Mccormack begins his season in style

Organiser: Carrick on Suir MC When: January 20 Where: Kilkenny Championships: Irish Forest Rally Championship; South East Championship Stages: 6 Starters 72.

Marty Mccormack fended off a formidable challenge to win the Willie Loughman Carrick-on-suir Forest Rally, the opening salvo in the Irish Forest Rally Championship.

On his gravel return, Garry Jennings led initially courtesy of a gain of 2.7 seconds over Mccormack, with Sam Moffett (Ford Fiesta R5) a fraction of a second further behind.

Mccormack seized control on SS2, while vision was an issue on the third and final stage of the opening loop with the top contenders receiving an amended time due to dense fog.

At the New Ross service park Mccormack’s Skoda Fabia led defending winner Andrew Purcell by 5.6s with Jennings’ Subaru Impreza, just behind.

Moffett was fourth but problems with the accelerator threw him off his stride. Luckily, a puncture on SS3 was negated by the amended time.

With fastest stage times, Jennings (SS4) and Purcell (SS5) kept the pressure on Mccormack, but he made the perfect riposte on SS6 to seal the win ahead of Purcell’s Fiesta and Jennings.

Moffett had to be content with fourth as top seed Barry Mckenna (Fiesta R5) battled with a bout of influenza to claim fifth ahead of Niall Mccullagh (Mitsubishi) and Niall Henry (Citroen DS 3 R5).

Shane Mcgirr (Toyota Starlet) won the two-wheeldrive category following the retirement of David Crossen, who bowed out after puncturing and damaging his Ford Escort on the penultimate stage. Josh Mcerlean (Peugeot 208 R2) won the Junior category on his debut in the car.