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Irish/British Rallycross Championship Rd 1 Pembrey |
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The first round of the Irish championship took place in Pembrey in conjuntion with the British rallycross championship. A number of Irish modified,stock hatch and junior drivers made the trip to wales to start off the 2009 -10 Irish rallycross championship.
Mike Turpin was reunited with his Vauxhall Nova, and duly took pole ahead of the two regular front runners Godfrey and Bird. It was Bird again who made the best start off the line but ultimately had to give best to Turpin who, running his car in Irish championship spec, had an advantage here. Second on the road Bird was highest placed of the British championship racer, Godfrey third ahead of current overall Irish champion Michael Coyne who had suffered a wheel bearing failure on the first lap resulting with Michael completing the remaining laps with no brakes managing to finish ahead of Ian Byrne in his monstrous Toyota MR2, ahead of a gaggle of cars including Bruce Bamber, Steve Cozens and Patrick Ryan having a great run in his 1600cc Vauxhall Nova. Dave Curran, in the ex-Mike Sellar Clio finished third in the B final
Earlier in the day Willie Coyne had a great run in the first heats beating his older brother Michael but a major accident in heat 2 ended willies day. The accident was a result of a contact from Phil Chicken in the golf on the very fast honda corner.
'' I had just passed Phil in Golf on the outside of Honda corner and i was flat in 5th gear, when Phil clipped the tyres on the inside and lost his steering and speared in to my right rear wheel. This knocked my car sideways which resulted in the roll'' Willie stated.
'' The car is back in the workshop and the repair process is in full motion. The car stood up well considering the huge impact and most of the damage is only cosmetic. We are planning to have the car ready for the second round of the championship, but i have the option of running my 1600cc nova '' stated willie.
The second round of the irish championship returns to Mondello Park on the 18th of October
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Irish/British Rallycross Championship Rd 1 Pembrey |
By Andrew Murphy of Evening Herald
Thursday September 17 2009
An influx of new Supercars and the promise of plenty of close-fought battles heralds the arrival of a great new season as the Irish rallycross season kicks off in Pembrey, Wales, on Sunday.
Michael Coyne tops the entry list as he returns to defend his crown in his championship-winning 2.2 litre Nova. He is joined by brothers Willie in a 2.0 litre Corsa and Brendan in his BDA-engined Fiesta. The champion had planned to switch to a Vauxhall VX220 this year but decided in favour of continuing with the Nova as long as it was competitive.
Bunclody brothers Michael and Andrew Morris are taking a Subaru and Celica to Wales. After several years absent, the spectacular Tommy Graham makes a welcome return to the rallycross scene in a Fiesta.
Better known for his efforts at organising the Kildare MC rallycross meetings, Tom Kirwan has built a Mitsubishi Lancer Supercar and will debut the machine at the weekend. Racer Bob Copeland is keeping his hand in over the winter in a Metro 6R4 while Frank O'Connell will have a Lotus Exige.
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Irish/British Rallycross championship Rd 1 Pembrey |
Level pegging entering Pembrey |
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Level pegging entering Pembrey
It could not be closer at the top as the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship heads to Pembrey in South Wales for rounds six and seven of the eight-race championship with 2005 champion Pat Doran (Winkleigh) and 2008 runner-up Steve Hill (Aylesbury) level on points after five events.
Hill led the championship after winning round four but then finished second to Doran at Lydden in round five on August Bank Holiday Monday, the result leaving both men with 130 points.
With two events to complete at Pembrey, this weekend (September 19-20) is crucial in the battle for the championship. Doran won round two of the championship at Pembrey in May and with the round five win under his belt is the man in form. Hill, however, is one of the toughest competitors in the pack and having missed on last year's title in the final round, is doubly determined to take the crown this year.
The championship remains wide open entering this weekend's double-header event at Pembrey, current champion Lawrence Gibson (Banbridge) remains in with a chance of retaining the championship even though technical problems hit his MG Metro 6R4 and left him with a low score in round five.
