Irish Notes 13th June 05.

Joint Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity completed an extensive test, in conjunction with Prodrive, of his Subaru Impreza WRC S10 last Friday. Derek drove the car in anger initially on the Killarney Lakes, wasn't too happy then, but it was a different story after this test.

First man to have a 'private' Impreza WRC S10 was Tim McNulty. The Co. Louth man is 'in discussion' with Prodrive representatives concerning the disappointing performance of his car so far and is hopeful of a positive Donegal.

Fresh from winning the Mourne Rally, Kevin Lynch arrived in to Letterkenny first thing Sunday morning to sign on with secretary Laura Fuery to start his recce. When asked to comment on the devastating manner of his Mourne win, the Dungiven man said," It was a warm up. There's no point coming here to dilly dally!"

Eugene Donnelly helped Maurice Gass with a day long 'set -up' exercise with Maurice's new Skoda Fabia WRC last week. There seemed to have been much progress and Eugene was to drive the Skoda as course car on the Mourne, but after about 200 yards he switched it off, as something was just not right with the transmission computer.

Former two times Donegal winner James Cullen is tipped to be switching from the Bobby King Porsche to a GpN Lancer Evo6 from the Kieran Graffin stable for his home International.

Carrick on Suir's James Coleman won last Sunday's Cashel based Tipperary Stage Rally by 8 seconds from Liam Wall, with Willie Whitty 3rd a further 7 seconds back. All three were driving Escorts.

Former Peugeot works driver Justin Dale was competing on the Tipperary stage rally - as a co-driver for Limerick's Ian Roche, who had bought a Peugeot from Justin, the pair finishing 17th o/a.

Wexford's Noel Redmond has done a deal for Stephen Murphy to drive his Impreza WRC on the Jim Clark Rally, and then hopes to get his Subaru back across the Irish Sea after the rally so that he can use it on the Sunday, on the Sligo Rally.

Donegal Rally has introduced a Park 'n Ride scheme for the Atlantic Drive stage in attempt to alleviate the congestion of previous years.

Enniskillen's Marshall Clarke is co-driving on the Acropolis Rally for London based Greek George Phillipedes in a Skoda Octavia WRC.  Clarke has co driven for George on occasions before on rounds of the British Championship.  This will be his first foray on the WRC.

We received an e-mail from Geert Grooten with some information on the BHV rally in Roosendaal (Holland) on the 8-9-10 July. Recce is on Friday 8 July, rally is Saturday-Sunday with 22 stages - 219 km stages (96% tarmac). The organisers are offering free entry or free accomodation or startmoney. There will be local co-drivers available if necessary. Contact Geert Grooten on 0032 477 684 689 or e-mail geert.grooten@pandora.be. 

Rallywebsite www.bhvexpogroeprally.com

Brian Patterson