Young Cork driver Brian O'Mahony started his Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship assault to great effect in last weekends Galway International Rally. The pair did not get of to the best of starts though, getting a puncture about a mile into the 1st stage, losing over 1 minute in the process. They were on a mission for the next couple of stages in order to pull some of that time back but just when things looked good the pair had to stop mid-stage to help another crew who had had an accident, losing further time, allowing the class leader to increase his lead. Over the last loop of stages on Saturday the class leader had his own problems allowing Brian and John to restart Sunday with a two and a half minute gap back to second. The pair opted to take it easy for Sunday and to drive for a finish. All and all
Brian, with co-driver John Higgins, battled both the slippery conditions and gear selection problems in their OM Concrete Products backed Ford Puma S1600 to finish 1st in Class and 23rd overall.

They hope to compete in the up comming Mayo Stages Rally as a shake-down for the Circuit of Ireland.
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 Puma Bites Back!

Brian O’Mahony and navigator John Higgins fought back after a disastrous first loop of stages to finish a credible 38^th overall and 2nd in class in the recent T.F Royal Mayo Stages Rally in Castlebar.

 The pairing had a massive moment over a big jump early in SS1, Ballyheane, and were very lucky as the only damaged sustained was a burst radiator. They then nearly caught the car in front on that stage when they were caught out by a corner that tightened a bit more than they thought forcing the car into a half spin and jamming it across the road. They got going again but lost about thirty seconds in doing so.

 On SS2, Partry Mountain , they caught another car, who panicked and nearly put both of them off the road. Toward the end of that stage the engine temperature was getting a little high so they backed off, losing further time.

 As they couldn’t change the rad for another two stages the pair was forced to make makeshift repairs using a couple of eggs and a couple of litres of water. They then opted to take it easy for the next two stages as not to damage the engine. Then as the crew left the start line of SS4, the Neale, a drive shaft let go and they had to crawl through the whole stage losing nearly two minutes to their rivals. This put them 9^th in class and thoughts of a class victory gone, the crew decided to keep going at a fast pace but not take any chances in the hopes that their rivals would fall by the way side.

 Over the next four stages the crew continued to set very quick times, some of which were inside the top 15, beating more powerful four-wheel drive cars on those stages. This helped the crew to claw their way back from 9^th to 2^nd in class, leaving them only 44 seconds off the class leader at the finish.  

 Speaking after, navigator John Higgins said “We were really happy with the result considering what had happened to us earlier in the day, after service we would have just been happy with a finish but to come away with second is great”

 If it was not for their problems the pairing would have most certainly been in a better position to attack for the class lead but unfortunately that is the nature of the sport.

 The crew are now getting ready for the Circuit Of Ireland , Where they hope to return to winning ways and increase their Cl.6 lead in the Pirelli Tarmac Championship.

Up and coming Cork driver Brian O’Mahony had a terrific result in last weekends Circuit of Ireland International Rally, finishing 1^st in class 6, 14^th overall and winning F2 also.  

The result was hard earned however, as Brian and co-driver John Higgins battled both the challenging stages and a number of setbacks. On SS5, Rowantree Hill they arrived at the scene of an accident that had blocked the road, which they helped to clear, and resulted in the crew being awarded a stage interrupted time. This was really a blessing in disguise as they had burst the rad over a jump quite early on in the stage and the engine had just started to over heat. Luckily a service followed and the Chris Birkbeck Rallyesport mechanics did a great job replacing the rad.  SS6, Drumscollop, saw the OM Concrete Products team overshoot at a junction, loosing 20 seconds but retaining their class lead and 19^th overall at the end of day one.

 The narrow and slippery stages of day two proved to be a real challenge for the crew, as they did not suit the S1600 Puma. The second attempt at Killyvaghan Lake , unlucky SS13, proved a little too slippery, the crew spinning at a junction and loosing 40 seconds before they continued on their way. The day ended with the crew retaining their class lead by a large margin and 15^th place overall.

 The 3^rd and final day of the rally was not an easy day for the crew as they encountered fading brakes and gear selection problems, which were getting progressively worse as the day went on. Starting the last stage at St. Angelo, the crew were lying 12^th overall but made one mistake on a square left and under-steered into a mound of slurry, no damaged was sustained but they lost 40’s, and two places overall, trying to reverse out.

