IRISH NOTES 1st June 2005

 

Tralee ’s Diarmuid Falvey has made an entry for Phil Collins and himself on the Donegal International in their amazing Mk2 Escort. Collins won the National section of the Killarney Lakes and on stage times would have been placed 9^th overall in the International ahead of some WRC machinery. A highlight of the Killarney Rally was the battle for best stage times between Collins and Colin McRae in his ‘00ing’ Mk2, but there is no indication as yet of the former world champion appearing on the Donegal event.

 

Former Peugeot Super Cup Champion Shaun Gallagher has entered his home Donegal International Rally in a Lancer Evo6.  Gallagher drove a Group N Lancer on the Circuit of Ireland 2 years ago and was quickly on the pace of the top Irish group N exponents.   

 

Cathal Arthurs (Accent WRC) won Mid-Antrim MC’s popular Ballypatrick Stages Rally last Saturday. David Armstrong brought his Impreza WRC into 2^nd having lost some time when he got caught out on a gravel patch and slid his Subaru into an opening stage ditch. Armstrong fought back from 11^th place.  A big talking point of the rally was the performance of Rodney White who brought his pristine but very potent Sunbeam into 3^rd.

 

Last weekend’s Cavan Rally was round 3 of the Dunlop National Championship and Kevin Lynch’s victory brings him up to 2^nd in the points, with Ray Breen leading on 44, Lynch with 40 and Jim Harrison 36. Round 4 is this weekend in Munster .

 

The North East MC’s Single Stage Rally has been upgraded to a Mini Stages and is scheduled for 31^st July.  The event is being backed by KN Network Systems and will be based in Dunleer, Co.Louth. Clerk of the Course is well known co driver Brian Sharkey.

 

Loughgall Country Park is the venue for the North Armagh MC Multi Use Special Stage Rally on Saturday 2^nd July.  There are 8 special stages, all tarmac, with Barry Taggart being the main contact, Tel. 028 40 625143.

 

Mullingar Opel Dealer Jack Sleator sprang a surprise on last weekend’s Cavan Rally, starting the event in a Skoda Fabia WRC instead of his usual Group N Impreza . The Fabia is the same one that Derek McGarrity used to finish 3^rd overall on the Galway International Rally. Sleator had no opportunity to test the car and was using the Cavan event as a familiarisation run.  He withdrew after 6 stages when the Skoda broke a manifold, but pronounced himself very happy with the performance of his new machine.

 

Former NI Rally Champion Sean Haveron has taken a back seat from the sport for a few years, but the Carrickfergus man took his Sierra Cosworth to the Liege based European Police Rally in Belgium last weekend and, co driven by Stephen McAuley, took victory.

 

Brian Patterson.