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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Planning pays off as delighted William Creighton toasts Grampian Forest Rally success
Creighton delivered a masterclass on Friday and Saturday, recording fastest times on five of the 10 speed tests that made up the gravel fixture West of Aberdeen to secure a second victory of the campaign at the controls of his Melvyn Evans Motorsport-run Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The former Junior World Rally Champion and Junior British Rally Champion laid the foundations for success by navigating the short Friday leg 16 seconds faster than anyone else before extending his advantage across Saturday's eight special stages to lead the main field home with 32.5 seconds in hand. With his driving-mate Melvyn Evans losing valuable ground in Scotland by coming home third, beaten to the extra points by the Citroen C3 Rally2 of Max McRae — nephew of the late Colin McRae, and the grandson of sporting legend Jimmy — the result had added significance for Creighton's pursuit of the drivers' crown. The result came against the backdrop of Creighton having to open the road for his Rally2 rivals and, in the process, sweep a cleaner, grippier line — yet despite this, he somehow still managed to find an extra gear on the fast, flowing forest roads around Banchory. It was also a different outcome to 12 months ago when a frustrating run at the same meeting eventually ended in retirement for the 27-year-old from Moira. 'It feels amazing, we put a lot of preparation into this rally,' said Creighton, who now turns his attention to the closed roads of Rali Ceredigion in Wales, the penultimate round of the British Rally Championship. 'We have been working on the videos and working on the car to improve the driving and get the most out of this weekend and the final result has made that all worthwhile, so I am delighted. 'I want to thank Melvyn Evans Motorsport, the team of mechanics who have helped us prepare, all my sponsors and the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and, of course, Liam as well because we have worked hard in the build-up to the Grampian. 'The win is fantastic and it is super points for the Championship, so I am just super, super happy with how the weekend has gone. It has gone a lot better than last year; we learned a lot and I think we have done well — it is great to achieve what we have.'
Irish Examiner
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motors: Doherty and Murphy penalised six minutes for late arrival at Raven's Rock Rally
The results of the Waterford based Raven's Rock Rally remain provisional after long-time leaders Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty and his Limerick co-driver John Murphy were penalised six minutes after they arrived late for the start of the seventh stage when their Skoda Fabia R5 developed power steering problems. Doherty has intimated that he will appeal the penalty decision, it appears the stage didn't start as per the schedule. In the meantime, Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5) top the classification - 14.2s ahead of the Derry/Donegal pairing of Desi Henry/Dean O'Sullivan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) with Donegal's Declan Boyle and co-driver Patrick Walsh (Skoda Fabia Rally2) another 10.5s behind in third. Doherty/Murphy are currently classified thirty-seventh. In mixed weather conditions Doherty, determined to set the pace, topped the time sheets on all three stages of the opening loop and arrived at the Waterford service park with a 20.5s advantage over the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Derry's Desi Henry with Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) third 2.5s further behind in third. Having spun on a gravely section on SS3, championship leader Josh Moffett was down in fourth spot - 26.6s behind, he also struggled with pop-off valve issues. Just seven crews finished the opening stage after Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin slid his Citroen C3 Rally2 off the road within a short distance of the stage start. Of the seven, Doherty was 1.5s ahead of Josh Moffett. Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy failed to make it to the start of SS1 when his Citroen C3 Rally2 caught fire. Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty (Hyundia i20 R5) top the classification for the Raven's Rock Rally in Waterford where the results are currenlty provisional. Pic: Martin Walsh. Out on SS2, Doherty extended his lead to 2.8s with Desi Henry third some 12.3s further adrift. On the second loop and while the pop-off issue was intermittent Josh Moffett was quickest on SS4 and SS5 and moved back into second with Doherty holding a 29.6s advantage after SS6. Henry was untroubled in third and reckoned second was still within his reach as he trailed Josh Moffett by seven seconds. The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars of Declan and Michael Boyle followed, the latter admitted he picked a tyre compound that was too hard for the conditions while the former was cautious on the shiny tar on SS6 where the rain made for slippery conditions. Sam Moffett, who lost time with a spin on SS6, rounded out the top six. There was drama on the way to the final loop as Doherty's Skoda developed a power steering problem. Although he punched in the best time on SS7 where he ran out of sequence, a six minute road penalty demoted him to 36th position - five and half minutes off the lead. Josh Moffett was the new leader but Henry was only 6.3s in arrears, however, Moffett kept his Derry rival at bay on the remaining stages. - a result now depending on the outcome Doherty's appeal. Meanwhile and struggling with set-up issues and the balance of his M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 through most of Rally di Roma Capitale, round five of the European Rally Championship, Kesh driver Join Armstrong finished 11th. A difficult time on Saturday's six stages, he was 14th overnight. He was forced to reverse on Sunday's second stage after his Fiesta Rally2 had a half spin at a tight hairpin but then posted the third fastest time on SS10. 