Motors: Thrilling battle between Mitchell and McCourt at Cork Forest Rally

MOTORS: Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and his Fermanagh co-driver Barry McNulty took a 1.8 second victory in the Kanturk based J&M Distributors Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, the fifth round of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship. Pic: Martin Walsh.

Tyrone drivers Jason Mitchell and Cathan McCourt, both driving Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars, served up a thrilling battle on the Kanturk based J&M Distributors Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, the fifth round of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship. With the lead role changing on four occasions through the day's seven stages, McCourt and his Fermanagh co-driver Barry McNulty took the spoils, their performance on the penultimate stage key to their 1.8s victory. Mitchell and Donegal co-driver Paddy McCrudden almost snatched the win on the final stage but the acquisition of top championship was more than consolation as they extended their lead of the series.

On the opening loop of three stages (the organisers lost SS2 due to an issue outside their control) McCourt and Mitchell traded top spot with the former a second up on SS1 and the latter 2.1s quicker on SS3 to lead by 1.1s at the Kanturk service where Mitchell's service crew addressed an issue with the pop valve. McCourt, on what was his first gravel outing in some 11 months, reckoned he could have been more committed. Both and indeed all the others spoke about the foggy conditions on SS1.