Excitement builds in the Valvoline Championship

All roads lead to Mallow for next Saturday's Jim Walsh Cork Forestry Rally, round four of the 2011 Valvoline Forest Rally Championship writes Austin Shinnors, PRO Valvoline National Forest Championship.

With 14 points covering the top five drivers, this Valvoline championship is finely poised and it could be claimed by any of the leading drivers.

After winning the last round in the Moonraker rally, Cashel driver Liam Ryan shares the top of the table with Vincent McAree on 54 points, 11 ahead of Cork's Owen Murphy. Murphy was victor on the first two rounds and was top of the leader board going into the Moonraker. An overheating engine forced the Ballincollig man to retire, but dropped scores will come into play in this championship and Murphy will be in a much stronger position to challenge, writes Austin (pictured).

Cork drivers also assume fourth and fifth places, with Ger Lucey from Ballyvourney just two points adrift of Murphy and one ahead of Ballyhea's Paul Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald is also leading 2WD category where his Escort is 19 points ahead of the junior driver Douglas Stewart at the wheel of a Peugeot 206. Toyota twins Shane McGirr and Mick Cuddihy are just behind Stewart in their powerful tail sliding Starlets. Fifth in the standing is claimed by Derek Butler who is four points behind Cuddihy. Butler is also a junior driver and the Ballyclough man will be anxious to impress the home crowd in his Honda Civic.
This weekend's rally is hosted as usual by the Cork MC and the Clerk of the Course is Paul Casey who returns after running a very successful rally last year. Casey and his team have laid on a course consisting of eight stages totaling 90kms. In the morning, there are three stages in Peter's Hill, Bweeng and Mount Hilary, which are repeated. In the afternoon, the challenging 19kms Streamhill Bridge stage in the Ballyhoura mountains will be run twice. Rally headquarters is in the Roundabout Inn and service at Quartertown Industrial Estate, Mallow.

Top seeds for Jim Walsh Cork Forestry Rally

1. Vincent McAree Mitsubishi Evo9
2. Liam Ryan Mitsubishi Evo9
3. Owen Murphy Mitsubishi Evo9
4. Pat O'Connell Mitsubishi Evo9
5. Ian Cockrane Mitsubishi Evo9
6. Martin Kerins Subaru WRC
7. Enda McNulty Subaru Gp N
8. Stephen Wright Mitsubishi Evo6
9. Ger Lucey Mitsubishi Evo8
10. Frank Kelly Ford Escort Mk2