Irish Notes 3rd Nov 04.

Sixteen World Rally Cars dominate the top end of this Saturday’s Mid Antrim Toshiba Forest Stage Rally. The event is the final round of the NI Stage Championship, with Kevin Lynch and Kieran Shaw set to battle it out for the title in their respective Impreza WRC’s over the 10 special stages, including Slieveanorra, BallyPatrick, Glenariffe, Beaghs and Parkmore.

Outgoing NI Rally Stage Champion Eugene Donnelly is taking over his brother Charlie’s entry on the Toshiba, starting at 23 in a Celica, with Meteor’s John Conway co-driving. Charlie is heading off to compete on Rally New York in the Catskill Mountains. Monaghan lady Laura Keenen is also heading out to that event. Eugene Donnelly has now been confirmed as joint Pirelli Tarmac Champion with Derek McGarrity following the Cork ‘20’ dramas.

GpN on the Toshiba Rally also looks to be a fascinating battle, with young Michael Curran and Seamus Donnelly set to battle it out for Championship honours. Drivers who could upset the balance include last year’s winner and No1 seed Robbie McGurk, as well as Raymond Johnson and Raymond Mason. McGurk was not able to do the ‘recce’ last Saturday as he was working on the Rally Catalunya.

Former Forestry Champion Dermot Kelly made the trip all the way from Charleville in Co.Cork to Ballymena for the Toshiba ‘recce’ last weekend, but had to miss out on a run through the forests and head back due to a robbery at his business. James Murphy also made the trip from Cork

Further to the story last week on the Mitsubishi Lancer that Brendan Crealey drove to ANCRO Championship Group N success this year, the car is to be run by Dean Hetherington’s WRC Engineering concern at Markethill and earmarked principally for the hire market.

Galway’s JJ Fleming has bought the latest specification right hand drive Ford Focus WRC, and plans to compete on next year’s Dunlop National Championship, as well as selected Tarmac Championship events, namely Galway, Killarney and Donegal. JJ tested the car two weeks ago and was more than happy with it. Robbie Ward will again co-drive.

New York based Irishman Seamus Burke, with Brian Sharkey co-driving, took his Hyundai to victory on last weekend’s Lake Superior Rally, final round of the SCCA Pro Rally series.