Irish Notes 30th October '06.

 

Michael Curran, the outgoing Dunlop National GpN Champion has discovered, with some relief, that his recent lack of form was almost certainly down to a deceptive fault in the transmission of his new Evo 9. The lights on the dash were telling him that the active diff was working, but in fact it wasn’t. Michael plans a return to the Dunlop National series next season, as the short sharp format of the rallies suits his work schedule in the family firm, Curran Transport.

 

The Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) have announced that next year’s Irish Tarmac Championship will have the same seven rallies as this year.  Pirelli has yet to confirm backing for the series and a further announcement is expected shortly. A bombshell part of the announcement from the TROA is a proposal that the GpN winner will receive the same points as the overall winner on each event, meaning that the fastest driver throughout the year may not be Champion, producing a manipulated result. (Oxford dictionary definition of manipulate – "alter or present data so as to mislead"). Ireland’s Tarmac series has been rated as possibly the best domestic series in the world over the last few years, and since this decision has been taken, apparently with little or no consultation with the main players, there has been a huge backlash of criticism from competitors and enthusiasts.  GpN has been an exciting and important part of the series of late, and has received a lot of publicity. Perhaps more could be done for GpN, and maybe a substantial prize offered such as a works outing for one rally. Hopefully Super 2000 will progress to have a role in the series as well. For the moment though, the WRC cars are doing the winning and creating the overall magic. No doubt that will change some time in the future, hopefully not in the same way as GpB did. However nothing stays the same. In the meantime to try and manipulate the Championship results would destroy the series. It has been tried before, and all it succeeded in doing was giving the spin doctors a field day along with dumbing down and complicating the affected championship until it lost all credibility. Hopefully it is not too late for the TROA to reconsider. The TROA’s sentiment of looking to the future and trying to improve the Championship is appreciated, but for the moment this is going down the wrong road.

 

This weekend sees the final round of the N.I. Rally Championship, the Glens of Antrim.  Although he has already secured the title Dungiven man Kevin Lynch is listed as No.1 seed.  Glenn Allen said a few weeks ago that he would miss out the final 2 rounds but he has entered and his Corolla WRC is listed at No.2.  Raymond Johnston (Subaru) is at No.3, Kevin O’Kane (Subaru) is at No.4 and James Murphy is making the long trip from Cork to compete in his Escort WRC and is at No.5.  Top Group N drivers include John McGlaughlin (Lancer), Errol Clarke (Impreza) and Richard Cathcart having his first trip in an ex McKinstry Group N Impreza .

 

Last year’s Glens of Antrim winner Sean Devine has put a late entry in and will start with No.74 on his Impreza WRC, but will probably run second on the road. Former NI Champion George Robinson is hiring a group N Lancer for the rally from Kieran Graffin rather than drive his own immaculate tarmac specification Escort WRC. Kenny McKinstry is also a late entry, Kenny driving one of his Impreza WRC's.

 

Sean Moran/Kevin O’Connor overcame gearbox troubles with their Toyota Corolla to win the Junior category on last weekend’s Fastnet Rally from Dermot O’Riordan & Frank Doherty, also driving Corollas. David Cremin/Johnny O’Shea won the Historic section in their Escort from John/Michael Hackett in their Mini with John Curran 3^rd in an Escort.

 

Alan Ring, driving an Impreza N12, won the Pattersons RallyNews Group N Award for the Dunlop Championship.  The only driver who have denied Ring the title was Willie Fannin and he won the GpN on the rally, but Ring did more than enough with his 2^nd place to take the title. The recipient of the co-driver’s title is not yet known.  A detailed count back will need to take place but it will go to either Mick Courtney or Adrian Deasy.

 

Welshman Melvyn Evans is building a Group 4 Escort to compete on some Historic type events next year.  Melvyn, the new 023 Tiles Southern 4 Champion, has also been approached about the possibility of driving an ex Bertie Fisher “works” Manta, both on the Rally of 1000 Entries at Kirkistown and the Killarney Historic. 

 

Class winners on the Fastnet Rally included: Thomas Fitzmaurice/Keith McCarthy who brought their Escort Cosworth into 12^th o/a and 1^st in class 15. Phil Collins/Derek Brannigan were a brilliant 7^th o/a and took cl.14. Tim O’Donovan/Sean Hayde won cl.11 in their Corolla. Keith Power/Jonathan McGrath won cl.6 in their Puma S1600. Adrian Randles/Diarmuid Falvey triumphed in cl.15 while further winners included Ger O’Connell (Escort cl.12): Keith McMullan (Uno Cl.9): Martin Lordan (Fiesta Cl9A): David Roe (Civic Cl.3): Jerry O’Mahony (Escort Cl.10): John Paul Ruth (Astra Cl.7): Sarah Moynihan (Micra Cl.5): Paul Buckley (Switft Cl.1).

 

Cork's newest motor club Imokilly Motor Club is organising a loose surface autocross on Sunday 5th November in Lagan's Quarry, Carrigtwohill.

 

Brian Patterson.