SOUTHERN OHIO RALLY
Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne celebrated his 74th birthday by returning to American National Rally Championship action at the Southern Ohio Rally at the weekend.
He described the event as “a rally of mixed fortunes.”
Photo Credit: Kevin Allen
Driving a PCRS-prepared Hyundai i20 Rally2, Coyne, gave Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy his second taste of Stateside rallying at the latest round of the American Rally Association national championship at the weekend.
Sixth fastest on Thursday night’s tarmac super special, they moved up to third overall on the first gravel stage Friday morning.
A driver error on stage five saw them leave the road backwards and roll some twenty feet down an embankment.
Fortunately, the car landed on its wheels with only minor cosmetic damage to the car. The crew were unhurt but the bank was too steep to drive out so they had to wait for winch recovery. #
They drove back to service and the PCRS Rallysport team checked over the car to prepare to re-start on Saturday morning under SuperRally rules.
Two fourth- and a fifth-fastest times over the first three stages showed that the crew and car were fully back on the pace despite Friday’s mishap.
Unfortunately, on the next loop’s first two stages, they suffered a total loss of boost pressure which saw them well off the pace.
Following successful field repairs, they drove conservatively on the next two stages to reach service.
With a new intercooler fitted by the PCRS Rallysport crew for the final Power Stage, they punched in a solid third-fastest time to finish the weekend on a strong note.
Sixteenth overall and third in the RC2 class, combined with Power Stage points sees John retaining leadership in the RC2 championship lead and fourth place in the overall championship.
Sixteenth overall and third in the RC2 class, combined with Power Stage points sees John retaining leadership in the RC2 class and fourth place in the overall championship.
“Once again Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy codriver Eoin Treacy did an outstanding job in the car and used his mechanical skills to keep us in the rally on Saturday’s second loop,” said John.
Eoin now heads directly to Sweden to join Jon Armstrong in the M-Sport Fiesta Rally2 for the next round of the FIA ERC Championship, the Bauhaus Royal Scandinavian Rally.
John has a week at home before he heads to Poland to support Academy team Josh McErlean and James Fulton in their next round of the FIA WRC Championship in the TokSport WRT / Škoda Motorsport Fabia RS Rally2.
BALTINGLASS
Two Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews contested the Garda Siochána Motor Club-organised Baltinglass Rally on Sunday.
The rally marked the return of Billy Coleman Award winner Jack Brennan and co-driver John McGrath to Irish rallying after a few events abroad in the Spring.
Driving a Peugeot 208 Rally4 they won Class 2 for Rally4 cars despite intercom issues and getting caught in the rain while driving on dry-weather tyres earlier in the day.
“It was a tricky day for us. It was a day of getting back in the seat again,” he said.
“Tyre choice was difficult as the rain was forecast but it did not fall until the last stage. It was an enjoyable day, a couple of mishaps here and there, we were caught on slicks in the rain and had intercom issues. All is all it was a good day, lots learned and more experienced gained.”
Cian Caldwell and Liam Egan were the early pacesetters in the class They used the event as a pre-Donegal International Rally test but retired with mechanical issues on the second stage.
The Peugeot 208 Rally4 crew are concentrating on the Stellantis Motorsport Rally Cup and Donegal forms round four of the eight-round series.
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