Mac Kierans and Max McRae made their European Rally Championship debut in Poland. Competing in the Opel Corsa Rally4, they finished 11th in class after a weekend of learning was made more difficult by electrical issues that hampered progress. Top three times towards the second day of the event proved the capabilities and speed of the pairing. The Australian-based pairing of Mac and Max are staying nearby as they will be competing in the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland next weekend, where Mac’s father Arthur will also be on the entry list.
Staying on the down under theme, at the Narooma Rally in New South Wales, Monaghan man Sean McAloon with adopted Monaghan woman Muireann Hayes on the notes had a successful event and took top 2wd and 2nd overall in their Ford Escort MKII.
Paul McPhillips was on the notes for Gavin McGivney on the Tour of the Sperrins. The MKII Escort crew took 10th in the competitive Class 6. Damien Connolly and David Bogie were leading the 2WD category before retiring on Stage 5. The event was won by Gary Jennings and Rory Kennedy in their Ford Fiesta R5, with Frank and Lauren Kelly being the top 2wd crew.
On Sunday, the Greenmount Motorsport Bonanza was held in aid of the Motorsport Ireland Benevolent Fund – which helps families of motorsport competitors who are faced with serious illness or injury. A star-studded rallysprint was held as part of the family fun day and was won by Eamonn Kelly and Jack Harvey. Monaghan’s Niall Maguire was in his trusty Impreza WRC and had Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue alongside him. The pair were just 4.3 seconds off Kelly and had a 1.0s to spare over Keith Lyons and singer Una Healy. Michael Carbin also supported the event and took his Mitsubishi Evo to 5th overall.
County Monaghan Motor Club 