Double tops for Kelly as Jennings' win goes up in smoke

Status
This is not open for further replies. We close very old threads, and if this is the case, please start a new one on the same topic.

Cess

RMS Staff
Messages
9,192
On the RMS Blog: Donagh Kelly secured his first Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title, with victory on the Todd's Leap Ulster Rally at the weekend. The Donegal driver, who has been the dominant force in Irish rallying throughout 2015, adds the 'Tarmac' crown to the National Championship, which he won in July.

By contrast, Garry Jennings had a thoroughly miserable event... (Read the Full Article Here)



Read the Entire Article Here
 

Cess

RMS Staff
OP
Cess
Messages
9,192
Unfortunately, it looks as if Garry Jennings' car sustained some significant damage. Quite startling how quickly fires can spread.

IMG-20150815-WA0003.jpg


11866375_1051958658148854_1381678571813937014_n.jpg


11863400_1051958704815516_2828615844727943066_n_1.jpg


These pictures are doing the rounds on social media (not sure who took them).
 

Blackie

RMS Regular
Messages
10,471
Location
End of my tether
Drives
Who knows?
On Stage 2 Jennings(before I knew he had a turbo issue) looked slow and the back end seemed loose coming through the junction I was marshalling at.

Stage 4 however, in the twilight he has flat through it and looked much neater!

Following it online then on Saturday it seemed like he was destined to win it, but motorsport is such a cruel game!!
 

weeloaney

RMS Regular
Messages
19,046
Location
Fermanagh
Drives
Mazda 3 MPS AERO
He was putting out some pace till the fire.

After dropping 40 odd secs and then the 40 odd sec plenty.

To end up leading by 40 odd secs is brutal.

Man on a mission
 

weeloaney

RMS Regular
Messages
19,046
Location
Fermanagh
Drives
Mazda 3 MPS AERO
Whatever you think of him he is probably the best driver competing atm.

Mate was co-driving and he doesn't understand how he made 30secs (I think) on one of the stages, said it was a hateful stage haha
 

Blackie

RMS Regular
Messages
10,471
Location
End of my tether
Drives
Who knows?
Well I'm no rally driver and when I was following the "Road Open" car across stage 4 at the end of the night I found it awful and I certainly wasn't driving at half the speed the rally drivers were!!
 

Cess

RMS Staff
OP
Cess
Messages
9,192
Maybe with 4wd, anti-lag and a good set of notes, you might have faired OK @Blackie! [emoji6]

Seriously, I don't know how any of those guys drive so quick in the dark. One of the great features of the Ulster - it still runs night stages.

Jennings is very quick, but bear in mind only Kelly had a comparable car and he just had to finish to take the title, so was probably content to let Garry charge on.
 

RCT

RMS Regular
Messages
2,470
Maybe with 4wd, anti-lag and a good set of notes, you might have faired OK @Blackie! [emoji6]

Seriously, I don't know how any of those guys drive so quick in the dark. One of the great features of the Ulster - it still runs night stages.

Jennings is very quick, but bear in mind only Kelly had a comparable car and he just had to finish to take the title, so was probably content to let Garry charge on.

The dark stages is all about your notes. If your notes are right and you are driving to them correctly, there should be very little difference in your pace then, as to daylight. You have to recce them in the dark as well to make sure you have your visible marker points in for corners, bumps etc.

Kelly will have been driving conservatively with his notes, to get points for his overall championship win, which is understandable as he'd more to lose if he fell off. Serious amount of gravel on the stages on Saturday tho!!
 

davecoupe

RMS Photographer
Messages
7,737
Location
On a hedge, on a stage.
Drives
S14a/vRS/Jetta
Great write up as usual @Cess.

Pretty annoyed to have missed this rally, looked like a good one and a second title of the season for Kelly.

It will still be interesting to see what Kelly etc do next year, especially considering DMC's decision to lessen their stance regarding RC1 class cars competing in the ITC.
 

Cess

RMS Staff
OP
Cess
Messages
9,192
Cheers @davecoupe - good to see you back and hope the honeymoon went well.

Ulster was OK, nothing spectacular. The entry dropped off badly and the stages were tough to view.

Well deserved title for Kelly and Jennings was mega unlucky.

Now all toys have been gathered up and prams back in order, roll on next season. Bit of promotion and professionalism could really restore the Championship with the rule change.
 

davecoupe

RMS Photographer
Messages
7,737
Location
On a hedge, on a stage.
Drives
S14a/vRS/Jetta
All went good (y). Viewing in the northeast is generally tough enough anyway with loads of high hedges.

Now all toys have been gathered up and prams back in order, roll on next season. Bit of promotion and professionalism could really restore the Championship with the rule change.

I'm still disappointed RC1 cars wont be able to take the ITC crown to be honest. I was unsure at the start and thought it was a step forward ...... but the more I think about it, the more I understand the stance DMC took. If I have interpreted the rules right, I think the ITC events will be pretty farcical next season.

The cars coming 4th or 5th on some events (the first eligible car on Donegal this year was McGonagle in 8th, behind a 40 year old escort) and crossing the ramp after the the overall trophies have been handed out, will be getting maximum Tarmac Championship points. How are those drivers supposed to attract publicity or sponsors without winning the events outright? Anyone with a RRC capable car (the Moffetts, Boyle, O'Riordan, etc) will probably run in RC1 guise, so they can compete and be in with a chance of winning the rally outright, getting their names on the big trophies beside the past winners.

The big announcement by the FIA (very soon after the ITC's announcement) was that RC1 cars are going to be made faster and more entertaining (more boost, center diffs again etc) from 2017. The reason was mainly because everyone thinks the current RC1 cars aren't entertaining enough to attract manufacturers or sponsors ...... but the ITC are taking 2 steps backwards and limiting the winner of the ITC to RRC and R5 spec cars.

What are your thoughts? You are pretty much in favor of the rule change aren't you?
 
Status
This is not open for further replies. We close very old threads, and if this is the case, please start a new one on the same topic.
Top