Organised and Promoted by Carrick on Suir Motor Club, the rally headquarters is at the Carraig hotel.
Barry Duggan steps up this year as Clerk of the Course and he would like to welcome competitors, officials and spectators to the Club’s first rally of the year. Barry and his event team have been working hard over the winter months in preparation and can now announce that the event will feature four stage locations, two of which will be repeated and two will be covered once with a total stage distance of 68km. Road distance is approximately 114 km. The first car leaves Carrick at 09.30 and the winner will be on the podium at 15.40.
While entries are still available, the rally promises to be another big battle between Pat O’ Connell and Andrew Purcell who excited the fans on round one in Mitchelstown. Purcell set the pace on the Tipp M.C. event until he experienced brake problems which forced him over maximum lateness. O’Connell who was the championship runner up last year went on to win his first rally and will bring huge confidence to the start ramp on Sunday.
There promises to be a fine representation of Escort Mk2s and we can look forward to them power sliding their way around the course. On what is his home forestry rally, Criag Breen is expected to run as '00' car in his Fiesta S2000. Breen is fresh from an excellent 2nd overall in last month’s Galway International and will be using the Carrick event as practice for the British rally Championship which starts later this month.
After Round 1, Pat O’Connell leads the championship with 21 points, with John Reid and Seamus O’Connell on 19 and 18 respectively. In the 2WD drive category Seamus O’Connell leads with 21 points, with Ollie Williams and Michael Cuddihy second and third respectively. The class leaders are as follows: Class 1 Andrew Fanning Ford Ka, Class 2 Michael Nevin Ford Escort, Class 3 Michael Cuddihy Starlet, Class 4 Nigel Creagh Ford Escort, Class 5 Seamus O’Connell Ford Escort, Class 6 Enda Mc Nulty Mitsubishi Evo, Class 7 John Reid Toyota Corolla WRC, Class 8 Pat O’Connell Mitsubishi Evo and Class 9 Ian Downey Opel Corsa.
Austin Shinnors.
