated Wexford’s Andrew Leacy to 34th overall & 3rd in class 11r at last weekends Waterford based Raven’s Rock Rally. The event was won by Alan Ring & Adrian Deasy in their Fiesta R5
