The West Cork Rally played host to the first two rounds of the new Citroen C2 R2 Irish Cup, and an impressive turn out of twelve of the 1600cc Citroen Sport designed cars lined up in Clonakilty for this historic weekend.

Round one took in the eight stages of day one on this famous rally, and leading the field away was the reigning British C2 R2 Champion, Martin Laverty. However Martin had a somewhat hesitant start, and in fact was caught on stage two, by C2 R2 newcomers Martin McCormack and Liam Moynihan.

The young Historic rally ace was experiencing front wheel drive and left hand drive for the first time, and held a twenty second lead at first service. “It’s different than rear wheel drive. You have to be more precise with front wheel drive, and can’t throw the tail out with the power, but I’m really enjoying it.

The car is really good on the fast stuff and the bumps and jumps.” Third R2 seed was Welsh man Jason Pritchard, but his rally was very short rolling out on the first special stage. Steve Clery in his hired C2, was another to go his roof, on the second stage, but the Clonakilty driver proved the strength of these cars to continue onto finish round one in a good fourth place.

Young Clones driver Martin Tynan was another to strike early trouble in the shape of a first stage puncture which cost three minutes, but he eventually salvaged fifth place. Martin and ninth placed finisher Mark Buckley who had some day one niggles, would prove more of a threat on round two however. Adapting from a rear wheel drive Escort, Kildare’s Graham Kelly would finish the round in fifth place, Armagh’s Sean Agnew on his first event in a C2, finished seventh and Comber’s David Johnston who is more used to driving an off road Bowler 4x4, eighth on his first ever closed road rally.

Meanwhile up front Martin McCormack’s lead was reduced by a hard charging Barry Evans who took eleven seconds back on stage four, and then McCormack punctured on stage five, having to stop and change the wheel. But luck was on his side as the stage was cancelled due to another competitor’s crash and Martin kept up his quick pace to win the very first C2 R2 Irish Cup round. Barry Evans was second, but his friend and close rival Paul Manton who was just seconds behind, rolled his C2 on stage six. “I was just trying to find the extra speed to catch Barry, and just tried too hard, as simple as that” quipped Paul. That meant that the youngest competitor in the Cup, 18 year old Sam Moffett, took a well deserved third place. But winner Martin McCormack was delighted. “Yes I’m really thrilled. We learnt a lot today about the car, and when we stiffened it up for the drier afternoon tests it made a big difference. We really enjoyed the stages, and we were we lucky too with the puncture.”

Day two and round two of the Citroen C2 R2 Irish Cup, and once again conditions were damp for the early morning stages, and once again Martin McCormack led after four tests. But the Magherafelt ace, now in the British Rally Elite scheme, wasn’t having things his own way. Martin Tynan was just one scant second behind, the Clones driver’s motivation renewed after round one, and he would soon take the lead when Martin McCormack retired after clipping a bank, on stage five.

This was due to a braking problem, but no one was breaking away at the front. Barry Evans was again very fast, the Monaghan driver who was the first C2 R2 owner in Ireland, very much on form. Also swapping seconds with Barry was former Ka Champion, Mark Buckley who was disappointed with a first round full of dramas, and the Cork driver was setting top three times. A small off  however put him out on the penultimate test.

And talking about off road excursions, Steve Clery and Paul Manton had their patched up C2’s running on round two. Paul was regaining his confidence after his round one exploits, but a gearbox problem would put him out, and Steve Clery would also not make the finish. He had changed the rear suspension to the latest C2 adjustable units and his times were right up there with the leaders on the early tests, but his rally, as he put it was “Game over” with another off road excursion. Keeping it all on the road, was former Off Road ace David Johnston who was very much learning the rally game, and he picked up useful points in sixth. Fifth was Sean Agnew who was also adapting to front wheel drive, from four wheel drive, and Graham Kelly finished a superb fourth, his second good points scoring position of the weekend.

In the battle at the front Martin Tynan had a thirty second advantage, after six stages, but on the seventh stage he broke a front driveshaft and the fell back to third place. Another driver who could possibly have been victorious was second placed Sam Moffett. Despite running the earlier non adjustable suspension set up on his C2, the 18 year old Monaghan driver was setting fastest times, and was just sixteen seconds behind the winner. But fittingly it was Barry Evans who took the win, with a superb drive. Barry was ecstatic as he walked away with his 750€ of prize money and took the championship lead.
 “I knew I had to do well this weekend, and we had to use our previous experience of the car, before all these young lads start pulling away. It’s a brilliant feeling to win and it’s been a brilliant weekend. The competition has been intense and it’s been very well organised by Charles Hurst, and also the event by the organisers.”

Round 1
1 Martin McCormack/ Liam Moynihan  1hr 11min 11.3
2 Barry Evans/ David Lyons   +32.3
3 Sam Moffett/ Donal Lennon   +2m 26.7
Round 2
1 Barry Evans/ David Lyons   1hr 15min 17.1
2 Sam Moffett/ Donal Lennon   +15.9
3 Martin Tynan/ Ciaran Tynan   +1m 20.7
For more information visit www.c2r2.ie