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Irish Notes 23rd Feb 04.
Birr MC's Mini Stages this Sunday lists Denis Biggerstaff at No1 in his 6R4, but following his mechanical dramas at Kirkistown, the former NI Champion is unlikely to make the trip. This leaves John Spain (Celica) at 2 and Oldcastles's Paul McCann at 3 in his Escort Cosworth. The event is based at Roscrea's Racket Hall Hotel, has a full 131 car entry plus reserves and features two very good 10 mile asphalt stages, done twice, in the Slieve Bloom area.
Martin Doherty in his Lancer heads the entry for his weekend's Davagh Stages Rally. Camillus Bradley is at 2 in his Mk2 Escort while No 3 seed Brian McCloskey is undecided as to use his recently acquired 99 spec Impreza WRC or his older Escort Cosworth. The event gets away from Draperstown at 12pm on Saturday with four stages planned around Davagh in the afternoon.
The 13th/14th March West Cork Rally, opening round of the 023 Tiles Championship, reports an oversubscribed entry even before the closing date. Top drivers in so far include Donie O'Sullivan in his Focus WRC, Melvyn Evans, JJ Fleming, Michael Barrable and Steve Fleck all in Subaru WRC's.
Ronan Morgan, director of Punchestown World Rally Masters, is hopeful for at least two interesting 'works' entries for the popular event, scheduled for 24th/25th July, not August as previously stated.
Glenn Allen made a welcome return to rallying last weekend, when he hired Eugene Donnelly's Celica for Kirkistown. Allen has been out of action since a rib breaking accident on last years Lakeland Stages, but reports that his own Escort WRC is fully rebuilt and is confident of making the Mayo Stages in early March.
There was an almost an unparalleled flurry of World Rally Car movements last week in Ireland. Recent acquisitions include Impreza WRC's of varying specifications for Kieran Shaw, James Gillen and Nigel Hicklin while Shane Braniff has changed his own Impreza for a Hyundai Accent WRC. Braniff may in fact upgrade to a EVO 3.5 Accent leaving his own back on the market, and speculation suggests that Cathal Arthurs is interested in this machine.
Regards, Brian Patterson.
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2003 www.rallynews.net
(Patterson Agencies). All rights reserved. Unauthorised
duplication is a violation of applicable laws. 25/02/04 00:24
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