For seven of the nine stages, reigning Triton Showers National Rally champions Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes looked set for a comfortable victory in this year’s opening round, the TF Royal Hotel Mayo Stages Rally in Castlebar, to give them the best possible start in their title defence.
Defending champion Derek Mackarel, navigated by fellow Monaghan man Conor Boylan, was the clear winner of the Cavan round of the National Navigation Trial Championship at Bailieboro, completing the 80 mile route seven marks clear of their nearest challengers, Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin.
Semi-expert class winners Shane Dalton and Seamus McTigue finished third overall, a single mark behind the runners-up, with Aaron and Ben McIntyre taking sixth place, winning the novice class.
The Keltec Engineering Limerick Forest Rally, round two of the Valvoline National Forestry Rally Championship, had to be postponed today after heavy overnight snow in the area where the event was due to take place near Abbeyfeale. The organisers, Limerick MC, hope to find an alternative date next month for the rally.
Below are results for Motorsport Ireland competitions that took place over the weekend.
CO CAVAN M C NAVIGATION TRIAL AT TUNNYDUFF, BAILIEBORO, CO CAVAN (ROUND 7 OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND ROUND 4 OF SQUEALING PIG BAR & RESTAURANT BORDER CHAMPIONSHIP):
1 Derek Mackarel/Conor Boylan (Subaru Impreza) 9 marks,
2 Martin Tynan/Fintan Clerkin (Subaru Impreza) 16m,
3 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue (Subaru Impreza) 17m,
4 James McCabe/Shane Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 22m,
5 Bob Graham/Ryan Treanor (Subaru Impreza) 31m,
6 Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre (Subaru Impreza) 45m,
7 Mickey Tynan/Ciaran Tynan (Subaru Impreza) 47m,
8 Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes (Subaru Impreza) 63m,
9 James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody (Subaru Impreza) 66m,
10 Aidan Keenan/Sean Marron (Subaru Impreza) 72m,
11 Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna (Subaru Impreza) 82m,
12 Kieran McCarra/Aaron McElroy (Toyota Starlet) 88m.
Semi-experts: 1 Shane Dalton/Seamus McTigue, 2 James McCabe/Shane Farrell, 3 Bob Graham/Ryan Treanor.
Novices: 1 Aaron McIntyre/Ben McIntyre, 2 Aidan Keenan/Sean Marron, 3 Francis McElvaney/Danny McKenna.
Beginners: 1 Damien Hagan/Ryan Farrell (Subaru Impreza) 91m, 2 Ray O’Neill/Eoin Treacy (Subaru Impreza) 125m, 3 Paddy Callaghan/Sean Cahill Jnr (Subaru Impreza) 125m.