Sun April 8, 2012

 IRC joy for Hänninen in Ireland Juho Hänninen made history today when he became the first driver to win the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally to count as a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.  ...

Sat April 7, 2012

 Hänninen leads epic Irish battle The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, round three of the 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, has got off to an exhilarating start with three different stage winners, three overall leaders and a scant 0.6s covering the top two drivers after a day of high drama that began...

NEWS JUST IN

 IRL end - Hänninen wins @ 06:19 PM - Hänninen turns the first non-British/non-Irish Circuit of Ireland winner since Pentti Airikkala in 1979. In IRC terms after round 3/2012 the Skoda factory drivers have now won one round each! Final results (after SS15)(subject to last road section and scrutineering):
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h58m21s8;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +44s2;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m39s1;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +4m01s5;
5th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m53s8;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +5m14s5;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +6m15s9;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +8m27s9;
9th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +9m11s4;
10th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +9m16s

 IRL SS14 - Built up to the finale @ 05:35 PM - Most drivers on dry tyres in now raining conditions, but everybody somehow made it through without drama. Though last stage 25km in this! Results after SS14:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h44m11s1;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +43s3;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m38s7;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m48s8;
5th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m46s5;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +5m06s9;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +5m46s8;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +7m39s6;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +8m41s9;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +8m44s9

 IRL SS13 - No dramas on this stage @ 04:32 PM - No drama on such short stage - but that I would have been wrong saying this the first run of Lisburn! Heavy rain reported on next stages. Results after SS13:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h39m16s;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +43s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m31s;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m41s8;
5th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m43s6;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +4m52s1;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +5m33s6;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +7m22s3;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +8m09s4;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +8m25s1

 IRL SS12 - Mikkelsen loses big time @ 04:18 PM - Out of all stages it is this tiny 1km Lisburn stage where Mikkelsen spins off and loses 40s. Everybody has the problem of too dry tyres for this stage, but only Mikkelsen is a victim. Results after SS12:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h38m18s1;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +42s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m29s6;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m41s5;
5th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m42s3;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +4m49s2;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +5m31s9;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +7m19s8;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +8m00s9;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +8m18s

 IRL SS11 - Breen takes Barrable @ 01:55 PM - And stage win for Mikkelsen again, to keep the fight for the lead raging. Results after SS11:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h37m20s2;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +2s3;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m27s8;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m39s1;
5th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m40s;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +4m43s8;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +5m29s;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +7m15s8;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +7m51s3;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +8m08s4

 IRL SS10 - No change but nice set up @ 01:15 PM - Hänninen extends lead by 0.5s again. At this rate Breen should take Barrable on the next stage. Results after SS10:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h28m48s;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +4s7;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m18s5;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +3m19s1;
5th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +4m14s5;
6th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m21s6;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +5m05s7;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +6m36s4;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +7m03s3;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +7m27s7

 IRL SS9 - Breen chases Barrable @ 01:04 PM - Incidentally Breen vs Barrable is also the battle for top local driver. Mikkelsen narrows gap to leader slightly despite a ping-pong moment. Results after SS9:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h19m59s9;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +4s2;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m09s5;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m54s1;
5th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +3m43s6;
6th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +4m04s6;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +4m33s6;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +5m54s;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +6m18s;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +6m44s3

 IRL SS8 - For once no lead change @ 11:10 AM - Hänninen wins stage while Mikkelsen overshoots a junction. But gap is still tiny. Results after SS8:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 1h06m28s9;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +9s;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +1m02s8;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m19s5;
5th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +3m05s2;
6th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +3m37s8;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +3m51s;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +5m04s3;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +5m16s3;
10th= Kelly/Flanagan, Mitsubishi, +5m46s1

 IRL SS7 - Lead changes every stage @ 11:03 AM - Hänninen back in front. This is the 3rd lead swap between Hänninen and Mikkelsen in the last 3 stages. Kopecky already near a minute down. Results after SS7:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 57m43s9;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +1s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +53s;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +2m01s9;
5th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +2m38s;
6th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +3m17s5;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +3m30s2;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +4m25s4;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +4m40s2;
10th= Donnelly/Purcell, Mitsubishi, +5m06s6

 IRL SS6 - Fisher crashed out of 4th @ 10:57 AM - Alastair Fisher crashed out from 4th place. Mikkelsen re-takes the lead. Kopecky confirms top two throw lot of mud on the stage. Results after SS6:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 48m46s5;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +0s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +40s3;
4th= Arzeno/Jamoul, Peugeot, +1m39s7;
5th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +2m07s6;
6th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +2m58s;
7th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +3m06s7;
8th= Jennings/McNulty,Mitsubishi, +3m48s;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +3m57s9;
10th= Donnelly/Purcell, Mitsubishi, +4m16s9

Fri April 6, 2012

NEWS JUST IN

 IRL leg1 - Last stage cancelled @ 10:33 PM - Reason unconfirmed. This is not WRC, so it is not cancelled for being too dark or too difficult for the drivers. Anyway, last stage cancelled, mening the end of leg1 results are as after SS4.

