Murphy led a trio of Mitsubishi Evo 9's across the winning line, 14 seconds ahead of Monaghan's Vincent McAree who in turn had a 4 second margin on Liam Ryan from Cashel. Murphy now has a 7 point lead in the Valvoline Forest Rally Championship ahead of McAree, the 2009 Junior Forest Champion.
Based in Carrick-on-Suir, the Loughman rally - round two of the Valvoline series - consisted of two loops of three stages, the first loop on Saturday afternoon with the repeat visits under the cover of darkness in the evening.
Fastest out of the box was Jeremy Drislane who used the power of his Impreza WRC to claim fastest on the first stage at Kilsheelin. A spin on the second relegated him to fourth for the rest of the rally. Murphy went fastest on the second, with a time that moved him into a lead that he would never surrender.
Liam Ryan was the chaser and with good times in Gurteen and Anner he was second overall at first service, 46 behind Murphy and seventeen ahead of McAree. With the spot lights on, the crews headed back to Kilsheelin, Gorteen and Anner. McAree was the main mover, putting his night nav experience to good use by winning the three stages and this was enough to claim second place from the Tipp man by 4 seconds.
As expected, Craig Breen was a firm favourite with the spectators in the Fiesta R2, the Waterford man was 5th overall and winner of class 3. A member of the Carrick club, he has not registered for the Championship, and he was using the rally as a continuing build up for the BRC and WRC Academy Championships.
TOP TEN RESULTS WM. LOUGHMAN MEMORIAL RALLY
1. Owen Murphy/James O'Brien, Mitsubishi Evo 9 34:59
2. Vincent and JP McAree, Mitsubishi Evo 9 35:13
3. Liam Ryan/Aidan Bourke, Mitsubishi Evo 9 35:17
4. Jeremy Drislane/Paul Goodman, Impreza WRC 35:53
5. Craig Breen/Barry McNulty, Ford Fiesta R2 36:12
6. Stephen and Suzanne Wright, Mitsubishi Evo 6 37:25
7. Paul Fitzgerald/Kaye Shanahan, Ford Escort Mk2 37:36
8. Gerard and James Lucey, Mitsubishi Evo 8 37:56
9. Michael Cuddihy/James Dunphy, Toyota Starlet 38:19
10. Sarah and Amy Moynihan, Impreza 38:23
Rally Leaders: SS1: J Drislane 2-8: O Murphy
Stage Winners: V McAree 3, J Drislane 2, O Murphy 1
Class Winners: 2WD Craig Breen (unregistered), Paul Fitzgerald (registered)
Class 1: Tristan Horan (Ford Ka)
Class 2: Liam Kelleher (Escort Mk2)
Class 3: Craig Breen (Fiesta R2)
Class 4: Alan Commins (Escort Mk2)
Class 5: Shay Power (Escort Mk2)
Class 6: Stephen Wright (Evo 6)
Class 7: Jeremy Drislane (Impreza WRC)
Class 8: Ger Lucey (Evo 8)
Valvoline Championship points: O Murphy 42, V McAree 35, Liam Ryan 33.
Principal retirements: John Reid SS1 (flu), Alastair Fisher SS1 (sump damage), Andrew Purcell SS2 (off), and Andrew Fanning SS3 (gearbox)
Next Round of the Valvoline Forest Rally Championship: Moonraker, Sunday April 10th
