This weekend’s Wm Loughman rally is counting round number two of the Valvoline Forest National Rally Championship and another great event is anticipated. Organised and promoted by Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, the rally is based in Carrick-on-Suir with the HQ at the Carraig hotel. Barry Duggan is Clerk of the Course once again and he is happy to report that all six stages are in excellent order. The 2011 rally moves from its traditional Sunday format to a "Saturday Single Day Event". Scrutiny takes place on the morning of Sat 5th and the rally action then gets underway in the afternoon. The first loop of three stages commences at 15:00 and it will be repeated under the cover of darkness from 19:00, with the winner on the podium at 20:10. The club have got a fine entry and the intense competition that featured on round one in Mitchelstown is set to be repeated with John Reid, Owen Murphy and Andrew Purcell the top seeds. This trio had a huge battle in Mitchelstown, never more than 15 seconds apart. On the last stage however, leading driver Reid spun and finished second. Purcell retired off the stage and Murphy went to win his first rally. Once again the 2WD section will be very competitive and promises to be another Escort v Starlet battle with James Coleman and Shay Power vying with Shane McGirr and Mick Cuddihy. Local driver Craig Breen drives his Fiesta R2 and it will be fascinating to see how he copes with the challenge of Alastair Fisher in a similar car. Fisher finished 7th in Mitchelstown, and both drivers are using the Carrick event as a shakedown for the WRC Academy series. Fifty crews have entered Carrick, and the unique challenge of the racing in the darkness is likely to spring a surprise or two.
After round 1 of the Valvoline championship, Owen Murphy leads with 21 points ahead of John Reid and Frank Kelly on 19 and 18 respectively. In the 2WD category, Frank Kelly has 21 points with Shane Mc Girr 19 and James Coleman 18.
