Latest news with #SkodaFabiaR5
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.
Press and Journal
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
All you need to know: 2025 Speyside Stages as David Bogie returns in search of back-to-back triumphs
David Bogie is aiming to make it back-to-back McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages triumphs in this weekend's Scottish Rally Championship opener. Leading seed Bogie, a six-time Scottish champion, is aiming to rack up a 12th Speyside Stages victory alongside co-driver John Rowan in their Skoda Fabia RS, following his victory last year. Among his closest competitors could be Castle Douglas' Jock Armstrong – himself a two-time Scottish rally champion. Armstrong holds the record for the fastest time through the Cooper Park, which hosts the opening two stages, and will return alongside co-driver Owen Paterson in their Skoda Fabia. After signing off the 2024 campaign in style by winning the Caledonian Rally, Aberlour co-driver Michael Hendry will be targeting a home victory to help Dumfries' Mark McCulloch pick up from where he left off. Another home contender will be Huntly's John Wink, who secured his first SRC victory at last year's Snowman Rally. Wink will be accompanied by Will Atkins, who is deputising for regular co-driver Neil Shanks – the Speyside Stages clerk of the course. Muir of Ord's Scott Macbeth and co-driver Dan Forsyth are seeded fifth, in their Skoda Fabia R5. Among the other north contenders are Alford's Scott Beattie (seeded sixth), Banchory's Bruce McCombie (11th), Aberdeen's Chris Collie (19th) and Paddy Munro from Kyle of Lochalsh, who is seeded 20th. The opening two stages take place at Cooper Park in Elgin, with the first car due from 9am. Spectators can park at Lossie Green. The only spectator stage beyond this is Whiteash, with the first cars due at 12.45pm – however spectators must be in place by 12.15pm. The car park is situated on an unclassified road between the A96 and B9016 which runs alongside the south-western side of the forest – with parking costing £5 per car which will be donated to the Riding for the Disabled charity. Cars will also stop twice at Keith Showground for a service, which will be available for spectators to watch from 11.16am and 1.18pm. The rally will come to a conclusion at UHI Moray in Elgin, where the first cars are due to return from 3.45pm – after which the presentation and champagne spray will take place. 1 David Bogie (Dumfries) and John Rowan (Portglenone) – Skoda Fabia RS 2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas) and Owen Paterson (Dumfries) – Skoda Fabia 3 Mark McCulloch (Dumfries) and Michael Hendry (Aberlour) – Proton Satria Evo 4 John Wink (Huntly) and Will Atkins (Whitchurch) – Hyundai i20 R5 5 Scott Macbeth (Muir of Ord) and Dan Forsyth (Elgin) – Skoda Fabia R5 6 Scott Beattie (Alford) and Peredur Davies (Pwllheli) – Ford Fiesta R5 7 Daniel Sigurðarson (Hafnarfjorour) and Asta Sigurdardóttir (Hafnarfjorour) – Skoda Fabia 8 Darren Gass (Markethill) and TBC – Volkswagen Polo 9 Stephen Petch (Hamsterley) and Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) – Ford Fiesta Rally2 10 Hugh Brunton (Angus) and Martin Brady (Galway) – Volkswagen Polo R5 Cooper Park (Elgin) – first car due at 9am Keith Showfield – first car due at 11.16am, and again at 1.18pm Whiteash – first car due at 12.45pm – spectators to be in place by 12.15pm UHI Moray (Elgin) – first car due at 3.45pm
