Desi Henry and co-driver Liam Moynihan, in the 1600cc turbo-charged Skoda Fabia R5 took a convincing win in dry and dusty conditions in round four of the 2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship.

The Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, run by the Cork Motor Club was hailed as another super event by the sixty-seven starters.

For Henry, the event got off to a perfect start opening out over nine seconds of a lead on stage one, from championship leader Michael Carbin who made a fine start in his Evo 4. As Desi Henry climbed further ahead, others fell by the wayside. However, Cerbin still maintains his overall Valvoline series points lead, from Ger Lucey who put his Evo 8 into eighth after a late charge up the leader-board.

The Valvoline two-wheel drive race proved an epic one with Shane McGirr in a Toyota Starlet was fastest on stage one, but he slid off on stage two, going into a hedge and re-joining the stage with the help of a strong marshal.  David Crossen now with Vauxhall power in his MK2 Escort held off McGirr’s advances, the gap just over three seconds starting the final stage. McGirr and co-driver Marty McGarrity launched a grand attack on the final test, taking five seconds off Crossen to snatch victory and ninth overall.

Winner of the rallytrader.ie/ Kumho tyres Junior category, collecting two tyres from Ears Motorsport Ireland was Stephen Dickson with co-driver Tommy Hayes in the R2 Fiesta. Shane Kenneally in his MK2 Escort led the Valvoline registered Junior’s into the final stage, but a spirited effort by Stephen Dickson saw him clinch the prize by just nine seconds.

Other important class winners included Ruari Maguire in his Vauxhall Corsa, Paul McCann in his Escort Cosworth, and Ed Muldoon taking Group N, from Stephen Cullen and Conor McCourt third.

The winners Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan however were delighted. “We had a great run” said Desi. “No real problems and we really enjoyed the stages.” Next up for the Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship is the Lakeland Stages in Enniskillen on 3rd September.



2016 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship-Round Four results:
1st Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan  Skoda Fabia R5  34m57.4s 
2nd Patrick O'Brien/Aine McGuigan  Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 + 01:08.4
3rd Adrian Hetherington/Gary Nolan Toyota Corolla WRC + 01:10.6
4th Michael O'Brien/Liam Brennan  Ford Fiesta WRC + 01:32.8
5th Mark Donnelly/Stephen O'Hanlon Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 + 01:53.4

Points after round four:
1st Michael Carbin              67
2nd Gerard Lucey                57
3rd Adrian Hetherington   50
4th Desi Henry                    43
5th Patrick O'Brien             42