 IRL SS4 - Hänninen takes lead @ 10:08 PM - But Mikkelsen very close behind. But what is with the new Evo Peugeots? Breen loses 1m30 in penalties with a fuel pump problem before last service, then only posts 7th fastest time with a freshly fixed car. Results after SS4:
1st= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, 34m55s7;
2nd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +0s6;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +28s2;
4th= Fisher/Kennedy, Ford, +48s4;
5th= Arzemo/Jamoul, Peugeot, +1m02s4;
6th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +1m18s5;
7th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +2m27s;
8th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +2m34s4;
9th= Jennings/McNulty, Mitsubishi, +2m44s;
10th= Kelly/Flanaghan, Mitsubishi, +3m12s1

 IRL SS3 - Puncture prone long stage @ 07:49 PM - Hänninen wins stage but Mikkelsen keeps lead. Puncture for Wiegand. And Arzeno's nightmare continues, now a puncture leading to a broken driveshaft. Results after SS3:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 26m39s;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +2s8;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +28s2;
4th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +39s4;
5th= Arzemo/Jamoul, Peugeot, +43s3;
6th= Fisher/Kennedy, Ford, +47s8;
7th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +1m02s4;
8th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +2m02s8;
9th= Jennings/McNulty, Mitsubishi, +2m09s1;
10th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +2m16s9

 IRL SS2 - Skodas swap round @ 07:20 PM - First longer stage. Top3 Skodas swap with Mikkelsen now in the lead, Hänninen in and Wiegand outside the top3. Breen solid in 4th while the 2nd Peugeot of Arzemo has gearbox troubles. Results after SS2:
1st= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, 10m27s6;
2nd= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +5s5;
3rd= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, +9s6;
4th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +19s1;
5th= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +20s7;
6th= Arzeno/Connolly, Peugeot, +24s7;
7th= Barrable/Connolly, Skoda, +26s1;
8th= Fisher/Kennedy, Ford, +44s5;
9th= Donnelly/Purcell, Mitsubishi, +46s6;
10th= Moffett/Lennon, Mitsubishi, +45s5

 IRL SS1 - Titanic Skoda stage @ 05:15 PM - Debut stage for the new Evolution 207, but Skoda take the first 3 places on this unusual Titanic shipyard stage. Results after SS1:
1st= Kopecky/Dresler, Skoda, 2m11s8;
2nd= Wiegand/Gottschalk, Skoda, +0s2;
3rd= Mikkelsen/Floene, Skoda, +1s2;
4th= Breen/Roberts, Peugeot, +3s5;
5th= Jennings/McNulty, Mitsubishi, +3s7;
6th= Moffett/Lennon, Mitsubishi, +4s5;
7th= Hänninen/Markkula, Skoda, +4s6;
8th= Barrable/Donnolly, Skoda, +5s;
9th= Moffett/O'Reilly, Mitsubishi, +5s3;
10th= Agnew/Deery, Citroen, +5s6

Thu April 5, 2012

 Menyhért Krózser aims for a Top 3 finish The excitement of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge moves to Northern Ireland this weekend, with drivers taking on the infamous Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, one of the oldest rallies in the world....

Mon April 2, 2012

 Circuit of Ireland - Preview The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally will be a thrilling additionto the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when it hosts the all-action,Eurosport-backed series for the first time next week (6/7 April)....

 Andreas aims for "homecoming" win ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s Andreas Mikkelsen will return to Ireland for the first time since 2007, when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge Champion and current points leader contests the team’s home round of the series, The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, in his Fabia S2000...

 Skoda Motorsport at full strength in Ireland ŠKODA has made a very good start to this year's IRC by scoring two “doubles” in the Azores and the Canary Islands, and its ambition is to continue its success story in the upcoming rally in Ireland that is this year's first event to see ŠKODA's factory team ŠKODA Moto...

Fri March 23, 2012

 Rugby ace tests Titanic stage Former Ireland and Ulster rugby captain Simon Best has given the Titanic Super Special Stage - the centrepiece of next month's Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally - his seal of approval after he went for a high-speed ride around the course last week....

Tue March 20, 2012

 Fisher confirms Ireland & Ypres with Fiesta Alastair Fisher will contest two rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge in 2012, April’s Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally and the GEKO Ypres Rally in Belgium in late June....

Sun January 29, 2012

 Titanic test for Circuit of Ireland A superspecial stage around the Harland and Wolff shipyard where the famous Titanic was built 100 years ago will form the centrepiece of the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, round three of this year’s all-action Intercontinental Rally Challenge....