Irish Notes 10th Sept. ’07

 

Frank Kelly has clinched the  2WD Champion Crown on the Irish Hankook Forestry Championship, following his 2wd win and top ‘Superdrive’ prize winner on the recent Killarney Forestry event. His two main rivals there, Adrian Hetherington and Seamus O’Connell, co- driven by the Duggan brothers Brian and Sean, both retired their Escorts. Kelly, a CCTV specialist from Craigavon, has become renowned for his all-sideways attacking driving style.

 

The National Forestry Rally Committee (Hankook have not yet thrown their hat into the ring for next year, but hopefully they will) have called an open forum at Grants Hotel in Roscrea for Sunday 21st October at 2.00pm to discuss next year’s Championship. Particular items on the agenda are that the Junior class will run first on the road, and also that everybody will be afforded one familiarisation run the day before the event.

 

Eugene Donnelly is very much on course to contest the Cork ‘20’ and then Rally Ireland, although his Reid Motorsport Subaru Impreza WRC S12 is now in the McGarrity stable. The car is probably going to be revamped to WRC S12B specification and will still run  under the Reid Motorsport banner. Eugene is seeded at No.7 in Cork, such is the strength of the entry. World Champion Loeb is at 1 in his Citroen, then its Hirvonen at 2 in the works Ford Focus. Sordo is at 3 in the second Citroen, Gareth MacHale is at 4 in his Focus WRC and British Rally  Champion Mark Higgins is at 5 in the Pirelli Subaru WRC. Mark is the only man who can deprive Eugene of his 3rd Tarmac Title. Tim McNulty is at 8 in his Pierse Subaru, Eamonn Boland, fresh from his Wexford win is at 9 in his Subaru and Austin MacHale ia at 10 in his Focus WRC.

 

Two new names to the Tarmac Championship include Englishman Roger Duckworth, who is at 11 in his Subaru, just ahead of Aaron MacHale. Newly crowned Irish Forestry Champion Stephen Moore, with Greg Shinnors co-driving, is at 21 in his Focus WRC.

 

Eugene Donnelly commented about the entry, “Its fabulous, we’ll just have to go and win it and put an end to all this bullshit.” As regards rumours that his drive could be in doubt, Eugene went on, “I've been assured now that everything is okay for Cork . Basically I’m looking forward to doing the rally and hopefully winning the Championship.” Derek McGarrity confirmed that he now owns the car, that it is in his workshop, and as far as he is concerned it is a business arrangement, that he is hiring it back to Reid Motorsport. If Pirelli  and Reid Motorsport fulfill their side of the agreement he will be running both cars in Cork, for Mark Higgins and Eugene Donnelly, on an equal footing, to give each the best possible chance of winning the Tarmac Championship. As regards Kris Meeke, it is possible that he will be in Cork, but Derek feels that he would be better giving Rally Ireland 100% commitment, and Derek will give him all the help he can. For his own part Derek, seeded down at 18 on Cork 20, says it is possible that he may give the rally a miss He may also withdraw from Clare as the Subaru he planned to use was sold earlier this week.

 

Following his Wexford win, Eamonn Boland reported that he intends contesting the Cork ‘20’ and Rally Ireland this year, and that he may have a go at some more  British events next season.

 

Craig Bennett in his Metro 6R4,  Richard Cathcart in his GpN Impreza and  Marty McCormack, who has a new BDG engine in his Mk2 Escort, are just some of the Irish drivers contemplating a run on the Mull Rally.

 

Cavan Motor Club’s Multi Stages Rally at Bailieborough has a full entry. The rally is restricted to two wheel drive machinery, so drivers such as Camillus Bradley, Gordon Rogers, Paddy Boyle and Mac Mckenna should be amongst the top seeds.

 

Richard Bell was none the worse for his accident on the Lakelands when Raymond Johnston crashed his Subaru into a bog.  Richard was discharged from hospital after a check-up, and although his  neck was a bit sore, he’s fine and looking forward to the Bushwhacker. Richard wishes to thank everyone involved for their professsional help and good wishes.

 

Patrick Elliott in his Subaru heads a strong entry for this weekend’s Clare Stages Rally, with last year’s winner Charlie Donnelly at 2 in his Corolla WRC, Aaron MacHale (Focus WRC)  at 3, Tim McNulty (Impreza WRC) at 4, Denis Cronin (Subaru) at 5, Niall Maguire (Impreza) at 6, Derek McGarrity, Sean Gallagher, Kevin Barrett, and Jack Sleator rounding off the top ten. Charlie Donnelly is taking Darren Hayes co-driving, and Aaron MacHale, who has the Dunlop National Championship title clinched, will be trying to do the same for his co-driver Killian Duffy.

 

Michael Curran will be bidding to clinch the Pattersons RallyNews GpN award for the Championship in Clare and Willie Fannin, Alan Ring, Seamus Leonard and Ian Barrett are just some of the GpN men who will be trying to make it as tough as possible for him!
  
Last weekend’s Wexford Rally was also the final round of the Irish Peugeot 205 challenge and Kerill Waters/Ulton McGowan turned in another fine drive to clinch the title. Waters actually tied with Kenneth Keyes/Arleigh Scully at the top of the points table, but Waters took the title on the strength of more overall wins.

 

Enniskillen Motor Club now have the regulations ready for the System Signs backed Clubmans Stages on Saturday 6th October. The rally is based in the Derrygonnelly area and is restricted to two wheel drive only. Further info @ www.enniskillenmotorclub.co.uk