O'Brien wins Cork forest rally

London-based Corkonian Mike O'Brien made a winning return to his native county with victory on the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, a qualifying round of the Petro Systems Irish Forest Championship.

Driving a Ford Focus WRC and partnered by fellow Cork co-driver, James O'Brien, they had a 38.9 second winning margin at the finish of the eight-stage event in the forests of North Cork.

Fastest on all but one of the eight special tests, O'Brien took substantial time from his rivals on the longest stage of the rally, Streamhill.

Over the opening pair of stages, O'Brien led the chasing trio of Pat O'Connell (Mitsubishi), Trevor Harding (Mitsubishi) and John Reid (Toyota Corolla WRC).

O'Connell was his closest pursuer after four stages - albeit some 11 seconds behind.

However, on the afternoon stages, O'Brien consolidated his lead role and took a relatively comfortable victory.

O'Connell took second and top points in the Forest Championship.

Reid finished third - a fraction of a second ahead of Harding, who struggled with head gasket problems on the final four stages, however, he remains in pole position to clinch the series on the final round.

Frank Kelly (Escort) won the two-wheel drive category despite a puncture on the fifth stage.

Craig Breen in the M-Sport Fiesta R2 was the top Junior, he was also a creditable seventh overall reeling in the Subaru WRC of John McGaffin on the final test.

1. M. O'Brien/J. O'Brien (Ford Focus WRC) 52m. 15.0s.

2. P. O'Connell/M. Wiley (Mitsubishi) 52m. 53.9s.

3. J. Reid/E. Shiels (Toyota Corolla WRC) 53m. 25.2s.

4. T. Harding/A. Purcell (Mitsubishi) 53m. 25.4s.

5. F. Kelly/L. Brennan (Escort) 54m. 30.4s.

6. B. Lawlor/P. Kavanagh (Escort) 54m. 52.0s.

7. C. Breen/G. Roberts (Ford Fiesta R2) 55m. 16.0s.

8. J. McGaffin/A. Russell (Subaru WRC) 55m. 17.0s.

9. J. McLaughlin/R. Fitzpatrick (Mitsubishi) 56m. 54.4s.

10. S. Power/J. Rafter (Escort) 56m. 56..2s

Meanwhile, in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at the Knockhill circuit in Scotland, Portadown's, Colin Turkington has qualified in fourth place for the first of tomorrow's three races.

With his closest championship rival and reigning champion, Fabrizio Giovanardi, qualifying his Vauxhall Vectra off the pace in 11th position, it is a great opportunity for Turkington to extend his 17 point championship lead.

Jason Plato (Chevrolet) set the best lap of 53.370s to take pole position ahead of Gordon Shedden (SEAT Leon), Jonathan Adam (BMW 320si) and Turkington (Team RAC/BMW 320si)