Irish Notes 8th August '05.

Ray Breen's 5-second victory on last weekend's Stonethrowers Rally increases the Waterford man's points tally in the Dunlop Championship to 118, with three rounds (60 points) remaining, Galway Summer, Clare and Fastnet. Jim Harrison now has 87, Charlie Donnelly 83 and Kevin Barrett 76.

Maurice Gass's son Darren celebrated obtaining a competition rally licence by taking a Saxo to a 7 sec victory over Jason Ryan (Civic) in the Junior section of last weekend's Stonethrowers Rally. Darren has experienced success in karting but this was virtually his rally debut.

JJ Fleming was a non-starter on the Stonethrowers, his Focus WRC having gone to Eamonn Boland. Wexford man Boland campaigned one of the early Focus WRC's a few years ago before moving to an Impreza WRC, and is now keen to try the more recent Ford. Eamonn and co-driver Francis Reagan plan to compete on the Galway Summer as a shakedown for the Ulster Rally.

Glenn Allen still leads the NI Special Stage Championship following last Saturday's Dogleap Rally, with defending Champion Kevin Lynch 2nd. Although Lynch confirmed after the Dogleap that he will be competing on Lurgan Park this Saturday, he is still resolved to take 6 months off to give his damaged back a chance to recover, which should make Allen's task on the NI series a little easier. Craig Bennett was 3rd in the points before the Dogleap but didn't make the start. Neil McCance's brilliant run in his Group N Lancer now moves him up to 3rd in the series.

Kevin Barrett is keen to have a go at the Catalunya Rally, but his current Triton Showers RHD Impreza WRC is not suitable for the Spanish WRC round and he is looking for a right hand drive Impreza WRC S9 that would comply.

Several of the Southern Forestry Championship regulars are likely to be missing from this weekend's Roscrea based Birr round as it is the holiday period, but series leader Gareth MacHale (118 pts) will be there in his Corolla WRC. Gareth and co-driver Paul Nagle could conceivably do enough to tie up the series, even with the Killarney round remaining. Glenn Allen (91 pts) and John McCarthy (83 pts), in their respective Corolla WRC's could still upset the McHale applecart, but that would be a long shot and indeed it is not certain at the moment if they will start Birr.

Brian Patterson.

PRESS RELEASE: Immediate: 8th August 2005

CHAMPION DAY OUT AT LURGAN PARK

Last year's winner Kevin Lynch in his Subaru Impreza WRC heads a fabulous entry for this Saturday's Triton Showers Lurgan Park Rally. The start is at 10.30am from Lurgan Main Street and the first of the 8 special stages is at 11.00am.

It wasn't easy for Dungiven man Kevin twelve months ago, and, with the quality of the entry once again, this time will hardly be any easier. Current Pirelli Tarmac Championship leader Eugene Donnelly is at No.2 in his Corolla WRC. Ten times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry is at No.3 in his Impreza WRC. Three times Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity is at 4 in his Impreza WRC. Current World Rally Production Champion Niall McShea is at 5 in a Cordoba WRC. Former NI Rally and Rallycross Champion Denis Biggerstaff is at 6, this time driving his brilliant Metro 6R4.

Event sponsor Kevin Barrett is at 7 in his Triton Showers Impreza WRC. Top Pirelli British Championship driver Paul Bird is at No.8 in his Focus WRC. Paul is no stranger to Northern Ireland having won the motorbike SuperMoto series at Nutts Corner and Kirkistown three times and also runs a British Super Bike team that features Ulster riders Jeremy McWilliams and Michael Laverty.

It is against that background, that level of competition, that Kevin Lynch will start the first of the eight special stages on Saturday morning in his quest, not just for the lion's share of the £5000 prize fund, but perhaps of more significance of proving once again that he is best of a really class field.

In addition to the battle at the front of the 45 invited entries, there is a mouth-watering tussle in store for the best Group N crew. There are some brilliant young drivers, stars now as well as for the future, such as Michael Curran, Ian Barrett and John McGlaughlin.

The yardstick for these young drivers will be current Tarmac Championship Group N front runner Garry Jennings. If any of the young ones can beat Ballinamallard man Garry, they won't be hanging about.  Terry McGonigle and Martin Elliott are also talented Group N front runners sure to be in the midst of the battle.

The icing on the cake for the expected 10.000 spectators in Lurgan Park is the, new for this year, Mk2 Escort Challenge. There is a fabulous turn out of Escorts and drivers promised, spearheaded by Charlie Donnelly. In a way the Escorts echo the very first Lurgan Park Rally, 26 years ago, when it was won by the late Bertie fisher. Some things don't change. It was a fabulous North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club event then, and has been enthusiastically supported by Craigavon Borough Council throughout.

In addition to the expected thrills and spills of the top level rally competition, allied to the unique atmosphere of the central service area, there will be lots of family entertainment laid on. Indeed, it promises to be quite a day!

Triton Showers Lurgan Park Rally Top Ten
1 Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Impreza WRC)
2 Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Corolla WRC)
3 Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC)
4 Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson (Impreza WRC)
5 Niall McShea/Willie McKee (Cordoba WRC)
6 Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (Metro 6R4)
7 Kevin Barrett/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC)
8 Paul Bird/Andy Richardson (Focus WRC)
9 Cathal Arthurs/Vincent Fergus (Accent WRC)
10 Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Fabia WRC)

Mk2 Escort Challenge Top 6: Charlie Donnelly: Camillus Bradley: Wesley Patterson: Barry McKenna: Pat Donegan: Enda Keenan: