The Deane family name is rapidly gaining a high calibre reputation in the sport of autocross. On Sunday last Derek Deane extended his winning streak on the National Loose Surface Autocross Championships to three, with a commanding performance in his JB buggy.
A total of 10 drivers from the Mayo and District Motorsport Club made the trip to do battle at round three, at the Midland Motorclub event, held in Scramoge, Roscommon. Deane’s biggest rival on the day was his own brother Mervyn, who pushed him all the way and only lost out by less than half a second in the end to make it a Deane one-two at the finish. Next best local home was the other member of the Deane Motorsport Team, Adrian, who finished fifth overall, rounding off a great set of results for the Buggy driving siblings from Williamstown.
James McGreal from Foxford in a Subaru Impreza was the highest placed local in a rally car, finishing in 10th place overall and claiming a class win in the process. Club chairperson Matthew Murphy from Shrule finished 23rd, one place ahead of Padraig Mullen from Ballymote. Putting in a good recovery drive was Alan Moran from Foxford, who had drive shaft problems on his opening run, having got this repaired he went on to finish and pick up valuable points for the championships.
Sean McHugh from Bekan blew the dust off his Subaru Impreza but found it difficult to get up to pace on his first autocross event of the year, having concentrated more on tarmac events in 2013. John Paul Ryan from Shrule and Peter McManamon from Achill rounded off the Mayo posse, they had their own battle all day, with Ryan this time claiming the bragging rights, finishing two seconds ahead in their equivalently spec’d class two cars.
Next up for the gravel experts is Mayo’s home event on Sunday July 28 it is also round three of the National Championships.
In other local motorsport news after the weekend David Carney, who is competing this year in the MSA British Rally Championships in his Citroen C2R2, travelled across the water to take part in round three, the RSAC Scottish Rally. The rally did not go as planned for the Westport man as his car left the road on stage four, bringing an end to his event. Next up for him and his co-driver Ray Fitzpatrick from Laois is the Todds Leap Rally which takes place on August 23 and 24, based in Enniskillen.
