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RALLY NEWS NO.1 Ennis/Sunday morning
Last year’s winner Patrick Elliott in his Subaru WRC heads a strong entry for this Clare Stage’s Rally, with outgoing Dunlop National Champion Charlie Donnelly at 2 in his Corolla WRC and new Champion Aaron MacHale at 3 in his Focus WRC. Aaron may have clinched the Dunlop series, even with this round and Skibbereen still to go, but there is still plenty to fight for. The co-driver’s crown has still to be decided, although Aaron’s man on the pace notes, Killian Duffy, is looking a racing certainty. Some of the Dunlop class places, including the GpN category, still have to be decided. In addition the rally is a round of the Top Part West Coast series. Aaron MacHale won the West Coast last year, and currently lies 3rd, behind Anthony O’Halloran and Alan Ring.
This time last year Patrick Elliott was on the crest of rally wave, in a real winning frame of mind. This time, following a few mishaps this season, he’s really trying to build up his speed again. He is already looking towards next season, won’t be going mad today, and interestingly wouldn’t be displeased if it was a wet rally. His big accident happened in the rain, he hasn’t had a wet rally since, and wants to get one under his belt.
Charlie Donnelly was also in the thick of the action this time last year, but this season he’s just having the occasional outing and, with Darren Hayes co-driving, is more on a fun outing this time. But then Charlie has such natural speed, he can never be discounted from pulling off a big result. Aaron MacHale is, on the other hand, really ‘on it’ over the recent period, and he will almost certainly be going flat out. Having said that Aaron will be anxious enough to get his Focus to the finish to secure that co-driver’s title for Killian.
Tim McNulty at 4 is another who will doubtless be going flat out, looking for a repeat of his recent Galway Summer Stages win, but not his Ulster Rally accident! One of Tim’s main aims will be to get some more stage miles in his Pierse backed Subaru in preparation for the Cork ‘20’ two weeks hence. Denis Cronin (No5) also wants to chalk up some miles in his Subaru before Cork, while former National Champion Niall Maguire at No.6 is hopeful of consolidating his 2nd place in the Dunlop National points. Sean Gallagher is at 8 in his Subaru, and he’s been going well recently, while Kevin Barrett at No.9 is in with a chance of taking his Triton Showers Subaru into 3rd in the National series. Jack Sleator in his fabulous Impreza WRC S12 rounds off the top ten.
In GpN Michael Curran has every chance of wrapping up the category in the Dunlop Championship. Seamus Leonard is the only driver who can deprive Michael the hours, but Seamus has pulled out at the very last minute. Michael has struggled a little for pace on a couple of recent rallies, but his David Greer Motorsport engineers have since discovered and rectified an obscure turbo fault, so it will be interesting to see his pace. Willie Fannin, Alan Ring and Ian Barrett, all in Imprezas, are just some of the drivers who will almost certainly make GpN hot and heavy. Donegal’s Danny McBride has got a new GpN Lancer Evo 8, and local man John O’Sullivan is out in a new GpN Lancer. Thomas Fitzmaurice is out in his Lancer following a lay-off.
As ever the ‘rear wheel drive’ contest will produce its own brand of fireworks, and Anthony O’Halloran in his Manta will be out to fend off the onslaught of the Mk2 Escort men such as Mike Moloney, Mike Quinn and Martin McGee. Brian O’Mahony should be the man to beat in the front wheel drive stakes, although Brian is having to get new gears manufactured to raise the top speed of his Clio.
Some non-starters include Derek McGarrity (No.7): Kevin Kelleher (16): Tadgh Linehan (18): David McNulty (19): PJ McDermott (26): Ed Synan (29): Enda Keenan (30). Mick McQuaid has Alistair Wylie co-driving. Sixmilebridge man Padraig Egan has hired Kenny McKinstry’s Impreza WRC S8, is seeded at 45 and could be moved up the starters list, while many of the reserves have got a run and will be slotted into the list.
Sadly the anticipation of the rally has been blunted as news comes in from Scotland that rally legend Colin McRae and three others may have been killed in a helicopter accident at Lanark yesterday afternoon. This is expected to be confirmed later today. Our thoughts will be very much with the McRae family.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