'I'm a long way from where I need to be that is for sure." Armstrong and his Donegal co-driver Shane Byrne, who were third on the Power Stage, went on to finish 11th. The event was won by Giandomenico Basso who held off title contender Andrea Mabellini on the final stage to win by 3.7s. Championship leader Miko Marczyk was edged out by Mabellini on the penultimate stage and had to settle for third, 7.4s off top spot, all three in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars. Elsewhere, second place on the Loughgall Stages Rally was enough for Aaron McLaughlin/ Darren Curran (VW Polo GTi R5) to seal the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship title while locals Marty Toner/David Wright won their home event for the first time. Toner (Proton Satria Neo) led through the days six stages as McLaughlin was down in 14th place after SS1 with fuel problems. Armagh's Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) took the final spot on the podium. Raven's Rock Rally (Round 4, Triton Showers National Rally Championship) Waterford: Provisional Results: 1. J. Moffett/K. Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5) 57m. 56.9s; 2. D. Henry/D. O'Sullivan(Ford Fiesta Rally2)+14.2s; 3. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+24.7s; 4. S. Moffett/S. Buckley (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+34.0s; 5. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+38.6s; 6. J. Dickson/M. Brady (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m.00.2s; 7. P. Barrett/D. Kelly (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 08.7s; 8. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 30.0s; 9. J. Stafford/R. Cleary (Darrian T90 GTR)+2m. 09.7s; 10. T. Holton/S. Joyce (Ford Fiesta)+2m. 33.9s. Loughgall Stages Rally, Loughgall: 1 M. Toner/D. Wright (Proton Satria Neo) 25m. 11.6s; 2. A. McLaughlin/D. Curran (Volkswagen Polo R5)+1.9s; 3. J. Black/K. Egan (Toyota Starlet)+31.6s; 4. C. Wilson/K. McDaid (Hyundai i20)+37.6s; 5. S. Murray/G. Hade (Ford Fiesta)+1m.15.1s; 6. J. Kennedy/H. Kennedy (Ford Escort)+1m. 30.7s.
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Former Kilkenny hurler Doherty on local terrain in Raven's Rock Rally
Motorsport The biennial national rally championship calendar, introduced in 2022, brings some interesting situations, such as the progress of Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty, the current leader of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship that reaches its midpoint with Sunday's Waterford-based Raven's Rock Rally. Two years ago, campaigning a Mk. 2 Ford Escort, Doherty finished the penultimate stage of "The Rock" leading the Modified category and an impressive seventh overall. However, a final-stage puncture cost him the category win as he finished ninth overall. From one of the top exponents in the rear-wheel drive section, the former Kilkenny minor hurler is now equally adept in four-wheel drive category where he steers the Skoda Fabia R5 he debuted at the end of that same season. With his home county involved in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Tipperary, Doherty will be forgiven for the desire to check updates in between the rally stages where he will showcase his talent with equal aplomb. "Yes, it's (switch to Skoda) gone well but you are always looking for that bit extra to push on and hopefully we (with co-driver John Murphy) will get a better overall finish than two years ago." The terrain (with stages in County Kilkenny), while not overly familiar to Doherty, "is local in general terms." Many drivers can get caught out on their local stages, something that Doherty understands. "Where you know roads, especially on the fast stuff, it's easy to interpret them for other sections. Our pacenotes will be very important on Sunday. On the one-day events, it's all go from the start, you can't afford to wait and see what happens." Doherty will have all his familiar rivals like Monaghan's Josh Moffett, who, like a few others, will benefit from the three days seat time Donegal. Doherty hasn't competed since the last Triton round in Cavan where things didn't go according to plan when he finished fifth. He still leads the series - three points ahead of Sam Moffett, with Josh (Moffett) seven points further behind the third. Others is search of valuable points are Derry's Desi Henry, who will pilot a Ford Fiesta Rally2 as his Citroen C3 Rally2 is being re-fettled, Declan and Michael Boyle in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars, Tyrone's Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). The top ten also features Clonakilty's David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Paul Barrett (Citroen C3 Rally2) while akin to Guest, Enniskerry's Daniel Barry (VW Polo GTi R5), Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5) will be without the shackles of the national championship. The top contenders in the rear wheel drive category are Wexford's James Stafford and the Escorts of Monaghan's Johno Doogan and Cavan's Chris Armstrong. The first stage starts at 10.15am. Meanwhile, as the European Rally Championship returns to sealed