There was a school of Mackarel on the winners list of the Co. Monaghan Motor Club Autotest last weekend.
This year’s event once again took place in the yard of McAree Engineering in Ballinode Village.
Following on from his victory last year, Derek Mackarel again took his Toyota Starlet to 1st place overall. Dereks father Andrew finished closely behind, driving the same Toyota Starlet and completing the course in 2nd place and he also took 1st in Class 2. Michael Carbin driving a similar Toyota Starlet finished his event with 2nd in Class 2. Damien Treanor who was driving the same car as Michael, finished 3rd in Class 2. Aaron McElroy making his driving debut took his ‘under the weather’ Toyota Starlet to 1st in Class 3. Brothers, Ryan and Eoghán Farrell failed to finish after a drive shaft in their Honda Civic broke on the first test of the day.
Both the Clerk of the Course, Ciaran Tynan and the winner Derek Mackarel thanked McAree Engineering for allowing their venue to be used and all the officials who manned the two tests and braved the terrible weather to make the event a success. The ‘School’ pun doesn’t really work when there was only two Mackerels, How and ever, there it is.
Wexford Stages Rally 2025
Paul McPhillips guided Cian Caldwell to 17th overall and 1st in Class 2 onboard their Peugeot 208 Rally4. Daniel McConnon navigated Gavin McGivney to 38th overall in their Ford Escort MKII. Justin Smyth and Ciaran McGorman took their MKII Escort home in 44th overall and 3rd in Class 12.
Unfortunately, Killian McArdle who was navigating for Joesph Kelly failed to finish the event after they got stuck in a ditch on SS12. Though there was little damage, they were unable to continue in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Nigel and Ryan Brennan had to retire their Honda Civic after SS10.
Armstrong Galloway Hills Rally 2025
Arthur Kierans navigated Barry McKenna to 4th overall in their Ford Fiesta Rally2. They were as high as 2nd overall, but ran into issues on SS3 ‘Craignell 2’.
Narooma Forest Rally 2025.
In the land down under, Macartan (Mac) Kierans was navigating for Harry Bates in the The Auz/Irish duo were competing in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Of the events nine special stages, totalling 175km of gravel roads, Harry and Mac won eight of them and secured the outright victory.
Stephen Wright, Sam Moffett, Aaron and Darragh Evans were all competing in Mondello Park last weekend. Stephen and Sam were competing in Round 4 of the SEAT Supercup Ireland Championship. In Race 1, Stephen finished in 3rd place while newbie Sam finished in 5th place.
On that opening race, Stephen set the 2nd fastest lap time just 0.17s shy of fastest. In Race 2, Stephen finished in 4th place but set the fastest lap time. Sam finished in 13th place.
Bill Griffin Motors Irish Strykers Championship
Meanwhile Aaron and Darragh were competing in Round 4 of the. In Race 1, Aaron finished 6th and Darragh finished 8th. In Race 2, Aaron finished 7th and Darragh finished 9th. Aaron was driving a 1800cc Stryker while Darragh was driving a 1600cc version of the Stryker.
Tullyallen Kart Club
Bobby Connolly was competing in round 7 of the championship over the weekend. This event took place at Pallas Karting Galway. In the Cadet Iame Qualifying race Bobby finished in 2nd place, just 0.059s in arrears of fastest after the six laps. In Race 2, the Cadet Iame Heat 1, Bobby again finished in 2nd place, this time 6.761s down on fastest after the ten laps. In Race 10, the Cadet Iame Heat 2, Bobby finished in 3rd place after the ten laps. In Race 18, the Cadet Iame Final, Bobby finished in 2nd place, 1.779s in arrears of the winning driver.
The 2025 Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship points were declared final on Monday.
Michael Conlon and Adam Langan are this year’s champions finishing on the maximum of 40 points each. There was a tiebreaker for the driver’s championship, as both Michael and Jack Brunton finished on 40 points. Michael won this tiebreaker as he scored 10 points on the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally, compared to Jack’s 4. No tiebreak was required for the Navigators Championship as the next best to Adam was on 38 points. Josh Moffett finished 2nd in Class 5. Peter and Eoghán Farrell finished 3rd in Class 10. Jack Maguire/Keith McConnon finished 3rd in Class 11F and James McCarville finished 4th driver in Class 13, while Arthur Kierans finished 2nd navigator.
Monaghan Motor Club CLGs Navigation Trial classes continue this Friday. The classes are for any person interested in beginning to compete in Motorsport, or would like a refresher course. The classes will last for three more weeks (every Friday) and will conclude on the week of the first navigation event of the season. The classes are taking place in the Aughnamullen GAA Centre, A75 CY82 at 7pm. Places are still available. The first competitive navigation event of the season will be hosted by Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG. More details will be available soon. Any person interested in the classes can contact Ciaran Tynan on +353877827918 or email oisinsherlock97@gmail.com to register.
Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG, have launched a new club App. The App will be the go-to location for all your motor club information. To download the App, just search ‘Monaghan Motor Club’ on your ‘Android’ or Apple’ device’s, App store. This App is for everyone; it is not just for club members and competitors.
Oisín Sherlock.
County Monaghan Motor Club 