|
Irish Notes 16th January 2008.
Updated
18th Jan 08
Eugene Donnelly’s deal to hire his last season’s Impreza
WRC 12b from Derek McGarrity for the Safety Direct Galway International
is off, as the backers that he had lined up have decided not to go
ahead, mainly because it is all a bit late in the day and for them
profile would have been everything.
Eugene’s Skoda WRC in the meantime has gone to Craig Bennett,
and although he has offered the use of the car to Eugene, the 4 times
Tarmac Champion is unlikely to go that route. Galway Rally may still
happen for Eugene, but it is not looking optimistic. It is ironic
that Galway in 2001, or Rally West as it was called that year, marked
Eugene and Paul Kiely’s first International win, and their first
time in a Subaru WRC, the Stan Harper hire car.
Eugene commented from his Magherafelt base today, Friday 18th January:
“It’s so annoying. I suppose now I’ll get knocked.
I was trying to bring a different sponsor into rallying. It needs
a revival at the top end. We can’t keep running to the same
people for support all the time. Motorsport is in my heart, and I’m
really going to try and make this happen. There’s still a possibility,
although Derek is understandably annoyed, and no doubt will get somebody
else into the car, but I can only hope that another car would be available.
I’ve been backing my own rallying for 5 to 6 years now, and
I just can’t go on. I think if I don’t get something together
for Galway, its not looking good for the rest of the season”
Former Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity is planning to tackle the Galway
International Rally (1st/2nd/3rd Feb) in a Prodrive Impreza WRC S12b,
one of the Monte Carlo cars, while current Tarmac Champion Eugene
Donnelly will be in one of Derek’s S12’s, which has now
been updated to 12b specification. Stephen Murphy was to test his
new 12b this week, Mark Higgins is tipped to be leaning towards a
Lancer WRC, so Galway Clerk of the Course Gary Leonard should have
plenty to announce at his press conference this Friday night at the
Rally HQ, the Clayton Hotel at Ballybritt on the outskirts of Galway
City. Speaking from his Glengormley base, Derek McGarrity, still getting
over his Manx Rally accident 15 months ago, remarked “I’m
feeling a whole lot better, starting to come around, doing some training,
although I’d like to be doing a whole lot more!”
Seamus Leonard is another of the many drivers preparing for the Galway
International, the Tyrone man switching to an Impreza WRC for this
one. Seamus, who will have Gerry McVeigh co-driving once again, explained,
“We don’t really intend to do the Tarmac Championship,
we don’t have the budget or experience really. But Galway is
two days, and it should give me plenty of time in the new car. It’s
the ex Noel McCarrick car, and it has been completely rebuilt into
S9 specification, all the bits and pieces, and there is a brand new
engine going in this week. We plan to test at Orra Lodge the weekend
before the rally. At the end of the day we hope to have a real go
at the National Championship. We still have a new Lancer, a full house
new GpN car, coming from ADR, and I’m not sure what we will
do with that.”
The 15th/16th March West Cork Rally organisers are once more well
on the ball with their arrangements, and this year’s event is
again based in, and sponsored by, the Quality Hotel in Clonakilty.
This will be the 30th year of the rally and with St Patrick’s
Day falling on the Monday of rally weekend, Clonakilty should be at
its hospitable best for the event. The Bones O’Connor Modified
Challenge is again expected to be a big part of the event in 2008,
Michael Barrable is expected to defend his 2007 title, while the event
is also the opening round of the 023 Tiles Southern Four Championship,
as well as the Irish arm of the Evo Challenge, and, if plans come
to fruition will be the 1st and 2nd counter of the Citroen C2R2 Irish
Cup.
The overall winner’s prize for this years Lancer Evo Challenge
now looks certain to be a drive in a works replica car, prepared by
James Foley, on Rally Ireland.
Young Letterkenny girl Toni Kelly is contemplating taking a trip to
Finland for some tuition on ice and snow. Toni is pressing ahead with
a very full programme for 2008, which will include some forestry events
in her older black Honda, as well as the Tarmac series in her new
car.
The Donegal Forestry, originally scheduled for Saturday 23rd February,
is moving forward by one day to the Sunday, as the Omagh Spring Rally
is due to take place on the Saturday. The Omagh MC event will again
use the forests above Fivemiletown, and the Bushwhacker will possibly
move back to the forests towards Castlederg.
Connor McCloskey was testing his recently acquired ex Stephen Moore
Focus WRC this week in preparation for this weekend’s 500 Motor
Racing Club Kirkistown Rally, and will face some tough opposition.
Just some of the top drivers include Sean Devine, Denis Biggerstaff
and Emma McKinstry, all in WRC machinery. There will be six special
stages, and the event is seen as a great warm up for the opening round
of the NI Championship (16th February) at Kirkistown.
Further events on the immediate horizon include the Limerick Club’s
Mini Stages Rally on the 27th January and the Mid Antrim’s Ballypatrick
stage event on the 2nd of February.
Alan Carmichael has been testing one of Kenny McKinstry’s Impreza
WRC’s, the right hand drive S9 that Emma drove on Rally Ireland,
and Is using the Impreza WRC for the Sunseeker Rally in Bournemouth,
a birthday present for himself! He does intend to stick with his GpN
car. Alan commented about the World Rally Car, “It was difficult
to drive at the start, but then after a couple of hours it came good.
The steering is a lot more direct than in the Lancer. It’s a
very quick car, lots of power, I think it will suit the Bournemouth
forests.”
Brian Patterson.
|
