Sensational fifth-place finish for Jack Brennan on European Rally Championship debut

Sensational fifth-place finish for Jack Brennan on European Rally Championship debut

Jack Brennan made a very impressive European Rally Championship debut by taking fourth place in Rally Hungary.

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member Jack Brennan, on his maiden European outing, bedded himself perfectly over the three days of action in Hungary.

The Billy Coleman Award winner Moincoin and his Enniscorthy-based co-driver John McGrath were seventh and exceeding pre-event targets after Saturday’s challenging loop.

They have signed up for the FIA Junior European Rally Championship for the first time and the Peugeot 208 Rally4 crew are part of a two-car Rally Academy team entered in the Hungarian event that also includes Galway’s Aoife Raftery.

They upped their pace on Sunday and climbed from seventh to fourth – just 18 seconds behind teammate Raftery.

However., like Raftery, he was outpaced by the hard-charging and more experienced Johannson but ended the rally in an impressive fifth finish in what was – so far- the biggest event in 19-year-old Brennan’s short career.

He said: “If you had told me on Friday evening that we would finish fifth I would have laughed at you. It was one of the toughest weekends rallying but delighted to finish. We learned a lot and there is a lot to take on board ahead of the Canaries, Thanks to the Academy and all my sponsors for their support”

Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne summed up the weekend perfectly.

He said: “It was fabulous, Jon driver really well and he and Eoin worked so well, picking up a PowerStage bonus point. And then Aoife and  Jack – just fantastic.  I mean 17 starters and the end up fourth and fifth was absolutely fantastic.”

Jack Brennan Motorsport is supported by Ashgrove Transport | Slattery’s Peugeot  Garage (Puckane, County Tipperary) | Ad Test Centre | Tom Gerathy Tyres | J Ryan Haulage | Long’s Autobody | Croke International Transport | Alan O’Riordan Motors | BoK Forklifts | Murphy Cars | Laffan Concrete Pumping | NCRS Motorsport Service | Kerry Motorsport News: