Forde wins Munster Autocross Championship

With just his second outright win of the season, Tipperary’s, David Forde (Toyota Special) maintained his lead in the Jerry Murphy R and R Tyres Munster Autocross Championship at a cold Ballynacorra, Midleton yesterday.

The Nenagh driver was a fraction of a second quicker than his one and only title rival, Ballyvourney’s Gerard Lucey, also in a Toyota Special at the penultimate round organised by the Munster Car Club.

Both drivers completed just one of the three timed runs and opted to wait for a title decider on today’s final round in Grancore, Clonakilty, where Forde and Lucey will battle in a winner-takes-all scenario.

Mark Murphy, in a Subaru Legacy, was best of the rest; the Cork driver was little over half a second adrift of Lucey.

Most of the 24 drivers set their quickest time on the third run, where track conditions were most favourable.

Class winners included Michael Linehan (Honda Civic), James Lehane (Honda Civic), Ray Benskin (Escort), James Lucey (Special), Jimmy Lucey (Special) and Greg McCarthy (Subaru Impreza).

The junior award was won by Andrew Lehane (Honda Civic) and the best Munster Car Club member was Ger Fitzgerald (Ford Escort).