2012 Dunlop National Rally Championship Round 5 Preview – Limerick MC Circuit of Munster Stages Rally
May 31, 2012 by Peter Boyd
Can Brian O'Mahony continue his winning ways from Carlow down in Limerick? Photo: Peter Boyd
The Dunlop National Rally Championship heads to the Mid-West this weekend for the 60th Anniversary Circuit of Munster Stages Rally organised by the Limerick Motor Club. Based at the Woodlands Hotel in Adare the rally will consist of nine stages in a 3 X 3 stage format, servicing will take place after each loop of three stages with the service area located in Newcastle West.
Leading the crews away on Sunday will be Brian O’Mahony and John Higgins in their McKinstry Motorsport run and DMACK Tyres backed Subaru Impreza S11. Fresh from their recent win on the Carlow Stages Rally the Cork/Mayo duo will be out to gain another maximum points score in Limerick. Running second on the road and runners up in Carlow are Kerry crew Thomas Fitzmaurice and Fionn Foley, also in an S11 spec Impreza, who will be trying to preserve their Championship lead. Maynooths Kevin Barret with Limerick man Sean Mullally on the notes start at number three in their S11 Impreza, while Kevin Kelleher with Gearard Seaman alongside starts at number five in his recently acquired S9 Impreza.
Top 2wd car is Frank Kelly in his powerful Mk2 Escort who has Liam Brennan calling the notes and they will start in fourth spot and after an impressive win in the Mk2 Challenge in Carlow at the start of May can be expected to take home the 2wd honours from Limerick.
Colm Murphy and Don Montgomery are leading Group N crew and seeded at number six in their Impreza N12, Roy White starts from seventh spot in his potent MG ZR and has James O’Brien to guide him around the Limerick countryside. Galway crew John Joe Fleming and Robbie Ward start from eight spot in their Focus WRC while Group N crews Josh Moffett/Domhnall Lennon and Eamon Daly/Brian Doherty start from ninth and tenth respectively in their Lancers. Next up is a trio of fast Mk2 Escorts crewed by Ed Callaghan/Ger Clancy, Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery and Ed Synan/Denis O’Connell.
The first crews will leave The Woodlands Hotel at 08:30 and return back ther after the nine stages at approx 17:45, service is at 11:30 and 14:18
Full entry list can be found at http://www.limerickmc.ie/files/2012com_%20final_entry_list.pdf
Limerick MC website is http://www.limerickmc.ie/joomla/
Results will be available on the day from http://results.shannonsportsit.ie
