PATRICK O’Brien says retaining the Bushwhacker Rally title for a fourth consecutive year with his co-driving brother Stephen after coming out on top in a final stage shootout is a “surreal” feeling.
The Skoda Fabia R5 driver recorded the quickest time on the rerun of the ‘Lough Bradan’ test to move back in front of Cathan McCourt and seal the quadruple by only seven tenths of a second.
O’Brien, who hails from Omagh, now draws level with Ronnie McCartney to become the second most successful driver at the loose surface meeting, with Robbie McGurk still the only individual to achieve five-in-a-row.
His success on Saturday came a fortnight on from triumphing at the Lakeland Stages Rally in his R317 Motorsport family-run Czech supermini.
However, the result was more conclusive on that occasion as McCourt’s involvement was ended early in the last stage with a front-right puncture.
“The feeling is always great to win such a prestigious rally,” said O’Brien, before heading back to his new home in Perth in Western Australia. “Winning the Bushwhacker Rally once was a dream but to do it four times feels surreal if I am being honest.
“Cathan has been pushing us harder every year, and as the times confirm, this was the closest yet. I always have it in my head to go with the goal of winning the Bushwhacker, that is just my mentality, and it has seemed to work well for me,” he added.
Vivian Hamill and Andrew Grennan settled for the final spot on the podium having occupied third in their Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 for the entirety of Saturday, while 2023 Irish Forestry Champion Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia R5) conceded a sluggish start effectively ended his silverware hopes.
Seventh position, meanwhile, was more than good enough for Derek Mackarel to clinch both the Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship and McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge crowns.
He overcame early steering problems with his older generation Ford Fiesta R5 that required the entire rack to be replaced, and clutch-related issues, to get his hands on the two domestic titles.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that 2003 FIA World Rally Champion Petter Solberg will drive a Land Rover at the Clare Forestry Rally – the penultimate round of the 2024 Defender Rally Series – on Saturday, October 5.
“I am excited for this because anybody who knows rallying knows about Ireland – this place is crazy for our sport,” said the Norwegian. “I competed there when the World Rally Championship was there [in 2007] and I remember the amazing fans then. I hope some of them are going to be coming to Clare next month, it would be very cool to meet them.”
Results – Bushwhacker Rally: 1. Patrick O’Brien/Stephen O’Brien (Skoda Fabia R5) 36m 2.2s; 2. Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +0.7s; 3. Vivian Hamill/Andrew Grennan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5); 4. Ryan Caldwell/Sean Ferris (Skoda Fabia R5); 5. Kyle White/Anthony Nestor (Hyundai i20 R5); 6. Martin Cairns/Peter Ward (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 7. Derek Mackarel/Eamonn Creedon (Ford Fiesta R5); 8. James McCarville/Conal McNulty (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5); 9. David Condell/Michael Coady (Ford Fiesta R5); 10. Aidan Wray/Kenny Bustard (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