 Speaking after the event Brian said “ We are very happy with the result, we were pushing very hard early on but after Peter (Wilson) had his problems the pressure was off so we were able to go at a real steady pace” John went on to add “ I am really happy with the result but I must say I was getting a small bit worried when the car was beached on the slurry in St.Angelos because the car couldn’t get traction for awhile and Brian had just asked me to get out and push when the car moved, my boots would have been destroyed if I had to get out!!”

 Three of the four Cars running under the banner “Rally 4 Charity” finished the event, Frank O’Mahony, Michael Cooper and Brian, Emily was sidelined on Sunday after she slid wide and dropped into a ditch. Your support is still needed in order to reach the final goal of E40,000. Thanks to all the people who have helped out so far and more information about how to donate can be found on the Temple Street Children Hospital ’s website (www.childrenshospital.ie)

The 2005 Killarney Rally of the Lakes saw Cork’s Brian O’Mahony contest the 3rd round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship in his customary S1600 Ford Puma. The OM Concrete Products team suffered a difficult event from the outset however, as a down on power engine saw them drop time to local pacesetter Ken O’Neill on the opening loop of stages. The Chris Birkbeck Rallysport Team carried out some repairs during the subsequent services and by the end of leg 1 O’Mahony and co-driver John Higgins had gained a slender 7 second lead, with 3 rd in F2.

Engine woes returned on Sunday morning as the engine began to over heat at the end of the first test and then continued to do so for all of the final day. This slowed the team’s progress during the 2nd day of competition but they remained in the thick of the class battle. A puncture on SS 12 and a subsequent 15 second penalty incurred while changing the damaged tyre on the next road section put an end to all hopes of a class win for the OM Concrete Team.

After the puncture they both decided it was best to drive with points in mind for the remainder of the event and finished 2nd in class, 22nd overall and 3rd in F2.

Speaking after the event O’Mahony commented “It was really disappointing after we got the puncture but unfortunately that is the nature of the sport. We are still very happy with the result and cant wait for our next event”.
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                                    Testing Times

Rally Ireland was a character building event for Brian O’Mahony and co-driver John Higgins. Not only had they to face the challenging and difficult stages set out by the organisers but they also had to contend with stiff competition in class 6, most notably from Darren Gass and Seamus O’Grady.

 After a good start with 15^th fastest time overall on SS 1, Donegal 1, O’Mahony maintained a comfortable class lead from Gass until a spin on SS 5, Tyrone1, resulted in the OM Concrete backed car dropping a wheel into a drain and loosing almost ten minutes. With their comfortable lead now slashed to just 1 second a strong run was needed to finish the day, but this was not to be as a poor tyre choice resulted in an ill-handling Puma and further time losses.

Day two proved little better for the Cork/Mayo crew as they suffered a variety of costly setbacks including both a puncture and intercom failure on SS 7, Leitrim1, as well as having the engine inexplicably die for several minutes on the penultimate stage, Ireland North West 2. Entering the final stage O’Mahony hoped for a clean run but the first junction saw even this small wish dashed as the clutch pedal went to the floor leaving Brian with no drive and forcing him to pull it back up with his foot.

“This rally was probably the most testing rally I have ever competed in. I don’t think I was ever happier to finish a rally yet.”

Brian hits the stages again this weekend as he competes in the West Cork Rally using his father’s Metro 6R4. “I’m lucky enough to be given the job of shaking down the Metro for my Dad. Its quite a change from the Puma so I’m just going out to enjoy it ”

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O’Mahony and Higgins target points haul on Circuit of Ireland International Rally

Carrigaline rally driver Brian O’Mahony and Mayo co-driver John Higgins are looking to bring home the points in round two of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, the Circuit of Ireland International Rally (April 14-17).

 The reigning A6 champions failed to finish the opening round of the series, the Galway International Rally back in February, following a suspension problem and want to get their championship campaign on track next weekend.

 The pair will be back in action behind the wheel of their Team Birkbeck Rallysport-run Super 1600 Ford Puma in class A6 of the Easter weekend event, and after winning their category on the rally last season, finishing an impressive 14^th overall in the process, both are confident of further success this time out.

 O’Mahony, 21, said: “After a DNF in the first round we are looking to get some points in the bag. We will also be pushing for a good overall position once again following a decent result on the event last year and a class win would be a bonus. It’s important that we get the points this time out as we will also be missing the Donegal International Rally in June.”  

Higgins, 23, said: “Hopefully we can repeat our success of last year, if not better our overall position. We want to get all the points we can get to get our season going.”

 The Circuit of Ireland Rally is based in and around Derry and begins on Good Friday at 7.30pm with a ceremonial start before covering around 160 stage miles from Saturday to Monday.