As the sun beamed out across the Co. Fermanagh hills, it was apt that it would the scorching hot pace of 2022 Champions Patrick O’Brien & Stephen O’Brien that would see them claim a dominant victory on the Enniskillen based Lakeland Stages Rally.
Over six stages and an incredibly exciting days action, it was the O’Briens who really impressed as they topped the time sheets on all bar one stage, and returned to the finish with a 21.2 second advantage over 2019 Champions Cathan McCourt & Liam Moynihan.
Second place amongst the Sligo Pallets Forest Championship registered crews would go to Hugh McQuaid & Declan Casey, a remarkable drive by the local star and event sponsor would see their Ford Escort Mk2 finish top 2WD on the day to make the high-speed blast over the six Lakeland stages all the sweeter.
Mickey Conlon & Paul McPhillips would finish third in their Ford Escort amongst the registered crews, ahead of Mike O’Donoghue & Danny Murphy in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and the Class 4 winning Sam Stewart & Stephen Peoples.
The Championship race now comes down to just two more events, with the action staying up North next time out with the ‘Gravel Grand Prix’ that is the Bushwhacker Rally in Omagh on September 15th and 16th, including some really exciting night stages, and then we conclude with the Carrick-on-Suir Willie Loughman Forest Rally on October 8th, with entries for both events currently open.
