Author: monaghanmotorclub

Derek Mackarel became the 2024 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship, Champion driver with one round to spare, after taking maximum points home at the Bushwhacker Forestry rally which was hosted by Omagh Motor Club. Amazingly this is Derek’s fourth National title to date as he previously won the Autograss, Autocross and Navigation Trial National titles. While Derek has secured the drivers title, he still will be looking for a good result on the final round in Clare as his Co-Driver Eamonn Creedon has yet to secure his title. Dereks title is the second National title going to the Mackarel house this year as Derek’s father Andrew secured the 2023/24 Navigation Trial title back in March. Club Members, Patrick and Stephen O’Brien won the event overall (OA) with Cathan McCourt finishing 2nd. James McCarville/Conal McNulty finished 8th OA and Killian McArdle navigated Craig Rahill to 17th OA. Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon were out in their Rally4 Fiesta and finished 25th OA.
The result on this weekend’s Bushwhacker rally also secured Derek the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK, Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge title.
Shane and Ciaran Maguire also became the National Endurance Trial champions on Sunday as the pair finished 1st OA on the Birr Endurance Trial, the final round of the 2024 National Endurance Trial Championship. Going into the final round the pair were sitting 2nd in the championship, 5 points adrift of Karl O’Donoghue and Ballybay navigator Evin Hughes. After a challenging Birr event, Karl and Evin finished 8th OA and 1st in class A2M. This 8th place finish compared to the Maguires 1st, left that the Maguires made up the 5 points deficit and took the National title on the very last event. Team Maguire was competing in a Mitsubishi Colt and taking the National title broke a 15 year dominance of the Toyota Starlet. Ciaran and Roisin McGorman finished 25th OA and 1st in class F.
David McCrudden and Jack Maguire were competing in Cavan Motor Club’s Autocross on Sunday the event was a counting round of our clubs Traders championship.
The 2024/2025 Navigation Trial Season is fast approaching and the first event of the season is hosted by ourselves. Clerk of the Course Peter Farrell assisted by Conor Maguire have organised an 85-mile event, based out of Aughnamullen GAA on Saturday night the 5th of October. Regulations and Entry are available now and must be submitted and paid online before Monday the 30th September. The event is the final round of both the 2023/24 Club Navigation Championship and the overall Treaders Championship.

Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh brought their newly acquired Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 to overall victory on last weekend’s two day, Wexford Volkswagen Stages Rally. The pair had a 12.8s win over second placed David Kelly with Michael Carbin’s usual navigator Dean O’Sullivan on the notes.
Pierce O’Callaghan guided Jonathan Pringle home in 8th OA and more importantly 1st in class 14, the top modified class. Killian McArdle navigated Michael Cahill to 15th OA and 6th in class 14.
Johno Doogan and Paul Lennon finished their event in 10th OA and 3rd in class 14.
Ryan Farrell navigated Gavin McGivney to 45th OA and 6th in class 13.
Gerard McGivney/Donal Crossan finished 73rd OA and 8th in class 13.
Daniel McConnon navigated Francis Rafferty to 70th OA and 7th in class 11F.
Brendan Cumiskey and Martin Connolly unfortunately retired their VW Polo on SS9, and Barry McKenna/Thomas Treanor retired on SS16.

Monaghan Motor Club’s annual Navigation classes continue this Friday night at 8pm in Aughnamullen GAA, Eircode A75 CY82.

The Lakelands Forest Stages Rally took place on Saturday hosted by Enniskillen Motor Club.

The six-stage event took place on the gravel tracks of Conagher, Big Dog and Ballintempo forests. There were Monaghan Motor Club members on each step of the podium at the end of the event, as Patrick and Stephen O’Brien finished 1^st OA in their R5 Skoda Fabia, Conor Mohan guided Eamonn Kelly to 2^nd OA in their Rally3 Fiesta, and Derek Mackarel took his R5 Fiesta home in 3rd OA. Michael Conlon took his Escort home in 2^nd in class 7. Killian McArdle navigated Joseph Kelly to 2^nd in class 2. Calum Maguire navigating for Cian Caldwell finished 5^th in the same class.  Cathan McCourt and Brian Hoy retired on the final stage while sitting in 2^nd OA. Steven Corey and Thomas Treanor retired on SS5 while 3^rd in class 7.

