Irish Notes 21st June ’06

Former Production World Rally Champion Niall McShea was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday honours list last week with an MBE for services to motorsport. Fermanagh man Niall is a  former Micra Cup winner, was a class winner on the British and Tarmac Championships, and received the Roger Clark Rally Award.

 

The drivers briefing on the Shell Donegal International Rally was the ‘cut- off point’ for registrations on the Pirelli Tarmac Championship and there was a late surge of interest, with 33 world rally car drivers now registered out of a total of 173. The late surge in WRC driver interest is almost certainly because to compete on the British Championship rounds such as the Jim Clark, Manx and Ulster in a WRC machine drivers must be registered for the Tarmac.

 

Kenny McKinstry , also his daughter Emma registered, as well as John Cope and Barry Johnston. Interestingly Gareth MacHale registered, but ran without the required stickers so that he wouldn’t interfere with the Championship regulars. Provisionally defending Champion Eugene Donnelly now has 50 points, with Eamonn Boland 40 and Derek McGarrity 29.

 

The North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club is due to announce a new sponsor, the Turkington Group, for the popular and long established Lurgan Park Rally. The high profile event, scheduled for the 12th August, was under threat through a lack of financial backing but it is all stations go now. The Turkington Group is a major property and concrete products manufacturer and has strong motorsport links, not least through current British touring car driver Colin Turkington.

 

John McHugh, co-driven by Declan Gallagher, won the Junior section of the Shell Donegal International in his Corolla with John O’Donnell and Brendan Friel 2nd and 3rd also driving Corollas.

 

Ray Breen in his Focus WRC heads a strong entry on this weekend’s Raven’s Rock Rally. Although the eevent is on an ‘opt-out’ year as regards the Dunlop National Championship, current Champion Breen will face strong opposition on his local rally.  The event is a round of the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship and Aaron McHale (Focus WRC), Denis Cronin (Impreza WRC) and Melvyn Evans are just some of the top drivers listed. Jim Harrison (Impreza WRC) is making a come-back, while Martin Doherty, Tony Davies, Noel Redmond,  and Nigel Hicklin, all in Impreza WRC’s are listed in the top ten, as well as Michael Barrable in his Focus WRC.

 

It is with great sadness that we record the death of former NI Rally Champion Robin Lyons. Robin succumbed to an illness he faced with the great fortitude and cheerfulness which was his hallmark. He was one of the most popular and successful drivers over several decades, and although he never won an International Rally he was a frequent top five finisher and did win many National stage events. He was a major Peugeot dealer in Castlederg and helped many people in their rallying activities. To his wife Gaye, his son Adam, an Ulster Motocross Champion, his daughters Cherry and Judith, as well as his family circle, we offer our deepest condolences. 

 

Regards: Brian Patterson