surfaces with the Rally di Roma in the Eternal City, Kesh driver Jon Armstrong reckons he can push for more podiums following his third place in the recent Rally Poland, his first podium of the current ERC season. The M-Sport Ford WRT driver said, 'It definitely makes it more achievable to have a good result now. We've had good pace all year but no result. We could have been in a good position in the championship now because we've been faster than the guys on top on most rallies. It's a shame but this is how it goes sometimes." Championship leader Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) holds a 16-point lead over Mads Ostberg (Citroen C3 Rally2). Following this (Friday) evening's Colosseum 1.3km super special stage there are six stages tomorrow and six more on Sunday. The strong Irish contingent includes Philip Allen (Skoda Fabia Rally2), Eamonn Boland (Fiesta Rally2) and Billy Coleman award winner Craig Rahill (Peugeot 208 Rally4). Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship continues tomorrow with the Loughgall Stages Rally with double event winner Carndonagh's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5) heading the entry from Armagh pair Damien Toner (Ford Escort) and Jason Black (Toyota Starlet).
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: No fear of the unknown for championship leader Eddie Doherty
It doesn't really bother Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) that he will be in somewhat unfamiliar places and situations this weekend. As he continues his quest to win the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the former county minor hurler has never competed in the Cavan Rally, this Sunday's third round of the campaign. Following an impressive victory in the previous round - the Circuit of Kerry - he has grabbed a nine-point lead in the series - the first time he has ever led by more than a handful of points. Agreeing that a good reconnaissance of the stages is key, he said, "We don't treat these things any different to what we do any other rally weekend. The Circuit of Kerry was our first time doing it and we were able to win the rally. I don't think any more into it, that process could wreck your head. It's great to have a competitive entry and there are four of five (drivers) doing the Maiden City Rally on Saturday and they will have plenty of seat time. The national series is our primary concern for this year." He concluded: "Last year I made the mistake thinking about points and at the end of the year it didn't work out. You have to win rallies to get a good championship result." What will be familiar though is his championship opposition that includes Josh and Sam Moffett in Hyundai's, Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2, Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally2), Donegal trio David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and the Skoda Fabia Rally2 cars of Michael and Declan Boyle, local ace Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Cork's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is also in the top ten. Meanwhile and in the absence of series leader William Creighton from this weekend's Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, the third round of the Probite British Rally Championship is likely to have a new frontrunner with M-Sport's Romet Jurgenson, the FIA Rally Star and reigning Junior WR champion favourite to capitalise. A family wedding has ruled Creighton out on this occasion while top seed and last year's rally winner Keith Cronin withdrew his entry following his accident of the Rally of the Lakes and is pausing his rallying for the immediate future to concentrate on business interests. Estonian Jurgenson (25) is aiming to secure back-to-back wins but Welsh aces James Williams (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) and Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), local hero Garry Pearson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Max McRae (Citroen C3 Rally2) will aim to deny him the spoils. Evans is targeting a strong result. 'We certainly go to the event with confidence, having had a strong run on the Rally of the Lakes. Although the Scottish stages are a lot different in character to the ones in Killarney, the plan is to carry that form into this weekend and put in another good performance." Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) is a late entry. In the Junior BRC, Irish drivers Kyle McBride, Joe Kelly and Kalum Graffin, all in Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, will be chasing maximum points. Beginning with the Langton Mill stage and its iconic water splash, there are six stages this evening and eight more tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship reaches midpoint with tomorrow's Derry based Maiden City Rally. Local ace Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally) heads a competitive entry that includes series leader, Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5), who is seeded at nine. Like many others Kesh driver Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is utilising the rally as a shakedown for the Donegal International. That grouping also includes Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2), Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and recent winner of the Tipperary Forest Rally, Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Glengormley's Derek McGarrity (VW Polo GTi R5) returns to the series as Warrenpoint's Peadar Hurson and Strabane's Aidan Wray in VW Polo GTi R5's along with Joe McGonigle (Citroen C3 Rally2) round out the top ten. The first of the day's seven stages starts at 9.53am.
