McErlean gathers valuable data despite early finish to Cork ’20’
Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean praised the decision by the Cork ‘20’ Rally organisers to declare the rally early on safety grounds.
The final round of the Samdec Irish Tarmac Rally Championship was run in tough conditions.
As the day progressed the rain got considerably worse and standing water became an increasing safety concern.
McErlean and co-driver James Fulton competed in the Rathcormac-based event as a pre-event test for the forthcoming World Rally Championship’s Rally of Central Europe.
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McErlean and Fulton have contested six rounds of the WRC 2 championship at the wheel of a Toksport run Skoda Fabia Rally2.
All WRC events so far this year have been on gravel so when an opportunity arose to drive a C & M Motorsport-supplied Fabia on home soil and to get some important asphalt kilometres ahead of the penultimate round of the WRC the Derry/Cavan pairing jumped at the chance.
A puncture and a spin on the opening loop meant they were off the pace of frontrunners that included Callum Devine/ Noel O’Sullivan and Keith Cornin/ Mikie Galvin who were both vying for the championship.
However, they did set one fastest time and were in fourth place overall when the organisers elected to cancel the last loop of stages due to the worsening conditions.
McErlean felt it was the right call but was also happy to gather some valuable data in difficult conditions ahead of the Rally of Central Europe.
“The organisers made the correct decision to call it off, thanks to all the volunteers who braved the day, “he said.
“We have made progress in the car and with the set-up, despite the conditions being so extreme. It was a nice finish to grab the fastest time on the last stage.”
McBride's Rally4 triumph means Stellantis Cup battle goes to the wire
Kyle McBride’s giant-killing performance in his Peugeot 208 Rally4 ensures that the Stellantis Cup is now a three-way title fight going into the final round – The Cambrian Rally – in October.
McBride and co-driver Darragh Mullen finished the Cork ‘20’ in 20th place overall and took maximum points in the new 2024 one-make championship.
Keelan Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock started Cork as leaders of the Stellantis Cup but an off-road excursion early in the rally hindered their progress.
However, they did take home sixth-place points to keep their title bid alive.
Cian Caldwell, who had Domhnall Lennon on the notes for the first time brought their Ford Fiesta Rally4 home in fourth place in the highly competitive Class 2.
They finished just seven seconds behind Welsh visitors Loan Lloyd and Sion Williams who left Cork as the third crew in line for Stellantis Cup honours and with it an all-expenses paid package on the 2024 Junior FIA European Rally Championship.
All four crews are heading to the Clare Forestry Rally on Saturday.
Six Academy crews head to Clare
Several Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews are entered in Clare Motor Club’s first forest rally in over 40 years and all have very different reasons to be there.
“We are going back to the gravel after Cork for some seat time before we head to the Cambrian at the end of the month. The Stellantis Cup will go down to the final round so we want to make sure we are in the best shape we can be,” explained Grogan.
Grogan is one of six Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews on the Clare Forestry Rally entry list.
Leading the fray is Ryan MacHugh and co-driver Declan Boyle in their Ford Fiesta Rally4.
The Donegal driver is one of several who can win the British Junior Rally title at the Cambrian and he is using the Clare event to get valuable seat time ahead of the title showdown.
“I am looking forward to getting back on the gravel and picking up after the Bushwhacker and see if we can make any improvements to the car,” said MacHugh.
“I am hoping to get a good test for the Cambrian at the end of the month which is the aim here.”
Ford Fiesta Rally4 crew Craig Rahill and Conor Smith can secure the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series if they finish the rally.
“We have the hard work done now and all we have to do is finish to wrap up the championship,” said Rahill. “The plan is to just find a steady pace and not get caught up in any battles for the class win and just bring it home.”
It is exactly 12 months since Aoife Raftery tacked an Irish gravel event. Last year’s Carrick-on-Suir Forestry Rally was the first time that she and co-driver Hannah McKillop worked together and since then they have formed a formidable alliance in the Hankook Tires Junior FIA European Rally Championship.
“It will be great to apply what we have learned on international gravel events and see how good our pace is against the lads, especially as they all seem to be fighting for major championships,” said the Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver. “It is a new event for everyone so that should level up the playing field too.”
Caldwell is also on the entry list in his Ford Fiesta Rally4.
Jack Brennan is the sixth Rally Academy driver entered in Clare. He will be co-driven by Eoghan Doherty in his Peugeot 208 Rally4 and is using the rally as preparation for rallies later in the year.
“I am really looking forward to getting back on to the gravel where I am more comfortable and confident, from looking at the DVD, it looks like a great event set out by Clare Motor Club,” said Brennan.
“We are really looking forward to the event which should gain us more confidence and better pace leading up to our next events over the next couple of weeks.”
Text by Sean Moriarty / Pics by MIRallyAcademy
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