The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally 2014
Press Release 4: Mini’s and Millingtons………….
The stages are set, the plans are finalised and the countdown is on to the best forest rally of 2014, The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline Forest Rally Championship sees the country’s top gravel crews descend upon the north Cork Towns of Buttevant and Ballyhea for what has long been regarded as Ireland’s premier Forest Rally.
Clerk of the Course, Sean Daly has organised a superb event which kicks off on Saturday August 23rd in Buttevant where the crews and cars will be put through mechanical and documentation scrutiny at Greenhall Motors. On Sunday August 24th the crews will take on 8 magnificent gravel stages totalling 80km, all located within the famous Ballyhoura Forest complex. Service for the event will be located at The Charleville AgriculturalShowgrounds Ballyhea, giving the spectators a chance to get up close with the cars and drivers.
The Cork Motor Club is delighted to announce that a fabulous entry has already been received for the event with more coming daily. The line up across the classes features the cream of gravel specialists.
At the front it really is anyone’s call. Previous winners of the event include Owen Murphy, Pat O’Connell and John Reid, all of whom are confirmed. They are joined by Monaghan hotshot Josh Moffett who has proved to be Mr. Consistent to date in this year’s Valvoline Championship. A huge talking point for the event has to be the entry of Draperstown’s Derek McGeehan in the works specification Mini WRC, a first for the southern forests. Derek and the Mini have proved to be hugely competitive on gravel in the Northern Ireland Championship and will be right up there battling for top honours in Cork. Portglenone’s Desi Henry returns to Cork eager to reinvigorate his championship bid after a non finish in Wicklow. Waterford’s Andrew Purcell enters in his older but still very potent Mitsubishi Evo 6. Two further dark horses have to be Niall Henry and Peter McCullagh in their respective Mitsubishi Evo 9s. Both of these drivers posted hugely impressive times on last year’s event. Martin Cairns and Brendan Cumiskey enter in a pair of Subaru Impreza WRCs to add to the already fabulous line up.
Overseas crews include Welch native Sara Williams and Martin Donnelly who makes the long trip from the USA. Sara brings her Subaru Impreza back to Cork after being awed by the Ballyhouras in 2013 and will certainly be one to watch out for as she proved her speed on last year’s event. Martin brings his fabulous McGeehan Motorsport prepared Corolla WRC into the woods for some sideways action.
In the 2wd category, excitement is really building. All the “Top Guns” of gravel are coming to Cork. Last year’s 2wd winner and reining “MK2 Master” Frank Kelly makes the trip from Tyrone to defend the title in his now infamous “Baby Blue”. The competition from the chasing pack is set to be fierce however. Previous Cork 2wd winners and fellow Tyrone men, Shane McGirr and Adrian Hetherington will be eager to put a fly in the Kelly ointment. McGirr’s form to date in the 2.0 Toyota Starlet has been superb and Hetherington always goes at maximum attack in Cork with his 2.5 Mk2 Escort. Kelly is really going to have to be at the top of his game in the Ballyhouras if he hopes to retain the coveted 2wd crown. Vivian Hamill, another Tyrone native, brings his stunning 2.5 MK2 Escort to Cork as does Monaghan’s Mickey Conlon with his beautiful 2.0 example. Seamus O’Connell and Ian Millar line out in a pair of BDA powered Escorts, both of whom are set to scream their way through the Ballyhouras. Wicklow 2wd winner David Crossen makes his Cork debut in his ultra-competitive Escort and should prove to be a real contender for the 2wd honors. Local aces include Ballyhea’s very own Paul Fitzgerald and Mallow man Jimmy Dean who are set to restore the old rivalry and go head to head in their respective class 3 Escorts.
The EARS.ie “Mark 2 Master” award has generated huge interest among the MK2 fraternity again this year. With a free entry to the 2015 event on offer to the winner, the rivalry is building every day. Expect to see further top additions to the already impressive line up over the coming days along with the inevitable predictions and odds on the title.
Programs for the event go on sale from Wednesday August 20th and will be available from the following outlets.
