Tipperary Team Triumph on Tough Circuit of Ireland Rally
Team Sepam Sport headed north for Belfast for the 2016 Circuit of Ireland; the 3rd round of their Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship campaign. The event attracted entries from all across the world, as it also counted as a round of the European and British Rally Championships.
Clonmel’s Pat Kearney and Rosscarbery’s Alistair Wyllie, were rejoined by their Tipperary team-mates; Pat’s brother Gus, partnered by Tommy Hayes, having missed West Cork. Both Mitsubishi Lancers were run impeccably as always by Gerry McGarrity Motorsport.
Day 1 took the crews across 6 stages, including the mighty 31km of Glendun, set against the backdrop of the stunning Torr Head. A close battle between the 2 crews and Portglenone’s Peter O’ Kane saw Pat and Gus swap the lead throughout the day, with Gus leading the Clonakilty Irish Tarmac Championship Group N battle overnight by 5 seconds.
Day 2 brought the rally south of Belfast to 8 stages surrounding Downpatrick and Banbridge. Pat and Gus resumed their battle, with Pat and Alistair overturning the overnight deficit to lead by 16 seconds. The gauntlet was thrown down, so Gus and Tommy attacked the 2 stages before service, mixing times with the European Championship crews to whittle the gap back to 6 seconds. The race was on.
Leaving service for the final time, Pat and Gus were ready to duel over the final 4 stages, but drama was waiting for both brothers. Gus entered stage 11 aiming to retake the lead from his sibling, but exited it battling to stay in the rally with clutch issues, with navigator Hayes pushing the car at points to keep the team in the rally. Survival was now the name of the game. Pat and Alistair inherited the lead, but the deteriorating conditions caught the crew out on the notorious Hamiltons Folly stage, losing nearly 5 minutes. However, the crew survived and completed the challenging event in 38th overall to win the Irish Tarmac Championship Group N class by 39 seconds from younger brother Gus, who nursed the Evo 9 back to Belfast over the final challenging stages in 39th place.
The result sees Gus and Pat now lying in 2nd and 3rd ,respectively, in Group N in the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship on 26 and 16 points behind leader; Cork’s David Guest on 32 points, as the crews prepare to do battle again on the Cartell.ie Rally of The Lakes in Killarney on April 30 – May 1.