IrishJuniorRallying
Fact file Name Kevin O’Connor
Age 19
Hometown Askeaton
Occupation Student
Driver or Navigator Driver
Car C2R2
Motor Club Limerick
Hobbies keeping fit and knocking dents out of the rallycar…
Sponsors Daly Tyres, Opposite Lock Rally Prep(086-8432472),John O’Connor Plant Hire, Mike Flynn Carpentry, Farrell Bus and Limo Hire.
Question Time
Q1 How did you get started in rallying?
My father had a red manta in the woods was one of the top forestry lads during the 80’s and 90’s, its a second religion in our house.
Q2 First event you competed on?
Killarney forestry 2007 in a mk2,we spent a lot of time in the ditches that day.
Q3 How many rallies do you compete in during a year?
6 or 7
Q4 Favourite rally car?
Between the 22b or 2litre BDA mk2 escort
Q5 Favourite rally driver?
Colin McRae, Kris Meeke, Paul Purtil is some man to put on a show aswell.
Q6 What sort of pace notes do you use and anything they could do to improve them?
Write my own,six fastest numbers first
Q7 One thing you would change in Irish Rallying?
The price of entry fees, and the lack of exposure junior rallying gets,the irish junior rallying website is great a lot more could be done from motorsport Irelands side of things, theres a lot of quick juniors out there that don’t get the exposure they deserve.
Q8 Most memorial moment in Rallying?
The weekend Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle won the IRC along with Keith Cronin and Greg Shinnors winning the BRC
Q9 The moment you would most like to forget in rallying?
The day I heard Colin McRae died,
Q10 If you had €50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do?
Get the first boat to England to do the full BRC, its like playing soccer to be noticed you have to travel across the water.
Q11 Who in your opinion is the best young Irish driver at the moment?
Keith Cronin, Jonathan Cunningham is seriously quick aswell
Q12 What would be the best tip you could give to competitors starting out in rallying?
Buy a warm jacket because you’ll spend a lot of cold nights under a rallycar getting it ready, and be prepared to spend a lot of Saturday nights at home…!
Q13 Your favourite stage you competed on?
Streamhill cork forestry rally
Q14 Who in rallying has influenced you most to date?
Colin McRae and Kris Meeke for pure natural talent
Q15 After 1 year with the new Hans equipment what is your opinion of the safety device?
if it will save you in an accident it’s a no brainier and you wouldn’t even notice its there once you take off the line.
Q16 What tyre manufacture do you use and why? (Driver only)
Mostly sliverstone I just think for the price there as good as any tyre I have ever used and anyone that has used them will know the grip is out of this world.
Fact file Name Donal Balfe
Age 18
Hometown askeaton
Occupation student
Driver or Navigator navigator
Car citroen c2r2
Motor Club limerick
Hobbies rallying gaa soccer
Sponsors mike Flynn carpentry
Question Time
Q1 How did you get started in rallying?
My family were always involved but it was my brother that really got me hooked
Q2 First event you competed on?
Limerick mini stages 2008
Q3 How many rallies do you compete in during a year?
About 10
Q4 Favourite rally car?
Cannotbeat the mk 2
Q5 Favourite rally driver?
Keith Cronnin , Kris Meeke
Q6 What sort of pace notes do you use and anything they could do to improve them?
6th fastest numbers 1st ,yeah Kevin could listen to them
Q7 One thing you would change in Irish Rallying?
Costs will have to come down
Q8 Most memorial moment in Rallying?
Wining the ravens rock juniors 2009.my first class win.
Q9 The moment you would most like to forget in rallying?
Cork forest 2009.14 seconds between us and craig breen and the engine went on ss3
Q10 If you had €50,000 to spend on rallying, what would you do?
Selected rounds of brc in an evo 9
Q11 Who in your opinion is the best young Irish driver at the moment?
Ray o Sullivan Daniel mckenna and also Darren mckenna in the twin cam is fairly quick
Q12 What would be the best tip you could give to competitors starting out in rallying?
Plenty of preparation take your time do things right you have loads of time. there will be rallying in years to come.
Q13 Your favourite stage you competed on?
Has to be ring village. what a stage
Q14 Who in rallying has influenced you most to date?
My brother Sean
Q15 After 1 year with the new Hans equipment what is your opinion of the safety device?
Had 1 major enough accident and found it a great help.
Some pic's of the lads
Some In Car Action
If you would like to take part in this section contact us
