Dublin’s Michael Barrable takes to the stages again this weekend, his Focus WRC listed at No.3 for the Circuit of Kerry Rally, round 2 of the Dunlop National Championship. Patrick Elliott in his Subaru is the No. 1 seed.

Current Champion as well as current points leader Aaron MacHale was to be at 2 in his Focus WRC, but Aaron, following his 4^th place on last weekend’s Circuit of Ireland has decided to give Kerry a miss.

Aaron MacHale has decided not to continue with the Dunlop National Championship and is going to concentrate on the Tarmac Championship instead.  Killian Duffy will still co-drive for Aaron. However Killian is planning to hire a C2R2 from Derrick Jobb and will compete as a driver in the Junior Championship with a view to having a go at the Billy Coleman Award.

West Cork winner Donie O’Sullivan is at 4 in a McKinstry Subaru, this time Barry Goodman will be co-driving. The rally has a new HQ, the Fels Point Hotel Tralee, and there are four fast stages in the Tralee area, with loads of chicanes.

Another surprise withdrawal from Kerry is Clonakilty man Kevin Kelleher, although his Lancer, hastily rebuilt following his big accident in Mayo, certainly struggled to complete the Circuit course, it was still going at the end of the Circuit, albeit with the front differential in shreds. Roy White, who led GpN so conclusively in the initial stages of the Circuit, reports that he pulled his MG S2000 out when the head gasket blew, probably not good news with that particular type of engine. Roy got a scare as well the week before the rally when the engine bay went on fire. It transpired that the power steering pump, a Mitsubishi unit, burst and sprayed fluid on the manifolds.

Portadown’s Jo Holland, a very special young lady, has been a great friend to Irish rallying over the past few years in her position in the rally department in Motorsport News. Jo is now moving on to another editorial organisation, still associated with motor sport, although not entirely. We would like to wish her all the very best in her new position, as well as thank her for all her help to us and all in the sport here, and we know that Jo wants to pass on her thanks to all who have helped her in her job.

Eamonn Boland was a most popular winner of last weekend’s Circuit of Ireland, Eamonn one of the most highly respected and admired competitors in Ireland. The rally may be taking a bit of criticism, but most of the drivers agreed that in fact the stages were brilliant, and the organisation ‘on the ground’ was mostly of the highest level. There is no disputing that numerically the entry in the International section was desperately low, and this is an increasing reflection of the sport in general. The UAC laid on three days of great stages, and not enough competitors took up the offer. Next year probably the best course of action for the UAC is to run the ‘Tarmac’ section and the National together, which in many ways will be a shame, but ‘needs must’, and technically it will be difficult, under current MSA guidelines. This would almost certainly as well mean a streamlined two day rally, which again is a great pity, but that is the way it is going in these days of burgeoning costs in the sport.

The forthcoming Midland Rally, based in the splendid Abbey Hotel in Roscommon, has reportedly a bulging entry list, well over 200 to date. Of particular significance is an entry from a certain KP Lynch in a Subaru, and also Garry Jennings, possibly on the reserve list. More news to follow on this.

Ray Breen had made up his mind before last weekend’s forestry rally in Limerick that he wouldn’t do any more rounds this year, as he wanted to accompany his son Craig on his European Karting Championship outings. However another win has set his mind racing, that it would be great to put the Hankook Irish Forestry Champion title alongside his Dunlop National Championship. Ray certainly hasn’t made up his mind yet. The next round of the Hankook Irish Forestry Championship is the Munster Club Moonraker Rally two weeks hence. The rally is moving to a new base, the refurbished Lismore Hotel.

Brian Patterson.