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Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne will return to American National Rally Championship action this weekend at the Southern Ohio Rally



Driving a PCRS Rallysport-prepared Hyundai I20 Rally2, Coyne will give Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy his second taste of American rallying.



They finished fourth overall and second in the RC2 class on the recent Oregan Trail Rally and that is something both Coyne and Treacy will want to build on in Ohio next weekend.


He said: “One of the great things about the ARA National Championship is that each event has its own unique character. The fast, smooth, undulating roads of Southern Ohio are really enjoyable, though the high temperature and humidity make for a physically challenging event. I’m hoping we can maintain our recent run of form at next weekend’s event.”


The rally starts in Chillicothe on Thursday with stage one in the town park and a Parc Expose for the fans. Friday stages are based near Portsmouth on the Ohio/Kentucky border.

Saturday the rally moves further north to the Zaleski State Park. 



“I am looking forward to going to America again. It’s nice to build on the experience from a few weeks ago,” said Treacy. 

Circuit of Munster 

Meanwhile on the Lyons Motor Group Circuit of Munster, Craig Rahill won the Rally 2 Class in his Ford Fiesta Rally4. 



He and co-driver Conor Smith enjoyed a rally-long battle with fellow Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crew Keelan Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock with the Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver finishing just 2.4 seconds behind. 



Such was their pace they finished 19th and 20th overall and were regularly catching Rally2 cars on stages. 


“Another amazing battle,” said Cavan-based Rahill. “We are both members of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and to think that it was so close between is amazing.” 



Academy member Aoife Raftery completed the recce of the Limerick Motor Club-organised rally. She used the opportunity to teach Junior 1000 Rally competitor Gemma Hallinan the art of pacenote making. 



Looking ahead to Sunday’s Garda Motor Club Baltinglass Rally where Cian Caldwell and Liam Egan have entered their Peugeot 208 Rally4 in the event as a pre-Donegal International Rally test. 



Text By Sean Moriarty / Pics by MI Rally Academy

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