Murphy’s experience gives him the edge on Egan

Double Irish Forest Rally champion Owen Murphy (Subaru) used all his experience to beat Pádraig Egan (Semog Special) in the Munster Loose Surface Autocross at Ballinacurra, Midleton, yesterday.

The Ovens ace, in a standard Subaru Impreza, posted his best time — 58.34 seconds — on the penultimate run to win by 18/100ths of a second.

Ballyvourney’s James Lucey (Special) was the early leader in 64.38 seconds, chased by the saloon of David Beamish (Opel Corsa).

However, the engine of Lucey’s machine expired on the second run, where Murphy moved into the lead, over a second faster than Clarecastle man Egan.

The pair also improved to dominate the third run, but Murphy maintained a one-second buffer. On the fourth and penultimate run, the duo broke the one-minute barrier, with Murphy setting the winning time of 58.34.

Egan improved on the final run, but failed to dislodge Murphy. Killarney’s Tom Daly (JB Buggy) was third, with Beamish (Opel Corsa) fourth, followed by Peter Brennan (JB Buggy) and Cork-based Polish driver Lukasz Czapnik (Peugeot 206). Today’s events include the Carlow Rallysprint at Mondello Park and the Cork Loose Autocross at Coachford.