Irish Notes 22nd Nov. 04
Dublin based Tipperary man Roy White, the 2003 Tarmac Group N Champion, has concluded a deal for a new Mitsubishi Evo MR. Ralliart Germany is building the new car under the direction of engineer David Ewles. Roy, who will be co-driven again by Greg Shinnors, intends to contest the full Pirelli Tarmac in 2005 backed by FESP.

Ballymena’s Keith McQullian scored his first outright stage rally victory on last Saturday’s snowy and icy Gullion Stages Rally in the Mourne Mountains. Brian Armstrong driving an Escort finished 2nd to McQullian’s Civic with Stephen Armstrong 3rd.

Top Irish drivers, past and present, including Andrew Nesbitt, Kenny McKinstry, Denis Biggerstaff, Adrian Boyd (& his Renault Alpine), Robert McBurney, Monte Carlo winner Derek Johnson, were all present for the launch of Esler Crawford’s fabulous new book ‘Mad for Road’ at Donnelly’s Subaru showroom in Belfast last week.
Niall McShea received what amounted to a civic homecoming to Enniskillen last Sunday in celebration of winning the Production World Rally Championship.

Niall Maguire received his Dunlop National Champion’s crown at a glittering prizegiving in Tralee last weekend. Maguire, co-driven by Paul McLaughlin, is the first driver to win the National championship 3 times. His other victories were in 1999 and 2002.

The retirement of legendary tyre fitter Nigel Green was marked with a special award at the National Prizegiving. Nigel has been at the sharp end of rallying in Ireland for 48 years, having looked after many rally luminaries including Ari Vatanen, Billy Coleman and Bertie Fisher, right up to present day champions.

The competitors in the Dunlop National series contributed over 20,000 Euro to the Irish Motorsport Benevolent Fun during the course of the 2004 season. The fund was also boosted by “spot prizes” at the awards evening.

Richard Warbrick of Dunlop Ireland gave a firm commitment that the company would again back the championship in 2005.

Brian Patterson