Irish Notes 23rd Oct 2006.

Derek Brannigan, who was closely involved, along with Pat Lordan, in the successful organisation of last week’s GSMC rally, is co-driving this weekend for Phil Collins in his Escort on the Fastnet Rally, and then on the Rally GB with Donegal’s Brendan Kelly in his Evo9. Just some of Collins’ two wheel drive opposition this weekend will include John Dalton in his Darrian and Killarney’s Kevin O’Donoghue in his Escort.

 

Charlie Donnelly has already clinched the Dunlop National  Championship before this weekend’s final round in Skibereen, but the Pattersons RallyNews GpN award is still up for grabs, with Alan Ring and Willie Fannin in their respective Impreza N12’s the two drivers in the frame for taking Championship honours. They face stern GpN opposition on the day, with Clonakilty brothers Kevin & Martin Kelleher, as well as Gabriel Martin and up and coming youngster Keith Cronin, all in Lancers, sure to be on the pace.

 

The Fastnet Rally has moved HQ from Glandore to the West Cork Hotel in Skibereen and will feature eight tough stages, with an 08.00 start. Outgoing Dunlop National Champion Ray Breen will lead the 151 cars away in his Focus WRC, and top drivers include Patrick Elliott, Gareth Jones, Denis Cronin and Aaron MacHale in their respective World Rally Cars.

 

Welshman Melvyn Evans will be hoping to reinforce his advantage in the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship on this Sunday’s final round in Skibereen. Defending Champion Denis Cronin’s chances were probably scuppered when his Impreza WRC suffered a puncture on the penultimate round, the Cork ‘20’.

 

Kevin Lynch secured his 3rd Northern Ireland Rally Champion’s title when he won the Down Rally last Saturday. Lynch stated that he had already subnmitted his entry for the final Glens round despite having the title secured. As regards 2007 Lynch was giving little away, but did intimate that he would like to give Eugene Donnelly a race for the Tarmac Title and he would like to drive something other than a Subaru.  

 

Stanley Ballantine finished 6th on the Down Rally, 4th group N in his Lancer, which was enough to give Stanley the Group N title. Richard Hyland was co-driving but the Championship group N title goes to Brian Crawford who accompanied Martin Elliott for a large part of the season.

 

Entries are coming in thick and fast for the Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Fund event at Kirkistown on 30th December, but even more support is necessary.  A fascinating aspect of the rally is the on-line bidding process to secure a co-driving seat with such top drivers as Eugene Donnelly and Gareth MacHale, up to £1500 being offered so far. For more information log on to www.rsmafund.com.

Russell Brookes is set to return to the 2^nd/3^rd December Killarney Historic Rally. Russell tasted success on the event last year in a Porsche 911, but this time plans to drive his successful Andrews Heat for Hire Lotus Sunbeam.

 

Early details of the Killarney Historic reveal that it is again based in the Dromhall Hotel and will feature stages on the Saturday evening as well as the classic tests on the Sunday.

 

Next year’s NI Stage Championship is set to include the two day Easter Stages section of the Circuit of Ireland, which will make it  a ten round series, with seven to count. The Easter Stages event had been dropped from the series this year.

 

The Irish Rally Competitors Association is again organising the ‘Marshals Pay Back Day’ at Mondello, where marshals get a chance to ride with the drivers.  The event is scheduled for Sunday 10^th December and the marshals will be allowed three runs in three different rally cars.

 

Brian Patterson.