The rally was the opening round of the 2013 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship, and was based in Kantoher Business Park, near New Castle West. The stage distance was 40km based on two stages (repeated) on the foothills of the Mullaghareirk mountains.
Morrow (Evo9) made a cautious start with 5th fastest on the first stage. The former Mitsubishi UK works driver improved to third through the second and third stages. At the end of stage three, Morrow was 8.4 seconds behind leader O'Brien, and on the last test Morrow took fastest time and beat O'Brien by 9.8 seconds which catapulted the Lisburn man on to the top of the podium.
O'Brien (Focus WRC) was fastest on the first three stages and the Corkman looked set for his first victory of the year, but perhaps a conservative approach on the final test cost him overall victory.
Owen Murphy (Evo9) was in great form all day, second fastest on the first brace of tests, fifth on the third stage and another second fastest on the last stage. Murphy had been second to O'Brien until Morrow's last stage heroics.
Vincent McAree (Evo9) and Martin Cairns (Subaru WRC) claimed fourth and fifth spots while 2010 champion Pat O'Connell (Evo9) was sixth overall. Shane McGirr (Starlet RWD) was best in the two wheel drive category and the juniors class was won once again by Dean Raftery (Civic). Raftery is the current Valvoline junior champion.
Philip Morrow/Jonny Hart (Evo9) 22.06.5
Michael O'Brien/Greg Shinnors (Focus WRC) 22.07.9
Owen Murphy/James O'Brien (Evo9) 22.12.4
Vincent McAree/JP McAree (Evo9) 22.20.1
Pat O'Connell/Mark Wiley (Evo9) 22.37.4