The next morning Derek was at McAree Engineering’s yard in Ballinode taking part in our Autotest with was organised by Clerk of the Course Ciaran Tynan.

Derek finished on the podium here too, only this time two steps up as he took his Toyota Starlet home with 1^st overall.

Kieran McCarra finished in 2^nd place. Dereks father Andrew finished in 4^th place. David McCrudden finished 5^th, Martin Tynan finished 6^th and Shane Maguire finished 7^th. Shean McCaffery took his Navigation spec Nissan Micra home with 1^st in class and 8^th OA. Molly Maguire making a change to driving, finished 9^th overall.

Kaine Treanor went to Belgium last week for to take part in the B-Short de Momignies Rally. Kaine was navigating once again for Christopher O’Callaghan and the pair finished the eight stage event in 1^st place overall.

 Monaghan Motor Clubs Annual Navigation Trial classes began last weekend and continue for the next four weeks in Aughnamullen GAA Clubhouse, Eircode A75 CY82. It’s not too late to sign up. This course will teach you all about Navigation Trials, Endurance Trials and Special Stage Rallying.

Message Monaghan Motor Clubs social media pages or contact any committee member if you’re interested in learning more about this fun and cost effective form of motorsport. Monaghan Motor Club host four Navigation Trials a year as well as an Endurance Trial.

Josh Moffett once again switched cars, as he reverted back to his trusty Hyundai i20 R5 from his Citroën C3 Rally2 for last weekend’s Galway Summer Rally. The event was round 7 of the National Rally Championship. Josh and his navigator Keith Moriarty took an 11.2s win over is brother Sam with navigator James O’Reilly. Sam and James were out in the Rally2 Version of the Hyundai i20.

Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan were 1^st Modified home, with Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan finishing 2^nd Modified. Pierce O’Callaghan guided Jonathan Pringle to 4^th in the modifieds. Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished 12^th OA. Maurice Moffett made a rare appearance and brought his Toyota Starlet home in 24^th OA.  Brian Comiskey/Declan Campbell finished 1^st in class 15. Martin McPhillips/Tony McGovern finished 1^st in class 11R. Cathal Sheridan/Coel Leonard finished 2^nd in class 10. James McEneaney navigated Gerard Tuite to 4^th in class 10. Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon retired after SS4 but rejoined for SS7,8 and 9. They finished 6^th in class 2.

David Moffett/Martin Connolly retired after SS7 while sitting 2^nd in the modifieds. Justin Smith retired after SS5 while leading class 12.

Arthur Kierans was competing in Wales over the weekend, he guided Ryan McHugh to 7^th in class RC4 and 2^nd in the Great Britian Junior section on the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion.

Regulations and entry forms are available now for our very own Autotest, which takes place on Sunday the 8^th of September. The event will be round 6 of our 2023/24 club championship.

Clerk of the Course Ciaran Tynan has organised this year’s event which will take place at McAree Engineering Ballinode. Entry’s cost only €55 and no IRDS required.

Shane and Ciaran Maguire took their Mitsubishi Colt home in 2^nd overall on the Westmeath and District Car Club’s Endurance Trial held on Sunday last.

Aaron McGorman/Darren Lavery finished their event with 1^st in Class C in their Navigation Spec Subaru Impreza.

Robert Graham and Caolan Treanor driving a similar Navigation Spec Impreza finished 2^nd in class C.

The final round of the 2024 Endurance Trial Championship takes place on the 22^nd of September, hosted by Birr and District Motor Club.

Modern Tyres Ulster Rally

Josh Moffett returned to his Citroën C3 Rally2 for last weekends, Modern Tyres Ulster Rally. Josh and his navigator Andy Hayes finished the event in 3^rd overall.

Calum Maguire guided Johnnie Mulholland to 13^th overall in their Rally3 Fiesta.

Arthur Kierans competing in the Mayo Autocross in his Subaru Impreza 555, finished his day in 18^th overall.