Latest news with #ToyotaGRYarisRally2
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
I can't compete at Donegal while pal Brian Hoy recovers after horror crash, says Kris Meeke
Meeke was due to compete at June's event with the Fermanagh navigator in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – the same car he has so far dominated the 2025 Portuguese Rally Championship in, winning three of the opening four rounds. Hoy is currently recovering from an accident that happened on the Cavan Stages Rally; he was sitting alongside Garry Jennings when their Ford Fiesta Rally2 went off the road and hit a tree. Jennings said the cause of the crash was due to the supermini getting out of shape over a small jump. Thanks to the quick thinking of fellow competitors Cathan McCourt and Barry McNulty and Declan Boyle and Patrick McCrudden, he said they both owed their lives to them. Jennings sustained a broken leg, sternum, ribs, shoulder and wrist in the incident, while Hoy has been receiving treatment for a broken leg and arm. As such, former World Rally Championship event winner Meeke has decided to pull his Donegal Rally entry, with the 45-year-old also citing the tragic death of Dai Roberts on the second day of the Duns-based Jim Clark Rally as another reason. Roberts' driving mate James Williams was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he has since undergone surgery, with his condition said to be stable and the prognosis 'positive'. Posting on social media, Meeke wrote: 'I had hoped to be out on Donegal International Rally this year, and Brian Hoy was due to co-drive. 'Unfortunately, Brian was badly injured last weekend in a rally with Garry Jennings. 'Out of respect to Brian and the tragic events on the Jim Clark Rally, I felt uneasy to search around for a co-driver who I'd no experience with. So, finally we decided to postpone our entry until the future. 'Huge thanks to all who put in the effort to put everything together. Wishing Brian Hoy and Garry Jennings all the strength in their recovery,' added Meeke, whose previous outing on Irish soil came in 2009 at the Midland Stages Rally. Meanwhile, a JustGiving page set up to support the wife and two children of Dai Roberts has so far raised over £126,900. Those behind the idea have said the money will go to cover funeral costs and provide ongoing support.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Struggle for Armstrong and Byrne at Royal Rally of Scandinavia
Luck continues to desert the Irish crew of Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who ended the first leg of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, the third round of the European Rally Championship, in 12th place. Scandinavian aces, Norway's Eyvind Brynildsen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Sweden's Isak Riersen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are locked in a tense tussle with the former holding a 5.1s advantage. However, three others - Roope Kornhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), Frank Larsen (VW Polo GTi R5) and Andrea Mabellini (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are all within 22s of the lead heading into Saturday's final leg of eight stages. For Armstrong it was another day of highs and lows, from an impressive stage win on the SS4 to come within 9.5s of rally leader Brynildsen, further progress was halted just 3.2km into SS5 when he was forced to stop and change a punctured front wheel. 'We just went a bit too early in a corner over a crest and hit a bit of rock on the inside that was sticking out and I didn't spot it on the recce.' He added, 'These stages, you start going (cutting) more early everywhere because everyone is doing it and just end up seeing lines that weren't there when you started so we got a puncture and stopped to change it. It's frustrating." Fellow Irish driver Philip Allen (who won the qualifying stage) was only 6.1s off top spot before his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 went off on a slippery tarmac section some 8.2km into the same stage. To his credit, Armstrong made a good recovery on the afternoon's three stages and clawed back six places. Rain on the day's final stage made for a tricky situation. "It was hard to keep a rhythm, a bit too much sliding with the rain, let's see what tomorrow brings." Brynildsen moved into the lead after SS4 and while Mads Ostberg (Citroen C3 Rally2) occupied second from SS5, a puncture on the penultimate stage saw him slip to eighth - 40.1s off the lead. In a post on Instagram, Kris Meeke (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) has postponed his entry for the Donegal International Rally out of respect for his co-driver Brian Hoy and the tragic events on last week's Jim Clark Rally. Hoy was co-driver for Garry Jennings during last Sunday's Cavan Rally when the pair were injured in a crash. Eslewhere, the entry list for the Donegal International Rally (June 20/22) was announced on Friday evening. The top 10 is: 1. Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 3. Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4. William Creighton (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2); 5. Matt Edwards (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 6. Josh Moffett (Citroen C3 Rally2); 7. Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5); 8. Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), 9. Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 10. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Round 3: European Rally Championship) Positions after Leg 1: E. Brynildsen/J. Listerud (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 47m. 59.1s; 2. I. Reiersen/S. Gustavsson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+5.1s; 3. R. Korhonen/A. Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+6.8s; 4. F. Larsen/L. Lundgreen (VW Polo GTi R5)+48m. 07.7s; 5. A. Mabellini/V. Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+22.0s; 6. M. Marczyk/S. Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+32.4s; 7. M. Johansson/J. Gronvall (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+34.2s; 8. M. Ostberg/L. Karlsson (Citroen C3 Rally2)+40.1s; 9. S. Tempestini/S. Itu (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+50.4s; 10. S. Lefebvre/A. Malfoy (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 01.8s; 11. J. Matulka/D. Syty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 32.6s; 12. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 18.5s.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Crunch time for Armstrong and Byrne in Scandinavia
