Mayo's John Warren rates Laois drive among the best of his rallying career

John Warren labelled his performance in Laois over the weekend as among the best of his rallying career to date.

Not only did the Mayo-based driver win the coveted Twin Cam Challenge, but he also took the Class 13 win and finished sixth overall from over 140 cars that started the Laois Heartlands Rally on Sunday last.

Warren, a design engineer with McHale Engineering in Ballinrobe, bounced back from the disappointment of retiring on the last stage of the Cavan Rally last weekend to win four out of the day’s six stages in a sun-drenched Portlaoise.

Reflecting on the drive, John’s wife and co-driver Ruthann O’Connor admitted they were both overjoyed with the result.

She elaborated: “The Twin Cam Challenge is an amazing award to be bringing back to Mayo. It’s the only one in Ireland where the best of the best go into battle. We’ve competed in the Laois Heartlands Rally a number of times before and we actually won this award in its inaugural year in 2013, but the competition wasn’t as tough then.

“To be crowned winners as highest placed Toyota Corolla Twin Cam in 2023 is something very special!”

Warren added: “I hoped that we could fight in the top 10 this weekend after our electrical gremlins last weekend but to have set top four overall fastest times on three stages against some of the quickest drivers in the country – this was not in my mind, to be honest.

“I was confident our pace would be good. I’m a bit surprised but I will take it as it is, and it is probably one of the best days of my career – and as always, I could not have done it without Ruthann’s coolness and calmness on the pacenotes beside me.”

“I have to give John credit,” said Ruthann. “He had burned the midnight oil over the last few days to search for the root of the electrical problem after Cavan, but after this result the importance of the preparation he puts into the Fusion 4 Corolla is worth it. We’re over the moon!”