Costcutter Ballyhea
Roche’s Londis Doneraile
O’Sullivan’s Kildorrery
Amber Service Station Charleville
Doherty’s Centra Buttevant
Keary’s filling Station Mallow
The Roundabout Inn Mallow
Programs will also be available from Greenhall Motors on Saturday August 23rd only and the service area; Charleville Agricultural Show Grounds on Sunday August 24th.
For those who intend to marshal on the event, The Cork Motor club would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support over the years, your contribution and continued help cannot be praised enough. The marshals meeting points and times are as follows.
SS1&3: Cost Cutter/Great Gas Ballyhea @ 07:45. Stage Commander Cathal Mansell.
SS2&4: Roche’s Londis Doneraile @ 08:20. Stage Commander Martin Godfrey.
SS5&7: Roche’s Londis Doneraile @12:00. Stage Commander Colin Fitzgerald.
SS6&8: O’Sullivan’s Topaz Kildorrery @ 12:30. Stage Commander Tom Dunne.
Kiera Daly's (Chief marshal) contact details. 0851145433.
Live results for the event will be available on the day at www.harcon.ie
Live Twitter updates will also be available on the day from @Ditchslapblog
Keep up to date on all the happenings on the run up to the day on www.corkmotorclub.com, follow us on Twitter @corkmotorclub or check out the Cork Motor Club facebook page
Press Release 4: Mini’s and Millingtons………….
The stages are set, the plans are finalised and the countdown is on to the best forest rally of 2014, The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline Forest Rally Championship sees the country’s top gravel crews descend upon the north Cork Towns of Buttevant and Ballyhea for what has long been regarded as Ireland’s premier Forest Rally.
Clerk of the Course, Sean Daly has organised a superb event which kicks off on Saturday August 23rd in Buttevant where the crews and cars will be put through mechanical and documentation scrutiny at Greenhall Motors. On Sunday August 24th the crews will take on 8 magnificent gravel stages totalling 80km, all located within the famous Ballyhoura Forest complex. Service for the event will be located at The Charleville AgriculturalShowgrounds Ballyhea, giving the spectators a chance to get up close with the cars and drivers.
The Cork Motor Club is delighted to announce that a fabulous entry has already been received for the event with more coming daily. The line up across the classes features the cream of gravel specialists.
At the front it really is anyone’s call. Previous winners of the event include Owen Murphy, Pat O’Connell and John Reid, all of whom are confirmed. They are joined by Monaghan hotshot Josh Moffett who has proved to be Mr. Consistent to date in this year’s Valvoline Championship. A huge talking point for the event has to be the entry of Draperstown’s Derek McGeehan in the works specification Mini WRC, a first for the southern forests. Derek and the Mini have proved to be hugely competitive on gravel in the Northern Ireland Championship and will be right up there battling for top honours in Cork. Portglenone’s Desi Henry returns to Cork eager to reinvigorate his championship bid after a non finish in Wicklow. Waterford’s Andrew Purcell enters in his older but still very potent Mitsubishi Evo 6. Two further dark horses have to be Niall Henry and Peter McCullagh in their respective Mitsubishi Evo 9s. Both of these drivers posted hugely impressive times on last year’s event. Martin Cairns and Brendan Cumiskey enter in a pair of Subaru Impreza WRCs to add to the already fabulous line up.
Overseas crews include Welch native Sara Williams and Martin Donnelly who makes the long trip from the USA. Sara brings her Subaru Impreza back to Cork after being awed by the Ballyhouras in 2013 and will certainly be one to watch out for as she proved her speed on last year’s event. Martin brings his fabulous McGeehan Motorsport prepared Corolla WRC into the woods for some sideways action.
