McCormack gives Volkswagen Polo R5 maiden Irish win at Cork 20

Marty McCormack handed Volkswagen Motorsport its first win on Irish soil as he took the Tiger Risk Partners-backed Dom Buckley RSC Polo R5 to victory at the coveted CBToolHire.com Cork “20 International Rally (28-29 September).

McCormack and co-driver Barney Mitchell overcame treacherous conditions and an off-stage incident to land the brand-new Polo its first-ever victory in Ireland by over 18 seconds. The Draperstown ace managed to take the lead on the seventh stage of the 13-test event and was never headed, to win his first rally since the Carrick on Suir Forestry Stages in January.

McCormack to debut Volkswagen Polo R5 at Cork 20 International Rally

Marty McCormack will give the new Volkswagen Polo R5 its Irish debut as the Tiger Risk Partners-backed ace will contest the CBToolHire.com Cork “20 International Rally (28-29 September) behind the wheel of a Dom Buckley RSC example.

The Draperstown driver has been mixing a British Rally Championship programme in a Skoda with his preparation for November’s Roger Albert Clark Rally in a Ford Escort Mk2 this season. But he will now turn his attentions to the legendary Cork 220 in the latest specification Polo R5 and is bidding for a strong run on the tough Irish lanes.

McCormack is no stranger to the R5 generation of machinery and has vast experience in their handling and characteristics. His R5 debut came at Rallye de Portugal as part of the World Rally Championship back in 2013 with a Ford Fiesta R5. A switch to a Skoda Fabia in 2016 kicked off a long partnership with the Czech brand which continues to this day.

Eugene Donnelly enters Deja vu Donegal

Eugene Donnelly, three times winner of the Donegal International Rally, is the latest of the former winners who will be in Donegal at the end of August for Déjà vu Donegal, the rally reunion that is surpassing all expectations. Eugene will be accompanied by Paul Kiely who co-drove when he won in a Toyota Corolla WRC in 2004 and 2005.

Paddy Toner was alongside ‘The Genie’ in 2008 in a Skoda Fabia WEC when the County Derry driver had his third Donegal win. “We knew the response in Donegal would be massive but we had no conception of how big. With three months still to go, we already received 135 entries, giving us no option but to start a reserve list. It is not just the numbers, the quality is outstanding. Seven former winners have now signed up and five more have indicated their intention to join us.”

EDSL Sport show Fiesta R2 potential at West Cork Rally

EDSL Sport drivers Ruairi Bell and Jordan Reynolds highlighted the potential of the new M-Sport Fiesta R2 at last weekend’s West Cork Rally, with a string of top stage times in the Junior British Rally Championship category (16/17 March).

Both squad members impressed on what was both the car and crew’s debut in southern Ireland, with Bell giving the new Fiesta its first JBRC stage win on his way to fifth place in the category. A similarly strong showing by Reynolds was curtailed when an electrical issue caused an early bath for the youngster.

McCormack’s British Rally Championship chances boosted by West Cork result

Marty McCormack continued his strong start to his 2019 British Rally Championship campaign last weekend, securing fourth BRC crew home at a tricky Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally (16/17 March).

Retson returns a strong result at West Cork Rally debut

Finlay Retson enjoyed an impressive asphalt debut in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta R2, taking sixth place in the Junior British Rally Championship (JBRC) at the West Cork Rally (16/17 March) in Ireland last weekend.

The 18-year-old from Blairgowrie would use his brand new Fiesta on a sealed surface for the very first time, contesting the Clonakilty based event which offered over 200 kilometres and fifteen stages of flat out driving over two-days on the closed public roads near to the town.

Motorsport UK Championships Update

Welshman Tom Cave scored his first BRC win in a four-wheel-drive car with victory on the West Cork Rally.

EDSL Sport: “New Fiesta R2 will be the perfect car for West Cork”

Official M-Sport Fiesta R2 re-sellers for the UK EDSL Sport, believe the 2019 version of the much-acclaimed machine will be “well matched” to the undulating roads of the West Cork Rally next weekend (16/17 March).

The Hampshire based preparation firm will field two of the brand-new M-Sport built examples at round two of the British Rally Championship, which makes the trek to Southern Ireland and the town of Cork for a two-day blast over the closed public roads in the area.

Retson eyes Irish success at West Cork Rally

Eighteen-year-old rally driver Finlay Retson will make his southern Ireland debut this weekend as he contests round two of the Junior British Rally Championship (JBRC), the West Cork Rally (16/17 March).

The Blairgowrie ace will pilot his brand-new M-Sport Fiesta R2 at the iconic event and will aim to continue his winning ways after finishing first Ford home at the opening round of the series, the Cambrian Rally in Wales last month.

Peugeot UK Supports British Rally Championship Juniors with prize fund

PEUGEOT UK, with the support of PEUGEOT SPORT and TOTAL, have offered a prize fund totalling £24,000 for competitors who drive a PEUGEOT 208 R2 in the Junior British Rally Championship (JBRC) in 2019.

The prize fund will be available to any registered crew in the JBRC driving one of the brand’s iconic 208 examples and will be awarded based on their performance in the series.