Irish Notes 12^th June ’06.

 

Ed Synan has taken almost three years away from rallying but the 34 year old haulage contractor from Shanagolden made up some of the lost time when he scored a memorable win in his Escort on last Sunday’s Mayo MC stage rally at Achill Island. Synan, co-driven by Cyril Cusack, was never headed over the three repeated stages, and said after the finish, “It was a lovely stage, although very fast towards the end. The car went without a bother and it was a fierce day’s rallying, very good.” Martin Taggart (Escort) was 2^nd, and Wexford’s Thomas O’Rourke 3^rd in his Opel Astra.

 

Follwing his victory on last weekend’s Mourne Rally in his Impreza WRC, defending Champion Kevin Lynch comes back into contention on the NI Championship with 48 points, as against Glen Allen with 60. Enniskillen’s Raymond Johnston is 3^rd with 45 and Martin Elliot 4^th and leading GpN with 36 points. Richard Hogg is 2^nd GpN, Stanley Ballentine 3^rd. Kevin Lynch has supposedly retired temporarily  from rallying and has sold his two Impreza WRC’s, but has hired his own car back from Stan Harper Rallying and is competing on the Shell Donegal this weekend. Allan Harryman is co-driving and Lynch, who led Donegal at one point last year, commented “I’m not going to Donegal for the sightseeing!”

 

Two ‘works’ Mitsubishi Lancer WRC’s arrived in to Donegal last Saturday night, to allow Andrew Nesbitt and Mark Higgins the opportunity to test at the start of this week. Garry Jennings is reverting from his proposed Impreza WRC run to his GpN Lancer, but otherwise the top twenty is more or less as advertised which should make it one of the strongest Donegal entries ever.

 

Eugene Meegan, who, along with his co-driver Paul McGee, leads his class in the Pirelli Tarmac Championship, is debuting a new car on this weekend’s Shell Donegal, a GpN 2 litre RHD Renault Clio Ragnotti RS. This is the first one to compete in Ireland. Also out in a new car this weekend is young Toni Kelly, daughter of the well known Tony Kelly, and she drives a Honda Civic Type R for her debut on her home International.

 

Contrary to earlier reports, Denis Cronin has moved into the lead of the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship, following his win on the Circuit of Munster. Melvyn Evans, who also drives an Impreza WRC is 2^nd in the points and Wesley Patterson (Escort) 3^rd, with George Cullen 4^th,  Tadgh Linehan 5^th and Kevin O’Donoghue 6^th. The next round is the 24^th/25^th June Carrick on Suir MC Ravens Rock event which shifts to a new base this year in Kilkenny’s Lyrath Estate Hotel.

 

Brian Patterson.