In the 2wd category, excitement is really building. All the “Top Guns” of gravel are coming to Cork. Last year’s 2wd winner and reining “MK2 Master” Frank Kelly makes the trip from Tyrone to defend the title in his now infamous “Baby Blue”. The competition from the chasing pack is set to be fierce however. Previous Cork 2wd winners and fellow Tyrone men, Shane McGirr and Adrian Hetherington will be eager to put a fly in the Kelly ointment. McGirr’s form to date in the 2.0 Toyota Starlet has been superb and Hetherington always goes at maximum attack in Cork with his 2.5 Mk2 Escort. Kelly is really going to have to be at the top of his game in the Ballyhouras if he hopes to retain the coveted 2wd crown. Vivian Hamill, another Tyrone native, brings his stunning 2.5 MK2 Escort to Cork as does Monaghan’s Mickey Conlon with his beautiful 2.0 example. Seamus O’Connell and Ian Millar line out in a pair of BDA powered Escorts, both of whom are set to scream their way through the Ballyhouras. Wicklow 2wd winner David Crossen makes his Cork debut in his ultra-competitive Escort and should prove to be a real contender for the 2wd honors. Local aces include Ballyhea’s very own Paul Fitzgerald and Mallow man Jimmy Dean who are set to restore the old rivalry and go head to head in their respective class 3 Escorts.
The EARS.ie “Mark 2 Master” award has generated huge interest among the MK2 fraternity again this year. With a free entry to the 2015 event on offer to the winner, the rivalry is building every day. Expect to see further top additions to the already impressive line up over the coming days along with the inevitable predictions and odds on the title.
Programs for the event go on sale from Wednesday August 20th and will be available from the following outlets.
Costcutter Ballyhea
Roche’s Londis Doneraile
O’Sullivan’s Kildorrery
Amber Service Station Charleville
Doherty’s Centra Buttevant
Keary’s filling Station Mallow
The Roundabout Inn Mallow
Programs will also be available from Greenhall Motors on Saturday August 23rd only and the service area; Charleville Agricultural Show Grounds on Sunday August 24th.
For those who intend to marshal on the event, The Cork Motor club would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support over the years, your contribution and continued help cannot be praised enough. The marshals meeting points and times are as follows.
SS1&3: Cost Cutter/Great Gas Ballyhea @ 07:45. Stage Commander Cathal Mansell.
SS2&4: Roche’s Londis Doneraile @ 08:20. Stage Commander Martin Godfrey.
SS5&7: Roche’s Londis Doneraile @12:00. Stage Commander Colin Fitzgerald.
SS6&8: O’Sullivan’s Topaz Kildorrery @ 12:30. Stage Commander Tom Dunne.
Kiera Daly's (Chief marshal) contact details. 0851145433.
Live results for the event will be available on the day at www.harcon.ie
Live Twitter updates will also be available on the day from @Ditchslapblog
Keep up to date on all the happenings on the run up to the day on www.corkmotorclub.com, follow us on Twitter @corkmotorclub or check out the Cork Motor Club facebook page
Press Release2:
Regulations Now Available. Details of Rally Launch Night.
Preparations are at an advanced stage for The 2014 DJD Transport Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. The event takes place on Sunday August 24th with it’s Headquarters based at The Corbett Court Ballyhea. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship heads for the spectacular Ballyhoura Mountains once more. The Ballyhea based event is largely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Forest Rally Championship and the one that all competitors look forward to year after year.
The long wait is almost over, with just over 5 weeks to go, Clerk of the Course Sean Daly and his team have been busy ensuring all aspects of the organisation are in place and look forward to welcoming crews and spectators from across Ireland and the UK to North Cork on August 24th.
The event will once again see it’s 8 stages all located within the Ballyhoura Forest Complex. Down through the years, Cork Forest Rally has gained an enviable reputation within gravel rallying circles due to the quality of our stages excellent organisation and the famous North Cork welcome. This reputation has attracted crews year after year. Cork Motor Club is very proud of this achievement and goes to great lengths to ensure it is maintained.
This year will prove no different with 80km of competitive stages selected the team are already busy out and about making the minor repairs to the famous roads and ensuring that North Cork puts its best foot forward in August.
Interest in the event is already very strong. All the Valvoline Championship regulars are committed to the event. This year’s championship has proved to be extremely competitive to date with some spectacular battles sure to come in Cork. The event has moved a week later this year and it appears to be falling very favourably for Northern Ireland Championship crews. Multiple enquires have been received from top Northern crews who are looking to use Cork Forest Rally as a test session to ready their cars for their own upcoming gravel events. Interest from the UK is also very strong with the feedback from previous year’s events attracting more and crews from across the Irish Sea each year.
