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Round 5 2008 Cork Forest Rally
Browne bears the woods for second win.
The weather has tried its best in the past few weeks to spoil the plans of events all across the country but in the Cork motor club it has met its match. Thanks to the great efforts of Darren McCarthy and his team of volunteers who managed to put on a great days rallying in the forests of north Cork. Round five of the Irish 205 Challenge would raise the temperature and a put smile on everyones face but mostly local men DJ Browne and Torloc O Reilly who came home winners after a great fight with Ulton McGowan and Niall Burns.
Fastest out of the blocks on stage one was championship leader Ulton McGowan stopping the clocks with a time of 6.02.3 pre event favorite Barry Mahon/ Mark Feeley came next on 6.04.9. These two really trying hard on their first gravel stage of the year. DJ Browne set a time of 6.12.3 with Kenny and David English on 6.23.8 with Andy Slattery/ Shaun Forde as close as you can get just one hundredth of a second down. Aidan Cooney/ Bernard Mc Sweeney making up all the starters with a time of 6.28.9.
Stage two was another six miler and Mahon really put the hammer down in here to storm into the lead taking 12.3 seconds from Browne. Slattery was next best dropping 2.6 seconds to Browne and just point two of a second quicker than McGowan. Cooney finished the stage 18 seconds behind with English completing the stage on 6.24.6.
Following service it was a repeat of these two stages and Mahon continued to lead, going fastest again but by a smaller margin this time. 5.55.9 the benchmark set and McGowans time of 6.02.5 was good enough to keep him in second place overall. Slattery went a little better with a time of 6.02.1 leaving him in fourth place. Browne was fourth quickest on 6.03.7 with English fifth on 6.11.6. Cooney retired in here with fuel pump problems.
Stage four was beginning to cut up on the second pass but Slattery pushed on regardless scoring his first fastest time of the day with 5.44.8. Next came Mahon on 5.48.2 , Browne on 5.58.4 and McGowan on 5.59.9. English kept in touch with 6.08.6
As the crews entered service for the second time the leaderboard showed Mahon leading by 30 seconds from McGowan with Slattery now third 6 seconds back and Browne just 2 seconds adrift. English held fifth and was content to stay out of trouble. Repairs were made as the crews taught about the longest stage of the rally ahead. To add to the pressure there was an extra two championship points for the driver who could set the best time on both runs over the 14 stage.
All hell broke lose as it turned out, Mahon was first through but got caught out when first his clutch cable broke, then his steering rack and dropped into a ditch losing six minutes and all chance of victory. Slattery was next to fall, this time when his gear linkage came off. Stopping to carry out repairs cost lots of time but worse happened later in the stage when an impact bent the wishbone and pulled out the driveshaft. They finished the stage but retired on the next road section. Browne went fastest taking three seconds out of the new leader McGowan. These two now first and second with English in third and Mahon fourth.
Entering stage six McGowan led by 5 seconds but a great effort from Browne over this five mile stage saw him take 14 seconds and lead the challenge. English held station in third with Mahon dropping more time but staying fourth.
After service stage seven was a repeat of the long stage and Browne again went quickest extending his lead by 1.2 seconds over McGowan who was struggling with poor handling and having to change steering racks in service. English was having a trouble free run in third but Mahon set cracking time 1 minute quicker through the stage.
Mahon went fastest again in stage eight, 7.5 seconds up on Browne. McGowans handling got worse when a rear damper burst dropping 23 seconds the leader.
As they lined up for the final seven mile stage, Brownes lead stood at 35 seconds. Mahon went quickest again but he would have to be content with fourth place overall. English had a clean run through and held third but Browne nearly through it all away with a costly error losing over 22 seconds to McGowan. Luck was on his side this time and he brought his car home to win by 13.3 seconds from McGowan.
McGowan though has the upper hand as we head to Wexford in a few weeks time for the final round. Only time will tell if he can hold onto the championship and make it two out of two.
Final results;
DJ Browne 1.17.05.3
Ulton McGowan 1.17.18.6
Kenny English 1.19.31.2
Barry Mahon 1.24.18.8
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