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2009 Circuit of Munster
TV Schedule and another photo link
Updated 21:55 8 June 2009
Setanta Sports Ireland
Tuesday 9 June 21.30 pm
Wednesday 10 June 10.30 am repeated 16.00
Thursday 11 June 19.30 pm
Photos by Derry
Pics and Vids
Updated 20:20 4 June 2009
Photo and video links more added
Photo Gallery
Click on photo to enlarge, see more photos by James Burke at his website
Pics and Vids
Updated 20:30 3 June 2009
Photo and video links
Photo Gallery
Circuit of Munster pics by permission of RallyPrint (Trevor McGrath), Mike Mulcahy, Keith Wiseman
Examiner Report
Updated 12:00 2 June 2009
By Martin Walsh
Reprinted by permission from Examiner Newspaper
MAGUIRE WINS CIRCUIT OF MUNSTER TO LEAD DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
FORMER Dunlop National Rally champion, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) took an important victory on the Woodland's House Hotel Circuit of Munster, the fourth round of the national series. He won the nine-stage event by a one minute and ten second margin - finishing ahead of Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC). Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi) was a further three minutes and 37 seconds behind in third.
Maguire battled hard with pre-event series leader, Patrick Elliott throughout most of the day and had reduced Elliott's one time advantage of twelve seconds to five seconds entering the final stage. Elliott crashed out leaving Maguire take his first victory of the season and move into the lead of the Dunlop series - 14 points ahead Elliott.
Just a single second separated Elliott and Maguire following the completion of the opening stage, Sugar Hill. Both drivers indicated a slight unease - Elliott stalled at a hairpin and lost a few seconds while Maguire reckoned the brakes of his Subaru were fading towards the stage end. Meanwhile, Kevin Barrett was just four seconds behind Maguire with top Group N driver, Kevin Kelleher setting a time of seven minutes even, to slot into fourth overall - 17 seconds off top spot. Sean Gallagher (Subaru WRC), out for the first time in a round of the Dunlop series in some twelve months, was fifth.
They were the only cars from the top ten to complete the test as Anthony O'Halloran crashed his Mitsubishi, neither himself or co-driver, Charlie McEnery were hurt. Unfortunately, although damage to the car was minimal, they couldn't re-start their Mitsubishi.
Out on the second test, Elliott took ten seconds out of Maguire, who was subsequently quickest through S.S. 3 to leave ten seconds between them at the first service halt. Elliott reported another stall, this time on stage three while Maguire had a similar experience on the second stage. Barrett remained in third and while Gallagher finished the stage in fourth place, he failed to make it to the service halt when the engine expired.
Garry Jennings took up the role of Group N leader but reckoned his Mitsubishi lacked power on the uphill sections of the stages. Meanwhile, his nemesis, Kevin Kelleher was six seconds behind in sixth with some slight brake problems.
Mike Quinn (Escort) in seventh spot was the top two-wheel drive contender, he too suffered some brake maladies. Eamonn Daly in a Mitsubishi, was eighth in a top ten that also included Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi) and late entry, Michael Curran (Ford Escort).
Gary Reidy crashed on the third stage, the incident also led to the retirement of Barry Meade, who had to ditch his Escort to avoid Reidy's stricken car.
Despite a lurid overshoot, Maguire trimmed Elliott's lead to six seconds on the fourth stage where Barrett was quickest of all. Elliott gained a similar margin back on stage five as Maguire posted a very strong time on the sixth test to leave him trailing Elliott by eleven seconds at the final service halt. Elliott remarked that he wasn't using the launch control as it led to the car stalling. Maguire also stalled on the fifth stage.
Group N leader, Kelleher stated that his Mitsubishi was much improved following the insertion of new brakes. Jennings lost time on the fifth stage when mud filled the hub of his Mitsubishi, he also lost the lead in Group N with Kelleher moving eleven seconds in front of the Fermanagh ace. Eamonn Daly (Mitsubishi)_ damaged the clutch on the fifth stage, however, he was third in the showroom category. Seventh placed, Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi) had no explanation for his time on Stage 6 as he reckoned he should have reaped greater rewards for his efforts.
The top ten also included Eddie Power (Toyota Corolla WRC), Michael Curran (Ford escort) and Patterson's RallyNews Award pre-event leader, Thomas Fitzmaurice, who lost time with driveshaft problems. Elsewhere, Sean Flanagan, in the hired Mitsubishi, retired when he beached the car on the sixth stage.
Maguire reduced the deficit to six seconds after a fine performance through the seventh test. He took a second out of his rival on the penultimate test to leave him five behind the Dunlop Championship leader entering the final test. Barrett set the pace on the penultimate test. Meanwhile, Kevin Kelleher retired after he completed the seventh stage - he couldn't select any gears in his Mitsubishi. Jennings was also in trouble with gear linkage and he lost over two minutes.
Local stalwart, Eamonn Daly was perfectly poised to take advantage and he went on to claim third overall. Oldcastle's, Michael Curran came through transmission trouble to win the modified category, he was fourth overall. Jennings was fifth was followed by Eddie Power in the ex-John McCarthy Toyota Corolla WRC.
Thomas Fitzmaurice in seventh maintained his lead in the Patterson's RallyNews Group N award in a top ten completed by Paul Elliot (Mitsubishi), Ed Synan (Escort) and Paul McEnroe (Subaru).