Also out of luck at Pembrey was Liam Doran (Sittingbourne) whose Fiesta ST suffered a broken driveshaft while leading the Superfinal, the third time this year that the 22-year-old rising star of the championship has been stymied by mechanical trouble. In the two events that his car has been reliable, Doran has won and he remains in the title hunt.
Super Sunday as Irish championship joins in!
The programme for the second day of the Rallycross weekend at Pembrey will also include the first round of the 2009-2010 Motorsport Ireland Rallycross Championship. The Irish championship will be run over eight events, most of them taking place at Mondello Park (near Naas in the Irish Republic) during the winter, but will start with Irish drivers making a trip to Pembrey.
Michael Coyne (Naas) starts as the title holder, a magnificent run through last winter's championship bringing Coyne his second championship title (he also won it in 2001). Coyne hopes to have his new Vauxhall VX220 complete in time to start the defence of his title but the competition is likely to be stiffer than ever with a number of his rivals buying new cars over the summer including Frank O'Connell (Dublin) who has acquired a former British championship winning Lotus Exige.
Juniors and 'Off-road racers' add to the fun
There will be a full programme of racing on each of the two days at Pembrey. Alongside the Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship, there will be rounds of the Bill Gwynne Rallyschool Junior Rallycross Championship (for competitors aged 14 to 16-years-old). The championship is currently led by Brad Bailey (Chelmsford) who has won three of the five events run so far and holds a 20-point lead over Simon Quinn (Naas) at the head of the championship.
A new addition to the British championship programme this year, the RX150 championship is for identical 150bhp off-road racing 'buggies' and has provided close and thrilling racing at every event. With two event wins to his credit, Leo Forster (Sussex) has established a ten-point lead over Marc Scott (Dumfries) at the head of the championship.
Welsh racers seek motor-vation
It's been a hugely frustrating year for Welsh drivers and the two most prominent Rallycross competitors are now both working frantically in an effort to try and make on to the grid at Pembrey at the weekend.
Haverfordwest car dealer Mike Howlin has had a troubled 2009 season, and things did not get any better at Lydden last month where the Cosworth engine in his rear-wheel drive Ford Fiesta failed, leaving him with a non-score for the third time in five events. The car ran well at Pembrey in May where Howlin placed fourth but he is now trying to find an engine that will allow him to make the start next weekend. "The engine blew up an at Lydden and the engine builder is on holiday, I'm trying to get another engine so that I can drive in the event but it's getting a bit late in the day now," said Howlin.
Closer still to Pembrey, Carmarthen garage proprietor Mike Howlin is also playing the waiting game after the engine in his Ford Puma Supercar failed during a test last weekend. "I thought we were ready in good time for Pembrey we had a lot of new parts in the car and took it for a short test last weekend but the crankshaft broke and I'm now waiting to see if we can get the engine rebuilt in time for next weekend to be honest it's not looking good," said Manning.
Event details
Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship, rounds six and seven, Saturday and Sunday September 19-20
Racing starts at 1000 each day
Adult admission 12, accompanied children up to 14-years-old free
Pembrey Motor Racing Circuit, Pembrey, Llanelli, SA16 0HX
Phone 01554 891042
2009 Kumho Tyres MSA British Rallycross Championship
Sun Mar 8 Mondello Park (IRL)
Sun May 3 Pembrey
Mon May 4 Pembrey
Mon May 25 Lydden
Mon Aug 31 Lydden
Sat Sep 19 Pembrey
Sun Sep 20 Pembrey
Sun Oct 18 Mallory Park
Motorsport Ireland National Irish Rallycross Championship 2009 - 10
SEPTEMBER 20th – PEMBREY, WALES.
OCTOBER 18th – MONDELLO PARK
NOVEMBER 1st _MONDELLO PARK
NOVEMBER 15th – MONDELLO PARK
FEBRUARY 14th – MONDELLO PARK
FEBRUARY 28th – MONDELLO PARK
MARCH 14th – MONDELLO PARK
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