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Irish Notes 22nd March 2004
Letterkenny's Rory Kennedy is teaming up with Alistair Ginley again this season, in a new Impreza WRC S9. The pair will tackle the BRC Pirelli Rally as well as WRC events such as Cyprus, Turkey and Acropolis. This weekend they plan to compete on the North Humberside in a GpN Lancer as a warm up.
Kevin Lynch made up for the disappointment of retiring early from the Bishopscourt Rally on Saturday by heading on down to Roscommon and taking his Impreza WRC to a clear victory on the Midlands Stages event on the Sunday. George Cullen (Impreza) was 2nd and Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth) 3rd. Weather conditions on the event were grim at times.
Ballina's Noel McCarrick made a welcome return to competition, after illness, and won GpN on the Midlands Stages in his Subaru and was 5th overall.
Tarmac Championship contender Peadar Hurson has entered his Impreza WRC for the 4th April Circuit of Kerry, the opening event for the Dunlop National Championship. It is expected that, despite being National Championship status, the rally will have a very strong turnout of WRC machinery.
Speculation was rife in Ireland last week that Derek McGarrity was bringing in the Condroz winning, ex Freddy Loix 2001 specification Peugeot 206 WRC. Following his Kirkistown win at the weekend McGarrity was adamant that no deal has been done and he will almost certainly be in an Impreza WRC S9 to try and repeat last year's Circuit of Ireland victory.
This Sunday's Mitchelstown based Tipperary Forestry event, 2nd round of the Forestry Championship, has over 100 entries, with John McCarthy, Dermot Kelly, Kevin Lynch, Kevin O'Kane, and Brian Murphy just some of the top names.
Ollie O'Donovan was disappointed to be forced into retirement on last weekend's Dutch Zuider Zee Rally. Ollie was up to 3rd when his Subaru understeered off the road in bad weather conditions, went into a water filled dyke, and, despite being undamaged, got stuck.
Rathfriland Motor Club is running their popular Kilbroney Stage event this Saturday, with Gary White, Gerard McFall, Camillus Bradley and Glenn Wilson amongst the top entries.
Regards, Brian Patterson.
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