Mallow based rally is mid-point in Valvoline Series

This Saturday's Cork Jim Walsh Cork Forestry rally is Round Four of the Valvoline Forest Rally Championship and is based as usual in Mallow, writes Austin Shinnors, PRO for the Valvoline National Forest Championship.

Pictured above at the launch of the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally are Dan Joe Fitzgerald, Lord Mayor, Mallow; President of Mallow Chamber, Mary Kelly; From Blackwater Tourism Noel O'Connor, and Clerk of the Course, Paul Casey. (Pic: Ger Leahy Photography).

Arguably the mid-point in this year's Forestry series, it is a good time to take stock of the main talking points of the opening trio of events. There was great excitement and variety with three different winners in three different types of rally cars; Garry Jennings won Donegal Forest rally in a Group A Impreza, Craig Breen won Carrick in a Fiesta S2000 and Owen Murphy was the victor in the Moonraker with his Mitsubishi Evo 9 (pictured with co-driver James O'Brien).

The Valvoline Championship opened with the Donegal Forest rally where Jennings led from start to finish and he was followed home by Stephen Wright (Evo6) and Colin Britton (Evo9). Frank Kelly was best 2WD and Ian Downey (Corsa) was the best junior.

Carrick-on-Suir MC hosted the second round and their most famous member took a break from international commitments to support his home event. Craig Breen, who is competing in the WRC S2000 and I.R.C. championships this year, dominated Carrick with a flag to flag victory in his Fiesta S2000. A very professional drive from the 2011 WRC Academy winner. As Breen did not register for the Valvoline series, the championship points were claimed by Garry Jennings (Impreza GpA), Vincent McAree (Evo9) and Colin Britton (Evo9). Shay Power was best 2WD in fifth overall and Ian Downey won the juniors again in tenth overall.

Round 3 was the Moonraker, organised by the Munster Car Club. Jennings went into an early lead, but a quick roll on stage three relegated him to sixth. Owen Murphy (Evo9) inherited the lead and the 2011 Forest Champion went on to record his first win of the year (Owen is pictured left with co-driver James O'Brien - pic: Ger Leahy Photography). Jennings recovered to take second ahead of McAree and Pat O'Connell, the 2010 champion. In a titanic struggle, Murphy's winning margin was twelve seconds and a mere two seconds separated third, fourth and fifth. Once again, Shay Power was best 2WD and Dean Raftery (Civic) the best junior.

After Round 3, the Valvoline Championship points are as follows: Garry Jennings 61, Colin Britton 52, Stephen Wright 49, and Niall Henry 40. Shay Power is top 2WD and Dean Raftery leads the Junior Class.

For Round 4, the Jim Walsh Cork Forestry rally has the experienced Paul Casey as Clerk of the Course and he devised a more compact timetable and route. Scrutiny takes place on Saturday morning with the first car leaving parc ferme at 1pm. Three classic stages will be run twice, with the first car back at the finish ramp in Mallow at 7.30pm.