Regarded as one of the fastest events, the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia is the latest setting for Irish pair Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne, who need to garner some top points for their European Rally Championship bid. The 17-stage Karlstad-based rally is a familiar location for the 30-year-old Kesh driver, who made his Rally2 debut at this level two years ago. 'It's primarily on roads used every day, so they're very wide and compact. But you've got quite a lot of loose gravel on top, so you want a lower road position to avoid road sweeping. It's all about carrying your speed, getting your lines right and keeping your right foot down as much as possible," said Armstrong. The former ERC3 champion will take encouragement from his pace in Rally Hungary, where he was only some 10 seconds off the lead after five stages before two punctures dropped him well down the order. "When you've lost that much time, you just have to try to reset and get back to the front again, just try to keep your pace up.' Points on the board for Armstrong/Byrne will be important, especially after their non-finish in the first round in Spain. While they recovered to finish 10th in Hungary, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team crew will push the Pirelli-shod Ford Fiesta Rally2 to the maximum. Armstrong continued: 'Sweden's a different character rally (in comparison to the rough stages in Hungary) there will be lots of locals, but we have to give it a good go, it's my third year here, so I need to keep the right foot down. "It's not been a good start to the season but at least we have some pace. We just need some luck and a result and hopefully that will come.' Those locals include Isak Reiersen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and reigning ERC Junior champion Mille Johansson (20), who has upgraded to a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 for his home event. Fresh from his ERC winning debut outing in Hungary, much is expected of Finland's Roope Korhonen in his MRF Tyres Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and his battle with championship leader Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and the similar car of Andrea Mabellini, Citroen C3 Rally 2 duo Mads Ostberg and Max McRae, Jos Verstappen and Simone Tempestini - both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars and inaugural Junior ERC champion Stéphane Lefebvre (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) should be interesting. Armstrong, seeded at nine, should be very much in the mix. Meanwhile, and in the absence of championship leader Cashel's Pat O'Connell, who is on a family vacation, there's a strong possibility that the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally series will have a new leader at the end of Saturday's Mayo Forest Rally, the fourth round of the championship. Tyrone's Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia Rs Rally2) is best placed to take advantage as he seeks to continue his good form having won on his two outings to date. He won last time out in Mitchelstown to close to within five points of O'Connell, however, given the shorter nature of tomorrow's event - just 45.16km - there will be room for error. Having made a good start, reigning champion Monaghan's Derek Mackarel (Ford Fiesta R5) has struggled with problems on his last two outings while Waterford's Andrew Purcell (Ford Fiesta Rally2) will be determined to turn the tables on Mitchell on this occasion. Others like the Tyrone trio of Gareth Mimnagh, Niall McGonigle and Stephen Dickson, all in Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars, provide the top opposition. The Mk.2 Escorts of Tyrone's Hugh McQuaid and Donegal's Damien Tourish are the top seeds in the two-wheel drive category where the Peugeot 208 Rally4 pair Cian Caldwell and Keelan Grogan and Jack Harris (Ford Fiesta) should make an impression. There are some twenty-six entries in the J1000 category led by the VW UP of Kilkenny's David Travers with a debut for former karter Meath's Holly Dunnion (Peugeot 107). The first of the six stages begins at 9.31am. Elsewhere, the Skibbereen Endurance Trial that has twenty selectives over the day has a 10.00am start on Sunday from the Carbery Rangers GAA complex in Rosscarbery.
Observer
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
Al Rawahi finishes Rally Saudi Arabia in 5th position
JEDDAH,SAUDI ARABIA: Abdullah al Rawahi overcame a series of flat tyres to finish fifth overall in the inaugural Jeddah-based Rally Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The Omani teamed up with British co-driver Ross Whittock and tackled two days of demanding action across new special stages to the east and north of the Red Sea city. The Oman Rally Team driver's progress in his Autotek Škoda Fabia RS was hampered by a series of flat tyres on Friday and more time lost on the penultimate stage on Saturday. But he was regularly third quickest on individual gravel stages behind eventual winner Nasser Saleh al Attiyah and Finnish runner-up Juho Hänninen. The points haul keeps him in contention for the Drivers' Championship as the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship reached its halfway point. Al Rawahi said: 'It has been a disappointing rally for us. A lot of punctures. We are not sure why because we are not hitting rocks sideways. I don't know if it is luck or something to do with the tyres. We have a different compound tyre to Nasser but this is all we have. Today's stages were a bit more open but everyone was cutting.' The second day of Rally Saudi Arabia used three special stages to the north of Jeddah that were repeated twice. Al Rawahi began the day in fifth overall and consolidated that position after the opening Al Ghulah stage. He set the fourth fastest time on the first pass through Asfan and closed in on fourth-placed Abdulaziz al Kuwari, who sustained a puncture. The Omani was third quickest through the Thahban special and headed back to the service point in Jeddah well clear of sixth-placed Hamza Bakhashab and still within striking distance of Al Kuwari in fourth. Oman Rally Team's Abdullah al Rawahi in action at Rally Saudi Arabia. He was third quickest again on the re-run of the Al Ghulah stage but further tyre woes cost him vital time in the penultimate stage. But Al Rawahi finished the event on a high note with the second quickest time on the concluding Power Stage to secure additional points towards his regional championship campaign. The Oman Rally Team has received vital backing from Al Manar Investments, the Oman Automobile Association, WMS, Zamakan, OQ, Strike, Size, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MoCSY) and National Finance. Round four of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship takes place in Jordan on May 29—31. 