Irish Notes 28^th April 04.

Tommy Kiely (Escort) scored victory on the tough Rosscarbery based Skibbereen Single Stage Rally. Tom Murphy was the early leader, by 2 secs. Kiely was faster on 2^nd stage and Murphy did not start stage 3 due to mechanical difficulties.

Willie Power took his Darrian to 2^nd in Skibbereen, 23 secs behind winner Kiely. Tim O’Donovan (Corolla) and Willie Whitty (Escort) tied for 3^rd, with O’Donovan getting the podium place on a tie-break.

Maurice Gass has reverted back to a Subaru from his Hyundai WRC. The Markethill oil transport man has traded his Accent for an ex Solberg Impreza S8 and intends to shake the car down on several National events before tackling the Shell Donegal in June.

In the almost certain absence of Tapio Laukkanen, Derek McGarrity will run first on the road on this weekend’s Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Current Tarmac Champion McGarrity will drive a newly released S9 Impreza WRC, another ex Solberg car, now in red, to be delivered from Prodrive this week.

Donie O’Sullivan, winner of the West Cork and Kerry Rallies this year and current leader of the 023 Tiles Championship, of which Killarney is round 2, is fresh back from a family wedding holiday in the USA. Donie is strongly tipped for success on his home Killarney Rally, his Focus WRC having had a thorough freshen up since finishing 3^rd on the Circuit of Ireland.

The Classic Molls Gap stage in Killarney, the scene of many rally legends, has had to be shortened this year due to roadworks, which means all records are now history really.

The Killarney Lakes Rally is introducing a new super special untimed shakedown on the Friday evening before the rally at the horseracing track on the fringe of the town centre.

Patrick Elliott was having his first run in the LHD Circuit of Ireland winning Subaru S9 on the Monaghan Rally, but was forced to pull in when the car mysteriously filled with smoke. The reason for that still hasn’t been identified. Elliott intends taking the car to the non-championship Carlow Rally for a further shakedown and to make up his mind on whether to convert it to RHD.

The Irish Sports Council was in attendance at Sunday’s Monaghan Stages Rally and carried out a pre-event breath test. Ten drivers were picked at random at the drivers briefing, and all passed with flying colours.

Regards, Brian Patterson.