The EARS.ie MK2 Master was a feature added to the event in 2013 which is also proving to be a valuable asset and attracting crews who are eager to get in on this year’s action. The title was lifted by Tyrone’s Frank Kelly in 2013 after what is widely regarded as one of the battles of the year between Frank and Martin McCormack in their rapid Escorts. As a result of this epic battle, several enquires have been received this year from top MK2 Escort crews who traditionally compete on tarmac. Some of the names have raised a considerable smile on the faces of the organising team and should raise a few goose bumps for the spectators in 5 weeks’ time….. Watch this space.
The Rally launch takes place on Thursday July 24th at The Corbett Court Ballyhea at 8:00pm. There will be a display of rally cars, some video footage, finger food and good old fashioned banter on the night. It is an evening that has proved to be one of the best social evenings on the Cork Motor Club calendar in recent times and COC Sean Daly would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to attend. We look forward to seeing the faces, both new and old on the night.
Regulations for the event are now available to download from www.corkmotorclub.com
For enquires please contact COC Sean Daly 0863731193
Full list of accommodation is now available on www.corkmotorclub.com
Regulations Now Available. Details of Rally Launch Night.
Preparations are at an advanced stage for The 2014 DJD Transport Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally. The event takes place on Sunday August 24th with it’s Headquarters based at The Corbett Court Ballyhea. Round 4 of the Motorsport Ireland, Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship heads for the spectacular Ballyhoura Mountains once more. The Ballyhea based event is largely regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Forest Rally Championship and the one that all competitors look forward to year after year.
The long wait is almost over, with just over 5 weeks to go, Clerk of the Course Sean Daly and his team have been busy ensuring all aspects of the organisation are in place and look forward to welcoming crews and spectators from across Ireland and the UK to North Cork on August 24th.
The event will once again see it’s 8 stages all located within the Ballyhoura Forest Complex. Down through the years, Cork Forest Rally has gained an enviable reputation within gravel rallying circles due to the quality of our stages excellent organisation and the famous North Cork welcome. This reputation has attracted crews year after year. Cork Motor Club is very proud of this achievement and goes to great lengths to ensure it is maintained.
This year will prove no different with 80km of competitive stages selected the team are already busy out and about making the minor repairs to the famous roads and ensuring that North Cork puts its best foot forward in August.
Interest in the event is already very strong. All the Valvoline Championship regulars are committed to the event. This year’s championship has proved to be extremely competitive to date with some spectacular battles sure to come in Cork. The event has moved a week later this year and it appears to be falling very favourably for Northern Ireland Championship crews. Multiple enquires have been received from top Northern crews who are looking to use Cork Forest Rally as a test session to ready their cars for their own upcoming gravel events. Interest from the UK is also very strong with the feedback from previous year’s events attracting more and crews from across the Irish Sea each year.
The EARS.ie MK2 Master was a feature added to the event in 2013 which is also proving to be a valuable asset and attracting crews who are eager to get in on this year’s action. The title was lifted by Tyrone’s Frank Kelly in 2013 after what is widely regarded as one of the battles of the year between Frank and Martin McCormack in their rapid Escorts. As a result of this epic battle, several enquires have been received this year from top MK2 Escort crews who traditionally compete on tarmac. Some of the names have raised a considerable smile on the faces of the organising team and should raise a few goose bumps for the spectators in 5 weeks’ time….. Watch this space.
The Rally launch takes place on Thursday July 24th at The Corbett Court Ballyhea at 8:00pm. There will be a display of rally cars, some video footage, finger food and good old fashioned banter on the night. It is an evening that has proved to be one of the best social evenings on the Cork Motor Club calendar in recent times and COC Sean Daly would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to attend. We look forward to seeing the faces, both new and old on the night.
Regulations for the event are now available to download from www.corkmotorclub.com
For enquires please contact COC Sean Daly 0863731193
Full list of accommodation is now available on www.corkmotorclub.com
Press Release 1
Cork Motor Club is pleased to announce preliminary details of the 2014 DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.
