Irish Notes 12th December 2005.

Cork '20' International winner Tim McNulty was one of several drivers to try the Subaru Impreza WRC S11 in Ireland last week. Works driver Pasi Hagstrom gave the car its initial shakedown over the Cooley Mountain stage outside Dundalk.

McNulty commented about the new Subaru, "The overall package is a step forward, not huge, but it has bigger brakes, different differentials, it is easier to drive. There is no huge leap forward, although it was wet and slippy on the day of my test. As far as I'm concerned, at the moment it looks like the S10 for me, for the Tarmac Championship, but then sometimes its down to the deal on the day!"

Prodrive spent several days at Cooley, a measure perhaps of their desire to see a Subaru at the top of the Tarmac tree again Just some of the drivers involved included Derek McGarrity, Andrew Nesbitt, Kenny McKinstry and Eugene Donnelly.  There were several drivers not there, which is all part of the intrigue as to who will be driving what next year and most drivers are still playing their rally cards close to their chests! One aspect of the conundrum does seem clear - the buzz is still there!

Ivan Fisher's son Alastair, who only passed his driving test this summer and has already turned in some impressive performances, is having a new 1400 cc Corsa built by Bryce Hetherington to compete in class 3 of next season's NI Championship. No co-driver has yet been nominated.

Plum Tyndall's latest RPM production company's DVD offerings:- Park Life - 25 years of Lurgan Park: Tarmac 2005 - Eugene's Euphoria:- On and Off 11 - The Sequel, are as ever of fabulous quakity, really entertaining, just the job for Christmas week!

This week the recipient of the overall Billy Coleman award will become  known. The three finalists, Gareth MacHale, Kevin Kelleher and Ian Barrett, all had some interesting comments during the period between the announcement of the short list and the anxiously awaited final crunch!

Gareth MacHale has been the most successful of the three in 2005, winning the Forestry Championship in dramatic fashion, and putting up a great performance on Rally Ireland.  25 year old Gareth commented from his Dublin base. "I'm delighted to have made it into the top 3. I see it as a very prestigious award and it would be a big advantage for me to win.  It would be a big part of my plans for 2005.  I now have the budget to do the Monte Carlo in the Focus WRC and after that it will be event by event.  If I do win the award I intend to carry it forward, use it to the best advantage. I am under no illusions. There are no WRC works drives up for grabs any more. It is what you make of it yourself". 

Clonakilty's Kevin Kelleher, 27years old, a class winner on the Dunlop National Championship last year, GpN winner in West Cork and outright victor of the Carlow Mk2 Challenge said.  "It's a privilege to be short-listed. I've been rallying for 6 years. It's been tough, and this is some recognition. The judges have a very difficult job. Every day in rallying is different, hard to make comparisons! For next year, I've a new Evo 9 being built by Aidan Field and plan to do the Galway International and then Mayo, then make up my mind between the Pirelli Tarmac and the Dunlop National Championships. I can't afford to do both. Perhaps if I win this award it may make a difference - we'll see!"

Ian Barrett from Maynooth was not reckoned by most people to be in the running, but he's there, in the short list, and the 23-year-old commented, " I know I've ruffled a few feathers getting short-listed. I've only been rallying a year, and my best result was 2nd GpN in Sligo. Crashing out in the Ulster was a disaster. Most people in rallying haven't really heard of me. But I worked my butt off for 7 years in England, winning races, and I know a lot about the PR of the sport. Yes, I've a lot to learn in rallying, and you have to walk before you run. Maximum attack was my downfall this year, but I'll be there next year. This is not an easy sport.  I'm glad to be shortlisted for this. It will help to raise my profile, and I wish all the other guys the best of luck."

There were two drivers not short-listed for the Billy Coleman, two whom a lot of people expected to be in with a proper chance. They were Meath's Peter Wilson, and Cork's Brian O'Mahony. For young Wilson this is a definite blow, not being selected, and really affects his plan to tackle the Fiesta Sporting Trophy. Perhaps as an oblique consolation, Brendan Donegan is lending him his new Evo 9 for a blast at Aghadowey next week, while young Brian O'Mahony is planning a full rally season, regardless.

Tom Nolan, clerk of the course of Rally Ireland, reports that Jacek Bartos seemed well impressed with his inspection of the proposed stages for the event next March. Interestingly although speed is a concern, safety is the ultimate matter. Anita Pnassois, clerk of the course of the Acropolis Rally, and her husband, who is the safety officer, are paying a visit this week, to see if they can offer any advice. Acropolis won the 'best rally' award in 2005.

The prizegiving season continued last weekend, and Lisburn's Philip Morrow lifted enough special awards at the ANCRO evening to fill one of his trucks. Enniskillen's  William Mavitty won rookie of the year in the Peugeot Cup, while Ciara Conlan won the Dennis Hopwood award for her media work. Meanwhile in Monaco at the FIA awards evening, Co.Antrim's Chris Patterson received his Middle East Champions co-driving Trophy.

Brian Patterson.