Next Saturday's Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally is round five of the Petro Systems National Forest Rally Championship, a six round series for 2010, writes Austin Shinnors, PRO Petro Systems National Forest Championship. The final round will be the Down rally in October, and that event will mark the first ever visit by the forest championship to Northern Ireland.
O’Connell, who drives an Evo9, scored a hat-trick of victories in Mitchelstown, Carraig-on-Suir and Moonraker, and while he was third in the Donegal forest rally he got second place championhip points in the Petro series. John Reid was runner up in the first trio of events and was just six points in arrears going to Donegal. However, the Dub was to suffer his first retirement in 18 rallies when the steering arm broke in his Corolla WRC, causing instant retirement. The gap to the flying O'Connell grew larger and Reid’s task now looks daunting. However, the championship rules stipulate that a competitor must count his four best scores and there is a bonus of four points for a competitor who starts every round. Reid still has a mathematical chance, but the momentum is with O’Connell.
Just two points behind Reid is the sideways Starlet of Mick Cuddihy, from Ninemilehouse. Cuddihy is the leading two-wheel drive exponent and he has entertained the spectators all year and has a huge lead in class three. Cork Motor Club member Mark Murphy lies fourth overall in his Impreza, ten points adrift of Cuddihy and he could be a candidate for the podium yet. It is still all to play for in the Petro Systems National Forest Rally Championship and there is plenty driving left in this series yet.
The 2010 Cork Forestry will have its HQ at the Roundabout Inn in Mallow, Co. Cork.
With the Service Area in the nearby Quartertown Industrial Estate, the event will see a reduction in road mileage over previous years. The event will continue with two stages run twice in the morning followed by another two stages run twice in the afternoon. The rally route will consist of approx 100 kms of competitive stage mileage in the traditional North Cork forest stages.
Clerk of the Course Paul Casey has put in a lot of work ensuring the smooth running of this classic event and he is backed up by the very experienced Darren McCarthy as his deputy, with Paul’s brother Johnny as assistant COC.