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Rally of the Lakes in Killarney to be crucial in championship race
This weekend's Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney is a crucial and possible defining moment within the context of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It will be more than a head to head between reigning champion and current leader Ballylickey's Keith Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who is seeking a fourth straight win in Killarney. For Welsh driver Matt Edwards (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) it's a key event insofar as he hasn't finished the previous rounds - the West Cork Rally and the Circuit of Ireland. Current regulations stipulate the best five scores from the seven events, however, a place has yet to be found for the postponed Galway International Rally (due to Storm Éowyn) and that is a concern, should it not go ahead, the series will be based on the best five from six. That will put Edwards at an immediate disadvantage, right now though, he won't or can't think about that, yet it's nigh on imperative that he garners major championship points this weekend. Devine has a strong record in Killarney - a fourth successive win will edge him closer to the all-time record of five set by the late Bertie Fisher. Having missed the opening round, the Derry driver quickly dialled into the pace showing fine form on his return after a six month absence and took advantage of Cronin's late demise to win the recent Circuit of Ireland. He will be in confident mood and that should ramp up the pace over the Killarney terrain. The format is competitor friendly with Saturday's loop of three stages relatively close to Killarney (SS1 - Headford starts at 8.15am) while Sunday's action is the familiar double loop over Moll's Gap (SS10, 10.50am), Ballaghbeama and Shanera. Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin have unfinished business as the Ballylickey driver explains. "We had a good lead built up on the Lakes twelve months ago when we got the puncture on Saturday afternoon, it cost us well over two minutes. Any chance of winning the rally was gone and I really felt like parking it up, but Mikie (Galvin) pushed me on to keep going. We had another few fastest times on the Sunday and wound up fourth." There's no lack of motivation, with even more incentive to erase their Circuit of Ireland experience. Having dominated and led until the penultimate stage it only underlined the often cruel nature of the sport. But, Cronin has seen that long before now. "You have to put in the times, but you need a bit of luck as well to get it over the line." Aware that Devine, Edwards will be his principal rivals, Cronin will manage his own pace, recently, he has expressed the view that he doesn't take the risks he did a few years ago, maybe that comes down to experience (or age) nevertheless, his pace is still hugely competitive. Welsh driver Meirion Evans brings his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to Killarney for an inaugural visit that could prove interesting, especially without the shackles of championship points. Both Monaghan's Josh Moffett and Tyrone's Cathan McCourt have withdrawn from the seeded entry list. Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) was a late retirement from the Circuit of Ireland with a double puncture on the penultimate stage, he continues to close the gap to Cronin, Devine and Edwards. The capacity entry also has the Donegal quintet of David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5), Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Michael Boyle (VW Polo GTi R5), Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Matthew Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally2) along with Cavan's Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5). Donegal's Ryan McHugh (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Tyrone's Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are the latest additions to the Rally2 category. As ever, the chase for success in the Modified category includes locals Colin O'Donoghue and Rob Duggan in their Class 14 Ford Escorts with fellow Escort drivers Johno Doogan, Rodney Wilton and Damian Toner providing the opposition. Killarney's Alan Ring (BMW M3) heads the Historic section.
