Liam Ryan from Cashel was a rally winner for the first time in his Evo9 but he was harried all the way by Monaghan’s Vincent McAree (Evo9) who was only 9 seconds in arrears at the finish. Fellow Monaghan driver Stephen Wright (Evo6) completed the podium with Cork’s Ger Lucey (Evo8) fourth and Craig Breen (Fiesta R2) fifth and first 2WD car home.
Hosted by the Munster Car Club on April 10th and based in Lismore, the eight stage Moonraker had a stage distance of 65km, made up of some new and some familiar locations.
In the early stages the rally was dominated by John Reid (Corolla WRC), Owen Murphy (Evo9) and Ian Cochrane (Evo9), with Reid and Murphy equal fastest on the first stage. On the next test Reid went off costing him over 5 minutes, the Dubliner eventually finished fourteenth, despite winning 5 other stages. Murphy, who was the pre-event Valvoline championship leader, went fastest on two and into the lead but a damaged radiator forced him out by stage 5. Ian Cochrane, who was second, also succumbed on 5 with a broken oil filter. At the end of 5, Ryan assumed the lead with McAree close behind.
For the three remaining stages Ryan had to hold his lead and his nerve as Vincent McAree (Evo9) launched a huge attack. The gap between the two, who also had a huge fight on the last round, was whittled down from 12 seconds to seven by Mc Aree, but Ryan was cool enough to take back two on the final test.
McAree’s case was not helped by a puncture that cost precious seconds. The Ballinode driver finished runners up again, this time by a margin of 9 seconds. Newbliss driver Stephen Wright (Evo6), finished in third, the former junior champion was co-driven by his sister Suzanne. Ballyvourney brothers Ger and James Lucey - both former autocross champions - had their best-ever rally result with fourth overall. Craig Breen did another giant killing act in the little Fiesta R2. The Waterford driver was as high as third overall in the later stages, but he finished fifth and first 2WD car home.
The Moonraker marks the half way point in the 2011 Valvoline championship, and Laim Ryan and Vincent Mc Aree are joint leaders with 54 points each, with Owen Murphy third on 43 points.
The next round is Donegal Forest rally Saturday July 23, followed by the Cork Forestry Saturday, August 13th and the Down rally on Saturday October 22nd.
TOP TEN RESULTS MOONRAKER RALLY
1. Liam Ryan/Aidan Bourke, Mitsubishi Evo9, 37:38
2. Vincent and JP McAree, Mitsubishi Evo9, 37:47
3. Stephen and Suzanne Wright, Mitsubishi Evo6, 38:49
4. Gerard and James Lucey, Mitsubishi Evo8, 38:57
5. Craig Breen/Gareth Roberts, Ford Fiesta R2, 39:16
6. Paul Fitzgerald/Liam Brennan, Ford Escort Mk2, 39:40
7. Patsy Keenan/Martin Brady, Evo8, 40:11
8. Mark Murphy/Carol O'Keeffe, Impreza, 41:07
9. Jer Connors/Owen O'Neill, Impreza,41:38
10. David Dunne/Mike Furey, Ford Escort Mk2, 41:45
Rally leaders SS1: J.Reid+O.Murphy, 2-4: O.Murphy, 5-8 L.Ryan
Stage winners J.Reid 6, O.Murphy 2, I.Cochrane 1.
Class Winners 2WD Craig Breen (unregistered) Paul Fitzgerald (registered).
Class 1. Joe Shinnors (Nova), 2. Mick Nevin (Escort), 3 Craig Breen (Fiesta R2), 4 Alan Commins (Escort), 5 David Dunne (Escort), 6 Stephen.Wright (Evo 9), 7 John Reid (Corolla), 8. Liam Ryan (Evo 9) and 9.Douglas Stewart Peugeot (206).
Principal retirements O.Murphy (radiator) I.Cochrane (oil cooler), S.Mc Girr (transmission), J.Deane (roll), Mick Cuddihy (ball joint) Andrew Fanning (electric) and T.Horan (engine).