2025 Rally Saudi Arabia — positions after SS12: 1. Nasser Saleh al Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 34min 05.5sec 2. Juho Hänninen (FIN)/Janni Hussi (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 35min 42.9sec* 3. Rakan al Rashed (KSA)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 39min 08.9sec 4. Abdulaziz al Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2 1hr 40min 06.4sec 5. Abdullah al Rawahi (OMA)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 43min 11.8sec 6. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R (SSV) 1hr 47min 11.7sec 7. Nasser Khalifa al Attiyah (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2 1hr 49min 56.9sec 8. Abdullah al Zubair (OMA)/Taha al Zadjali (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 1hr 55min 18.9sec 9. Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA)/Firas Elias (LBN) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 2hr 00min 43.5sec 10. Rashid al Muhannadi (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 02min 18.0sec 11. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 02min 43.6sec 12. Ihab al Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 2hr 02min 54.5sec 13. Zakariya al Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed al Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 2hr 07min 11.5sec 14. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (NAT) 2hr 11min 38.7sec 15. Mohammed al Marri (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 48min 27.0sec
Times of Oman
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Fifth place for Oman rally team's Al-Rawahi in gruelling Rally Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH (SAUDI ARABIA): Abdullah Al-Rawahi overcame a series of flat tyres to finish fifth overall in the inaugural Jeddah-based Rally Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The Omani teamed up with British co-driver Ross Whittock and tackled two days of demanding action across new special stages to the east and north of the Red Sea city. The Oman Rally Team driver's progress in his Autotek Škoda Fabia RS was hampered by a series of flat tyres on Friday and more time lost on the penultimate stage on Saturday. But he was regularly third quickest on individual gravel stages behind eventual winner Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Finnish runner-up Juho Hänninen. The points haul keeps him in contention for the Drivers' Championship as the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship reached its halfway point. Al-Rawahi said: 'It has been a disappointing rally for us. A lot of punctures. We are not sure why because we are not hitting rocks sideways. I don't know if it is luck or something to do with the tyres. We have a different compound tyre to Nasser but this is all we have. Today's stages were a bit more open but everyone was cutting.' The second day of Rally Saudi Arabia used three special stages to the north of Jeddah that were repeated twice. Al-Rawahi began the day in fifth overall and consolidated that position after the opening Al-Ghulah stage. He set the fourth fastest time on the first pass through Asfan and closed in on fourth-placed Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, who sustained a puncture. The Omani was third quickest through the Thahban special and headed back to the service point in Jeddah well clear of sixth-placed Hamza Bakhashab and still within striking distance of Al-Kuwari in fourth. He was third quickest again on the re-run of the Al-Ghulah stage but further tyre woes cost him vital time in the penultimate stage. But Al-Rawahi finished the event on a high note with the second quickest time on the concluding Power Stage to secure additional points towards his regional championship campaign. The Oman Rally Team has received vital backing from Al-Manar Investments, the Oman Automobile Association, WMS, Zamakan, OQ, Strike, Size, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture of Oman and National Finance. Round four of the 2025 FIA Middle East Rally Championship takes place in Jordan on May 29th-31st. 2025 Rally Saudi Arabia – positions after SS12 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Candido Carrera (ESP) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 34min 05.5sec 2. Juho Hänninen (FIN)/Janni Hussi (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 35min 42.9sec* 3. Rakan Al-Rashed (KSA)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 1hr 39min 08.9sec 4. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Lorcan Moore (IRL) Citroën C3 Rally 2 1hr 40min 06.4sec 5. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMA)/Ross Whittock (GBR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 1hr 43min 11.8sec 6. Hamza Bakhashab (KSA)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R (SSV) 1hr 47min 11.7sec 7. Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Ziad Chehab (LBN) Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally 2 1hr 49min 56.9sec 8. Abdullah Al-Zubair (OMA)/Taha Al-Zadjali (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 1hr 55min 18.9sec 9. Bassel Abu Hamdan (KSA)/Firas Elias (LBN) Škoda Fabia Rally 2 2hr 00min 43.5sec 10. Rashid Al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 02min 18.0sec 11. Shadi El Fakih (LBN)/Joseph Kmeid (LBN) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 02min 43.6sec 12. Ihab Al-Shurafa (JOR)/Ahmad Jankhout (JOR) Škoda Fabia RS Rally 2 2hr 02min 54.5sec 13. Zakariya Al-Aamri (OMA)/Mohammed Al-Mazroui (OMA) Subaru Impreza WRX Sti 2hr 07min 11.5sec 14. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX (NAT) 2hr 11min 38.7sec 15. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Giovanni/Bernacchini (ITA) Peugeot 208 Rally 4 2hr 48min 27.0sec
