O’Shea aims for Kerry repeat

REVIVED just three years ago, tomorrow’s Tyre Stop Kerry Rallysprint has already found a perfect niche in the motorsport calendar.

Based at the Tralee Racecourse that provides a track with a suitable mix of gravel and tarmac surfaces, the event has attracted competitors from both the Irish tarmac scene and the Forest series. Defending champion Vincent O’Shea (Escort Cosworth) will have plenty of opposition, all well capable of taking his crown. The Kerry driver made a quick exit from the Circuit of Munster earlier last month and has won a race against time to have the car ready for his home event. Former Irish Forest champion, Tipperary’s Pat O’Connell will use his championship winning Mitsubishi Evo9 and will certainly pose a major threat to O’Shea. Meanwhile, Gary McEvoy, in his Group A Subaru will be hoping that the long journey down from Derry will be fruitful. One of the surprise packets could be Ballyvourney’s Gerard Lucey in his Mitsubishi Evo8, he has shown a fine turn of speed in the forests and could convert that form quite successfully in Kerry. Without doubt, another local stalwart, Mike Quinn, in his Mk. 2 Ford Escort, should prove both competitive and entertaining.

Although seeded at number six, Cork driver Frank O’Mahony has withdrawn his entry as it has transpired that his all traction Metro 6R4 will not be ready for the fray. The remainder of the top 10 that have reason to fancy their chances are Clare’s Christy Carey (Mitsubishi Evo9), Cork’s Jimmy Deane (Jr.) in a Ford Escort, Carrick on Suir’s James Coleman, also in an Escort and the experienced Mike O’Connor (Snr.) in a Mitsubishi. Elsewhere amongst the 60 plus entry, there are places for Alan O’Callaghan (Subaru), Charlie Hickey (Escort), Martin Kelly (Mitsubishi Evo7) and Aidan Walsh (Peugeot 205), who will be co-driven by Tralee native Sean Moriarty. Others to watch include the Citroen C2R2 pair of Kevin O’Connor and Kieran Daly, Jason McSweeney (Honda Civic) and Owen Murphy (Hillman Avenger). The first timed run is scheduled to start at 11am.

Doubling as the fourth round of the National Autocross and a round of the Jerry Murphy Tyres Munster Autocross Championship, Sunday’s, Imokilly Grass Surface Autocross at Ballymacoda should be well contested. Midleton’s John Dolphin in his Mini Special will set a strong pace and the rally car section features locals Emmett Cronin (Escort) and Owen Murphy (Toyota Corolla). The practice lap starts at 11.30am with the first of the day’s timed runs set to begin at 12.30pm.

Also on Sunday, the TDC Autotest will take place in Mondello at 11am; the Monaghan Autocross at Hollywood near Ballinode begins at 11.30am and the Carlow Car Races at Mondello Park begins at 11am.

Irish ace, Peter Dempsey continues his rookie season with Andretti Autosport in this weekend’s double header of the Firestone Indy Lights series at the Edmonton City Centre Airport 2.25 mile track. Two weeks ago, in Toronto, the 25-year-old netted a career-best second place. Meanwhile, Patrick McKenna, having opted to miss the last two rounds, returns to the Star Mazda series this weekend. The reigning Dunlop Young Racing Driver of the Year reckons his Dallas-based Team GDT squad have the car to be in contention at the former Canadian Grand Prix venue near Toronto this weekend.

The launch of the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally (Round 5 of the Valvoline Irish Forest Championship) takes place in Mallow tonight at the Roundabout Inn. The rally on August 13 has received support from the Mallow Town Council, the Chamber of Commerce and Blackwater Tourism.

Several former winners of the Cork “20” Rally are amongst the guests at the 100th anniversary function at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel tomorrow night. The event will be preceded by the launch of the 2011 edition, the final round of the Irish Tarmac Championship that takes place on 1st/2nd October.

In motorcycling, the Athea Motorcycle Road Races are expected to draw a huge attendance. The 10th annual event has practice tomorrow and racing on Sunday. An 11 race programme is set to attract many of the riders that competed in the recent Isle of Man TT. A purse of €5,000 is on offer to the winner of the Grand Final with organisations like West Limerick Resources, Shannon Development and Limerick County Enterprise Board providing financial support.