Saturday 5th November in The Clonmel Park Hotel was the night where two of Cork Motor Clubs Finest, Owen Murphy and James O’ Brien, were rewarded for their hugely successful year in the Valvoline Forest Rally Championship driving the Red Hankook Evo 9. In doing so, Ballincollig’s Murphy and his Kanturk co-driver O’Brien became the first all Cork crew to win the Forest series.

On receiving their prize the winners paid tribute to their sponsors in particular Hankook and their associated sponsors. Owen Murphy said a special thanks to TTec Motorsport for a great car all year, to my service crew and my family and friends for doing all they could to help us win the championship this year. Owens co driver James also paid tribute to his family and everyone who helped during the year, he said “the Championship was fantastic because of the fellow competitors who pushed hard all year and the people on the ground at the different events during the year who make rallying happen”.

Owen and James now join an illustrious list of former champions and their thoughts are already focusing on next year. When Owen was asked would if he would defend his title he said “we will talk to our sponsors first then we will see what we are doing in 2012″.

Words & Images : Ger Leahy