O'Brien brothers secure local honours yet again

The Omagh crew of Patrick O’Brien/Stephen O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) won the McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally for the third year in succession. Pic: Martin Walsh.

For the third successive year Omagh brothers Patrick and Stephen O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) won their local McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally where, for also the third time, fellow local Cathan McCourt (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and his Cork co-driver Liam Moynihan finished runners-up. 

Yet again, the margin between the two crews was close - 3.6s, their respective previous margins were 2.5s (2022) and 7.8s (2021). The top three, which was completed by Jason Mitchell/James McCrudden (VW Polo GTi R5) mirrored the same result as last year.

Meanwhile, newly crowned Irish Forest Rally champions Strabane’s Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia R5) and his Monaghan co-driver Arthur Kierans retired on SS6 when their Skoda Fabia R5 cut out and they couldn’t restart it on time.

On Friday night’s opener O’Brien led McCourt by 2.7s and on the second stage in the dark they both posted the same time, it was McCourt’s first time on night stages on gravel. Mitchell was 13.9s further behind. 

There was early drama when Caldwell stopped with a broken propshaft and Omagh’s Mark Donnelly (VW Polo GTi R5) stalled on the start line of SS2 and was seventh overnight. Jordan Hone (Ford Fiesta R5) had turbo issues and was 13th overnight.

On Saturday’s first stage (SS3) McCourt swept into a 6s lead over the stage that featured a two-mile tarmac section. O’Brien made an instant response and trimmed the margin to a mere 0.7s on SS4 before moving back in front on the next stage to lead McCourt by 1.1s, the latter losing time after opting for a tyre compound that proved too soft. Meanwhile, third-placed Mitchell lost precious seconds when he made an error, allowing Donnelly, who overshot a junction, to close within 7.5s.

Fifth-placed Conor McCourt (Citroen C3 Rally2) experienced brake troubles with a spongy pedal.

The top four all beat the bogey time on SS6 and given that they knew they were very likely to do likewise on the final stage, the penultimate stage (SS7) became all-important.

O’Brien’s Skoda arrived at the finish with the front showing signs of contact with a bale on SS6 and a heavy landing on SS7 where he had given everything on the 4.61m test eking out another 2.5s to extend his advantage over McCourt to 3.7s. Mitchell in third reckoned he was probably trying too hard, however, Donnelly could only take 0.4 off the margin between them. 

Conor McCourt retained fifth followed by Vivian Hamill who ran wide on a corner and was lucky only to incur cosmetic damage to his VW Polo GTi R5.

As predicted, the bogey time was beaten on the final stage, not just by the leading trio but all of the top six along with Niall McCullagh (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Hone.

Rally winner Patrick O’Brien said, “It’s brilliant, the race with Cathan (McCourt) was great, he made us fight for it (the win). Credit to him, he was exceptionally quick. It’s been a great week for us in the R317 Motorsport team and congratulations to Ryan (Caldwell) and Arthur (Kierans) for winning the Irish Forest Championship.” 

It was also a nostalgic occasion for the winners as their father Kevin partnered Omagh driver Robbie McGurk (Opel Ascona 400) to victory in the 1993 event. The modified category was won by Omagh’s Donal Sweeney (Toyota Corolla).

Bushwhacker Rally (Round 6, Sligo Pallets National Forest Rally Championship) Omagh: 1. P. O’Brien/S. O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) 47m. 50.7s; 2. C. McCourt/L. Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+3.6s; 3. J. Mitchell/P. McCrudden (VW Polo GTi R5)+24.8s; 4. M. Donnelly/S. Ferris (VW Polo GTi R5)+31.9s; 5. C. McCourt/C. McKenna (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 10.5s; 6. V. Hamill/A. Grennan (VW Polo GTi R5):1m. 22.4s; 7. N. McCullagh/R. McCloskey (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 43.7s; 8. J. Hone/P. Hone (Ford Fiesta R5)+1m. 58.1s; 9. M. Cairns/K. Bustard (Ford Fiesta R5)+2m. 26.0s; 10. G. Mimnagh/J. McCarney (Ford Fiesta R5)+2m. 37.5s.