Irish Notes 27th February 2006.

 

Dunlop National Champion Ray Breen, driving his Focus WRC, turned in a  dominant display to win last Sunday’s Roscrea based Birr Stages Rally.  There were 8 fast asphalt stages around the Mountrath area, and Breen’s winning margin was over 2 minutes on 2^nd placed Martin Doherty in his Impreza WRC, a fair indication of Breen’s pace.

 

Aaron MacHale recovered from a first stage puncture in Birr to take 3^rd in his Corolla WRC, while 4^th placed James M Stafford in his Lancer won GpN. Breen commented at the finish that not only was it a very enjoyable day, it was also a great warm up for this weekend’s opening Dunlop National Championship Mayo Rally.

 

Birr was a counter in the Top Part West Coast Championship and the Sleator Opel Championship, both based on class positions, so not really throwing up an outright leader as yet. There was a thrilling tussle on the Rory Galligan backed Irish Peugeot 205 series, of which this was the opening counter.

 

Following four lead changes through the day, Thomas Melia of Oldcastle, driving Galligan’s old 205, came through to win by 36 seconds, from Noel O’Donnell, with Martin Ewing 3^rd. Interestingly, Rory Galligan was able to point out also that although he is listed at No7 in a Mitsubishi in the forthcoming Rally Ireland line up, his hoped for deal is not coming together and he will almost certainly have to sit the rally out.

 

Ray Breen is No 1 seed on this weekend’s Mayo Stages followed by 9 WRC cars, with GpN Champion Michaerl Cuuran making up the top ten. As well as being the opening round of the Dunlop series, the Castlebar based rally is a counter in the popular Border Championship.

 

It is expected that the battle for outright honours in Mayo, which is employing some classic former Circuit of Ireland stages, will be between Breen, Charlie Donnelly in his Corolla  and Patrick Elliot in his Impreza WRC S10. Also right in the hunt will be former multiple champion Niall Maguire, Noel Redmond and Sean Devine, while Glenn Allen will be a new face on the Dunlop National scene and could well open a few eyes in his rapid Corolla WRC.

   

Contrary to speculation Derek McGarrity has denied that he is bringing in a Peugeot 307 WRC. Derek did confirm that there was a possibility of a deal but at the moment it looks as if it is not going to happen.  Certainly the former Tarmac Champion and 3 times Circuit of Ireland winner is looking forward to competing on this years’s Londonderry based Easter classic in his Impreza WRC S11.

 

Young Owen Murphy, GpN winner and 2^nd o/a on the Willie Loughman Forestry Rally has entered the March 18^th/19^th West Cork Rally in an interesting Lotus Sunbeam. Phil Collin’s entry in his latest all singing and dancing Escort has been confirmed, with Nicky Grist to co-drive.

 

Tom Holton had an eventful run last weekend on the Tout de Nord rally in France, getting his Celica up into 2^nd o/a before power steering failure and then a broken driveshaft cost him a ball of time and he did well to battle back to 9^th at the finish of the 2^nd day.  Paddy White brought his Impreza WRC into 6^th. The Navan businessman made a shaky enough start until he got his Subaru’s handling sorted, and then he went well.

 

Brian Patterson.