The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally takes place on Sunday, August 24th. Following on from the success of last year’s event, Ballyclough man Sean Daly has taken the hot seat for another term as COC in 2014. Sean recently announced that Denis J Downey Transport are also to return as title sponsor for the 2014 event which has been hugely welcomed by the club. The Donoughmore Transport and Logistics firm have proved to be a very loyal supporter of what is largely regarded as Irelands finest gravel rally and CMC are delighted to continue this partnership, hopefully long into the future.
The event hosts Round 4 of the Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship. Following on from the tremendous feedback received from last year event, the rally will once again pivot around the famous Ballyhoura Forest Complex, with 8 of the finest gravel stages totalling approximately 80km of competitive driving. Road mileage is even lower than last year’s event and will total approximately 130km. Rally HQ once again is The Corbett Court Ballyhea and service will be based from the nearby Charleville Agricultural Showgounds.
Speaking to COC Sean Daly recently; “I am delighted to be on board for another term as COC of this great event. The feedback that we received after last year’s event was amazing and because of this we are following a very similar format for this year. The stages will once again be located all within the Ballyhoura complex however we have made some subtle changes to the route to make it more enjoyable, and reduce the road mileage even further. The event will once again use a 4x2 format with service after every two stages which proved to be popular with crews last year”.
Sean’s team have already been busy out and about on the stages and have received tremendous support from Coillte in both selecting and facilitating the 2014 route. CMC would like to thank Coillte for their support to date and look forward to working together in the future.
Interest in the event is already strong with a number of overseas crews expressing their intention to compete. The “MK2 Master” also makes a return this year, with the EARS.ie cup up for grabs for the first Ford Escort MK2 home on Sunday August 24th. Some of the top MK2 crews in the country have already conformed their intention to compete for the cup which provided much of the drama on last year’s event, who will ever forget the Kelly/McCormack battle last year….hopefully we will have “more of the same please” this year.
Further updates will be available on www.corkmotorclub.com and our facebook pages over the coming weeks. COC Sean Daly will also be more than happy to answer any queries and can be contacted on 086 3731193.
Cork Motor Club is pleased to announce preliminary details of the 2014 DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.
The DJD Transport, Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally takes place on Sunday, August 24th. Following on from the success of last year’s event, Ballyclough man Sean Daly has taken the hot seat for another term as COC in 2014. Sean recently announced that Denis J Downey Transport are also to return as title sponsor for the 2014 event which has been hugely welcomed by the club. The Donoughmore Transport and Logistics firm have proved to be a very loyal supporter of what is largely regarded as Irelands finest gravel rally and CMC are delighted to continue this partnership, hopefully long into the future.
The event hosts Round 4 of the Valvoline National Forest Rally Championship. Following on from the tremendous feedback received from last year event, the rally will once again pivot around the famous Ballyhoura Forest Complex, with 8 of the finest gravel stages totalling approximately 80km of competitive driving. Road mileage is even lower than last year’s event and will total approximately 130km. Rally HQ once again is The Corbett Court Ballyhea and service will be based from the nearby Charleville Agricultural Showgounds.
Speaking to COC Sean Daly recently; “I am delighted to be on board for another term as COC of this great event. The feedback that we received after last year’s event was amazing and because of this we are following a very similar format for this year. The stages will once again be located all within the Ballyhoura complex however we have made some subtle changes to the route to make it more enjoyable, and reduce the road mileage even further. The event will once again use a 4x2 format with service after every two stages which proved to be popular with crews last year”.
Sean’s team have already been busy out and about on the stages and have received tremendous support from Coillte in both selecting and facilitating the 2014 route. CMC would like to thank Coillte for their support to date and look forward to working together in the future.
Interest in the event is already strong with a number of overseas crews expressing their intention to compete. The “MK2 Master” also makes a return this year, with the EARS.ie cup up for grabs for the first Ford Escort MK2 home on Sunday August 24th. Some of the top MK2 crews in the country have already conformed their intention to compete for the cup which provided much of the drama on last year’s event, who will ever forget the Kelly/McCormack battle last year….hopefully we will have “more of the same please” this year.
Further updates will be available on www.corkmotorclub.com and our facebook pages over the coming weeks. COC Sean Daly will also be more than happy to answer any queries and can be contacted on 086 3731193.