Irish Notes 5^th June ’06.

 

 

Last year’s winner and current Pirelli Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly is only listed at 4 on the Shell Donegal Rally entry list. Maghera man Eugene, who will be attempting a Donegal Rally victory hat-trick next weekend, is  leaving nothing to chance and will carry out another test in his Corolla WRC this week. Eugene is again taking time off work and is getting remedial work done to his back as he strives for full fitness before the demanding Donegal event.

 

Gareth MacHale and Matthew Wilson are at 1 and 2 on the Donegal list, in respect of their FIA Priority 2 status, while former World Rally Champion Colin McRae is at  3 in his Metro 6R4, ahead of Eugene Donnelly, and then with former Tarmac Champions  Derek McGarrity and Andrew Nesbitt at 5 & 6. Killarney Rally of the Lakes winner Tim McNulty is at 7 and Eamonn Boland at 8. That’s just part of a stunning line-up. It has been suggested that the stewards of the meeting, who include the experienced Richard Talbot and Noel Clarke, may, or may not, take the heat off the two young drivers Gareth MacHale and Matthew Wilson and change the  start order, though not the numbers.

 

Current GpN Tarmac Champion Garry Jennings is switching to a WRC for Donegal, his chance of retaining his GpN title now almost gone. This leaves British Champion Mark Higgins the top GpN seed at 19, just ahead of Jonny Milner with current points leader Colm Murphy 3^rd. at no 23.

 

Wesley Patterson took his Mk2 Escort to another great result, 7^th overall and best 2 wheel drive, on last weekend’s Circuit of Munster Rally to maintain his advantage on the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship. Current Champion Denis Cronin scored maximum points this time, and had a good result on the Killarney Lakes but non-finished West Cork. Similarly Melvyn Evans had a maximum in West Cork and a 2^nd place in Munster, but it is Wesley Patterson who is having the consistent run.

 

Jason Ryan, co-driven by Tadgh O’Sullivan tookn his Civic to victory on the ‘junior’ section of Circuit of Munster, ahead of Barry Meade (Escort), with Jason O’Mahoney (Civic) 3^rd.

 

Glenn Allen heads the NI Rally Championship points standings and  the Corolla WRC driver is tipped for victory on this weekend’s Mourne Rally, round 4 of the series. Current champion  Kevin Lynch has entered in his Impreza WRC but is a doubtful starter because of pressure of work. The event has 12 stages on Saturday over the tarmac drives of the  Camlough and Slieve Gullion forests. Further top drivers include Raymond Johnstone, Sean Devine and NI series GpN leader Richard Hogg. Michael Curran has entered his new Lancer Evo 9, and being also a round of the Border Championship the rally has atrracted such drivers as David McNulty in his Escort Cosworth and Sligo’s Andrew Mullen in his ex McShea Saxo and James Cullen in his Lancer. Garry Jennings hopes to perform course car duties in a McKinstry Impreza WRC.

 

Adrian McElvaney in his Subaru joins the top McCauley Trailers Championship contenders, including current points leader John McCarthy with his Corolla WRC, on this weekend’s Monaghan Forestry Rally.  Stepehen Moore is hoping his Focus WRC engine is ready in time, while the always exciting Trevor Moore has entered  in his Escort.

 

Brian Patterson.