Tim McNulty is to tackle the St
Patricks weekend West Cork Rally as
a warm up for the Circuit of
Ireland. He was sidelined from the
Galway International when his Pierse
backed Impreza WRC broke its
crankshaft. Tim who won the Cork
‘20’ International two seasons ago,
commented from his contracting
business, “The flag is flying again,
I’m raring to go. I was all set for
good Tarmac points in Galway, but
then it all went wrong. I knew I
hadn’t overrevved it, and the
computer proved me right, which gave
me my only enjoyment!”
West Cork bound as well in the quest
for ‘seat time’ before the Circuit
are several more top drivers,
including Kevin Lynch, Gareth Jones
and Jon Ingram. Tipped to be making
a comeback, in McKinstry’s new
Impreza WRC S11, is Donie
O’Sullivan.
Gareth McHale was on hand to give
his brother Aaron a helping hand on
the way to his first major stage
rally win on the Birr Multi stage
last Sunday. Gareth himself reported
that he is going for a test in
the’06 Focus WRC in Cumbria this
week, before heading off to Mexico
on Saturday. His father Austin is
going over on Sunday to start his
Mexico recce. Aaron won Birr, his
maiden outright rally victory.It was
his first time in the ’05 Focus WRC,
and he said “ It definitely felt
nicer to drive than the ’03 car,
very tight and positive, better
under braking.”
Alan Ring scored GpN victory in
Birr, the Munster Joinery man
driving a new Impreza, an N12B. He
said of the new car, “Its just a
mild update, minor differences,
almost impossible to see.” It was
Alan’s first rally outing of the
year, and he continued, “We had a
few small indiscretions to start,
Willie Fannin was ahead for most of
the day, but then we speeded up and
got ahead on the last stage.” Ring
is the current Dunlop National GpN
Champion, but isn’t entirely
convinced he will defend his title,
saying “Certainly I’ll do the first
couple of rounds, but then I may
pick and choose a little, maybe do
something different, like Ypres.”
Tarmac Champion co-driver Paul Kiely
drove his own Lancer to 6th o/a and
3rd in GpN on the Birr Multi Stages,
against a top class field, the Sligo
man saying at the end, “I was a bit
dubious at the start, conditions
were so wet, slippy and difficult. I
was feared of my life to be putting
the yoke off! I’d never really
driven on anything like that, but it
was good towards the end, a great
rally” When quizzed about
speculation that Eugene (Donnelly)
and himself would compete on the
Mayo event to get more miles on the
new Impreza WRC S12, Paul shrugged
the suggestion off, saying, “That
was only a way-out option. In any
case, we wouldn’t have competed,
only acted as course car. I can’t
see Mayo, or West Cork Rally,
happening for us.” That can mean
anything of course!
The Circuit of Ireland HQ is tipped
to be in the Everglades Hotel. The
event is to be known as the UAC
Easter International Rally. Well
known competitor Kieran O’Neill is
to be Clerk of the Course of the
National section, the UAC Easter
National/Historic Rally. Nigel
Hughes is to head the International.
It does seem certain that the rally
will have two days (Easter Saturday
and Sunday) of stages, through the
Sperrins Mountains.
Magherafelt’s Martin McCormick,
winner of the classic section of the
Killarney Historics, is to tackle
the Robin Hood in his Escort, with
Liam Moynihan co-drivng.
Co Down’s Jeremy Taylor is to tackle
the Malcolm Wilson this wekend, his
first forestry event. Jeremy’s
business partner Jonathan Patterson
is to co-drive. The pair have hired
Raymond Mason’s GpN Lancer and
carried out a successful test in Cam
last week. Other NI drivers
competing on the Malcolm Wilson
include Alastair Fisher, Liam Regan,
Jonathan and Barry Greer, all in
Fiestas.
This weekend’s William Loughman
Memorial Rally, opening round of the
Irish National Forestry
Championship, backed by Hankook,
sees Stephen Moore, fresh from his
Kirkistown win, seeded at No1 in his
Focus WRC. The top end of the entry
looks strong, with many of the
series’ regulars, such as James
Murphy, Trevor Harding and Kevin
O’Kane in the top 4. Billy Coleman
Award winner Owen Murphy is at 5 in
his new GpN Lancer, while Brendan
Crealey, with Greg Shinors
co-driving, is surprisingly down at
10 in the ex-Rory Galligan ‘works’
Lancer. Brian McGillin is making his
debut in the ex Schwarz/Craig
Middleton Hyundai and is at 8. The
rally is once again based in Carrick
on Suir.
Emma McKinstry’s Lancer was
unfortunately stolen before the
start of the Rallye Sunseeker.
Happily the car was recovered about
10 miles away. Emma thinks it may
simply have run out of petrol.
Sadly it was too late to do the
rally. The Banbridge girl has
entered this weekend’s Wm. Loughman
Rally and fully intends to contest
the championship.
A sign of the times perhaps is that
Rally School Ireland is organising
driving courses to coincide with
school holidays, at 5,000 euro a
time. Coaches include Kris Meeke,
Niall McShea and Pat Flynn.
The dreaded hen harrier has reared
its head again, causing the 31st
March Omagh MC Fivemiletown Forestry
Rally to move the proposed action to
forests North of Omagh. Worringly,
the Monaghan forestry stages are
adjacent to the original
Fivemiletown ones. Meanwhile the
Wicklow forestry event, originally
scheduled for 15th April, may now
not be happening, because of a
shortage of mileage, due to
harvesting operations.
Jack Sleator had a successful test
last week in his newly acquired
Impreza WRC S10 and the Mullingar
car dealer also launched a new three
car team, with Paul McEnroe in an
Impreza N9 and Timmy England in a
Peugeot 206 being the other two
members.
Obituaries:
It is with great sadness that we
report the death of Les Lyons. Les,
who was 59 and originally from Mayo,
but lived in London and ran a major
garage with his brother, was the
equipment officer for the London
Irish Motorclub. He was helping to
lift cones following the Longcross
event last week, when he suffered a
heart attack which caused him to
fall off the back of the Transit
pick up. He then also suffered head
injuries. He subsequently died from
his injuries. Les was a very well
respected man, and a great
motorsport enthusiast. To his wife
Philomena and sons Mark & Paul, as
well as all his family and friends,
we at Motorsport News offer our
deepest condolences.
John Wood, one of the founding
members of the Castle Automobile
Club, sadly died last week. John was
84 years old and was an active
member of the Club up to the present
day. He was Chairman and former
President of the Castle Automobile
Club and was awarded the Ivan Webb
Memorial Award by the Royal Irish
Automobile Club in 1988 for
outstanding contribution to Irish
Motorsport.
John was instrumental in the
formation of the Castle Club back in
1985. His profile and diplomatic
skills took the club from very basic
events up to stage rallying and it
was in 2002 he played a key role in
bringing back the Hellfire Rally to
Oldcastle after a lapse of over
twenty years.
John was a genuine enthusiast and
devoted much time to representing
the Governing body RIAC/Motorsport
Ireland as a Steward for many years.
He assisted neighbouring motorclubs
with events and was a keen supporter
of the Phoenix Park Motor Races and
Mondello Park events.
A large gathering paid their
respects to John at his removal and
funeral last weekend. We offer our
sincere condolences to his sisters
Bunty and Maureen and all his many
friends. (With thanks to Breen
McNamee of Castle Automobile Club).
Brian Patterson.
