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2008 Irish 205 Challenge Review
The 2008 Irish 205 Challenge season turned out to be the most closely fought one make championship in Ireland with four of the six rallies being won by less than 20 seconds. Twelve drivers signed up during the year with most getting in on the act quickly and setting fastest stage times. Six drivers started their first events, some coming very close to toppling the six more experienced drivers returning for another crack at the title. The closeness of the championship would not have been possible without the help and support of the sponsors EARS Motorsport and Kumho tyres who supplied the best tyres for the changing conditions experienced during the season, offering plenty of advice to the drivers new to competition. Martisport too attended every event checking progress on all competitors, sorting problems and tuning engines to keep things as close as possible.
Round 1 took competitors to the Mayo stages in March where pre season favorite Barry Mahon co driven by Mark Feeley won by just 4 seconds after a huge day long battle with Andrew Slattery/ Shaun Forde who were contesting their very first challenge event. Third place went to Ultan McGowan/ Niall Burns after a solid performance. Others showing well early on were Norman Dunne/ Bernard Mc Sweeney, Shane Burns/ Shaun Balfe and DJ Browne/ Torloc O Reilly.
Round 2 on the Midland stages based in Roscommon saw Shane Burns win his first challenge round by just 5 seconds from DJ Browne with McGowan again finishing on the podium. Also on the pace were Sean Sharkey and Damien McGuaran but the day may well be remembered for the huge accidents that befell Mahon and Dunne on the same bend, Dunne and co driver Mc Sweeney requiring a trip to the local hospital. Thankfully both made full and swift recoveries.
Round 3 was always going to be the toughest event for the drivers due to the nature of the roads on the Cavan stages. McGowan showed his class here staying well clear of trouble when everyone else fired themselves at the hedges winning by one and a half minutes from Aidan Cooney/ Paddy Mc Donagh with local boy Sean Sharkey taking third.
Round 4 was the ALMC stages based near Dublin and this event saw the fourth different winner from four events when DJ Browne scored his first win after nine stages when six drivers were all within 20 seconds of the lead for most of the way. McGowan finished just 12 seconds down at the finish with Mahon taking third. Burns, Cooney, Sharkey and Slattery all setting great times during the event.
Round 5 and a surface change for the drivers on Cork forestry rally to spice things up. Browne again topping the times with McGowan a close second Kenny and David English third, who were contesting their first season of rallying. Mahon took fourth but was easily the fastest during the day but a mechanical problem denied him victory.
Round 6 took competitors to Wexford where McGowan, Browne and Mahon all stood a chance of taking the title. Disaster struck Browne on the very first stage putting him out. The other two battled for fourteen stages with McGowan holding the upper hand until his brakes gave out dropping him behind Mahon who opened up an advantage before throwing it all away with two stages to go allowing McGowan to win and claim the title.
A well deserved championship too having finished on the podium on every event. Last year he was crowned champion co driver in the same car so a double celebration for the team from Sligo.
Some of the other drivers showing well were new boys Joe Ward and Richard Guerin who will hopefully return next year to make the most of their learning year.
The Irish 205 Challenge are now preparing for 2009 with no changes planned to the regulations and another six round calendar of events. With the possibility of some new sponsors on board, the future looks very good for what is now been seen as the best place to start rallying or move over to if you want close competition.
Finally thanks must go to the motor clubs and marshals who put on great rallies for the challenge to take part in. We look forward to returning for more in 09.
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