1. N. Maguire/E. Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1h. 19m. 00s.
2. K. Barrett/S. Mullally (Subaru WRC) 1h. 20m. 10s.
3. E. Daly/A. O'Connaill (Mitsubishi) 1h. 23m. 47s.
4. M. Curran/A. Whyte (Ford Escort) 1h. 25m. 10s.
5. G. Jennings/D. Moynihan (Mitsubishi) 1h. 25m. 26s.
6. E. Power/J. McGrath (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 25m. 50s
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7. T. Fitzmaurice/F. Foley (Mitsubishi) 1h. 26m. 03s.
8. P. Elliott/B. Doherty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 26m. 17s.
9. E. Synan/D. O'Connell (Ford Escort) 1h. 26m. 17s.
10. P. McEnroe/A. O'Donoghue (Subaru) 1h. 28m. 03s.
DUNLOP NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP (Positions after Round 4):
1.N. Maguire 74pts; 2. P. Elliott 60pts; 3. K. Barrett 50pts; 4. T. Fitzmaurice 48pts; 5. G. Jennings 41pts.
Earlier Examiner Report
Full Results
Updated 12:25 2 June 2009
Circuit of Munster Results
By Angus Sealy
Circuit of Munster Start List
Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)
Programmes
Updated 09:10 29 May 2009
A selection, not a complete list of Programme sales outlets
They will be for sale in rally office Woodlands House Hotel.
Adare, Campus filling station and Manns shop.
Croagh, Smithfield service station.
Rathkeale, The Five Roads service station.
Newcastle West, Garvey's service station and West End filling station (Topaz).
Askeaton, The Arena.
Templeglantine, Devon filling station.
Updated 09:00 29 May 2009
Final Instructions 2
Final Instructions 2
Updated 09:00 29 May 2009
Entry List Update
As of 11pm 28.05.09 withdrawals: J11, R28 Next on reserve R12
Updated 14:20 28 May 2009
Juniors final Instructions
Juniors final Instructions
Entry List Update
Updated 14:20 28 May 2009
As of 10pm 27.05.09
OUT: 21,25,148 -*-
IN: R9,R10,R11
R12 NEXT ON RESERVE
Entry List Update
Updated 17:35 27 May 2009
Latest Withdrawals 17, 31, 74, 132, 137, R13, R14, R15--- Next on Reserve List
MOVED TO JUNIORS:
R24 PA HORAN
R22 CHRIS DINNEEN
R29 CHRIS MOLLOY
Correction to Reserve List
R9 Finbarr Hegarty
R10 Joe Smullen
R11 Niall Walsh
R12 Kevin Lyons
R16 Francis Kelly
R18 Declan Courtney
R19 Martin Kelly
R20 Michael Ryan
R21 Thomas O'Keeffe
R23 David Dunne
R25 Charles O'Neill
R26 Liam Howlett
R27 Declan O'Regan
R28 Philip Callanan
R30 Joseph Monaghan
R31 John Moran
R32 LIAM HIGGINS
Entry List Update
Updated 18:20 26 May 2009
Correction to previous update R13 was withdrawn not R15
Latest Withdrawals 31, 74 --- Next on Reserve List R6
Entry List Update
Updated 17:20 25 May 2009
Withdrawn 24, 121, R5, R15, J14 --- Next on Reserve List R3
Final Instruction 1
Updated 16:12 22 May 2009
Final Instructions 1
Adobe Reader may be required to read PDF files, this can be downloaded from link below
Entry List
Updated 17:24 20 May 2009
2009 Entry List
Time and Distance Schedule
2009 Time and Distance Schedule
Press Launch 6th May 2009
Click on photo to enlarge, Photo by permission Keith Wiseman
Message from Ken Heaphy of NCW Autos
It's all systems go for the 2009 June Bank holiday weekend spectacular. This year's rally will bring spectators in their thousands to watch the top and local tarmac rally crews do battle over the classic stages of West Limerick. This rally grows in size every year thanks to the dedicated team in the motor club and help boost the local economy over this weekend. We here at Newcastle West Autos Fiat are delighted and proud to be on board with Limerick Motor Club and be associate sponsor for this weekends rally. Why not call into our showroom or visit our website www.ncwautos.ie and view some of our class winning Fiat cars like the new Fiat 500 car of the year 2008 or our International Van of the Year 2008 the Fiorino. We wish all competing the very best of luck and we will see all of you at the finish ramp.
Club announcement
Sunday May 31st 2009 sees Limerick Motor Club run their annual Circuit of Munster Rally. The familiar friendly surroundings of The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare will again be HQ and main sponsor of the rally. We are again thankful to Ian Roche of Roche Group / Excel Rallying who remain as an associate sponsor for 2009.
For 2009 we are delighted to announce the support of NewcastleWest Autos- Fiat as an associate sponsor for the Rally. This has been made possible by Ken Heaphy and his team at NewcastleWest Autos situated at Gortboy, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.
This year the rally is Round 4 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and Round 3 of the Top Part West Coast Championship.
Ger Healy will again be the COC and both he and his team have put together a challenging and compact route. This year the stages are located in West limerick taking in roads around NewcastleWest, Tournafulla and Mountcollins. Centralised service will be in the Castlemahon area. The route should be most enjoyable for both competitors and spectators. The event kicks off from The Woodlands at 8.30am on May 31st and returns at approx 5pm.
Entries open on Monday April 20th and Regulations are available here
2009 Regulations
and www.shannonsportsit.ie
Adobe Reader may be required to read PDF files, this can be downloaded from link below
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