Irish Notes 3^rd July ’06.

 

Dunmanway’s Denis Cronin still has the edge over Melvyn Evans following the latter’s victory on last weekend’s Ravens Rock Rally in the race for this year’s 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship. The two Impreza WRC’s drivers are just one point apart, with Wesley Patterson (Escort) a distant 3^rd ,albeit best of the 2WD competitors. Alan Ring (Impreza N12) heads the GpN category. The next round is the 29^th Sept/1^st Oct Cork ‘20’.

 

Meath’s Tim McNulty says he is really looking forward to this weekend’s Jim Clark Rally and that he loves the ultra  fast roads of the Scottish Borders event. ‘Tiger Tim’ as he is sometimes known plans only a short test session with his Impreza WRC S11 this week, as he feels that the car is’99%’ sorted, just the occasional kick from the suspension sometimes disconcerting.

 

Last year Tim McNulty was a fighting 2^nd to Mark Higgins on the Jim Clark, so with Higgins running a GpN Subaru this time, the door is obviously open for Tim to repeat his Killarney Lakes victory. One extra significant comment from Tim is that he is unlikely to do the Manx International Rally, as he reckons his bid to win the Pirelli Tarmac Championship is over for this year. He reckons though that he will do  the last few rounds – the Ulster and Cork ‘20’

 

Tim went on to say – “You need a slice a luck, and on a couple of the rallies it didn’t go our way. Eugene Donnelly has held it together and I  take my hat off to him, he’s driving brilliantly. I said from the start Eamonn Boland would be the dark horse and I think the Championship is now between those two, with Derek (McGarrity) an outside bet. The overall commitment to compete at this level is absolutely massive. I don’t think many people really realise how much. ”

 

Andrew Nesbitt, winner of the last round of the Pirelli Tarmac series in Donegal in such convincing manner is not on the Jim Clark entry and insists he is not now competing for the Tarmac Championship, while Austin MacHale is also absent and Chris Patterson, although listed to co-drive for Derek McGarrity is in fact going to Ken Skidmore’s wedding on Saturday. It is Skidmore who prepares and runs the the Naseer Al-Attiyah/Patterson Subaru N12 on the Middle East and World Championship. Nasser and Chris finished 3rd on last weekend’s Lebanon Rally following suspension trouble and a puncture but still have a convincing lead in the Middle East Championship to defend their title.

 

Enfield’s Tom Holton takes his Celica GT4 to Holland once again this weekend for the BHV Expo Rally, with Martin Doherty (Impreza WRC) also making the trip. The latter is at No 6 for the following weekend’s Sligo Stages Rally, a round of the Dunlop National Championship as well as the Border Stages series. Charlie Donnelly (Corolla WRC) and Patrick Elliott (Impreza WRC), now the favourites for the Dunlop title, are the top seeds. Macclefield’s Jim Harrison is also in the line up, driving a McKinstry Subaru, as he continues his rally come-back. Coolaney’s Kieran Henry is the Sligo Clerk of the Course for the first time, taking over from the hard working Joe Corcorran.

 

Last Saturday’s Loughgall Country Park Stages Rally was won by Camillus Bradley with Wesley Patterson just 2s in arrears, both in Mk2 Escorts. Patterson led for most of the way until a spin within sign of the finish.  Norman Armstrong was 3rd also in a Mk2 Escort.

 

Brian Patterson.