Irish Notes Wed 23rd April 2014

So, that’s another Circuit been and gone. To say it was a significant event would be something of an understatement. The rally provided a master class in the lesson of running a high profile rally, roping in every political aspect available to make a hugely expensive European Championship event viable, competitive, entertaining and enjoyable.

Positioned between the Titanic service area and the Goliath cranes in the shipyard was the striped big top of the Vegas Circus. The thought occurred of how apt this was, as the European Championship entourage was akin really to a small circus, rolling into town for the weekend. Just a different type of entertainment really, although much like any other rally but more expensive.

The ups and downs of the stage action all are now well documented. Just some of those highs and lows that stick in our minds include how honoured we were to have world star and winner of the International Circuit Esapekka Lappi competing on our shores. His Skoda team also showed a touch of real professionalism with their one–two result. Hopefully for them it is a case of the old American motor industry adage: `win on a Sunday, sell (cars) on a Monday`. It was interesting that Lappi, and a couple of the other R5/S200 exponents in the Circuit International were setting faster times than the top Tarmac Championship contenders in the National event. That is progress, technology moving relentlessly forward.

Just some of the event lows included Craig Breen retiring, just like his Peugeot Academy team-mate Kevin Abbring, when mechanical gremlins struck in the radiator/engine department of their 208’s. Craig was challenging for the lead and giving it his absolute all. It was a real downer for the young man from Waterford, and of course handed his European Championship points lead to Lappi. There was disappointment as well that Sam Moffett’s Fiesta RRC went out immediately after setting a fastest time on the Saturday morning. A high was Robert Barrable securing a podium place in his private Fiesta S2000, as well as young Josh Moffett keeping a cool head while running first on the road and eventually securing 7th o/a in his Lancer – an old car in this company, and with the handicap of having to run on prescribed regulation tyres which weren’t really suited to the weight of the Lancer.

Then there was the National Rally. What a disappointment it was for Garry Jennings and co-driver Rory Kennedy to crash the Subaru out when in sight of the chequered flag. It was just devastating for Tarmac Champion Garry, who drove so well for 16 of the 18 stages and then it all went downhill when his Subaru sustained a punctured tyre on the penultimate stage. Fair play though to Declan Boyle for, despite seemingly being unsettled throughout, keeping the pressure on and securing his fourth win from four starts this year. Indeed it was a good weekend for three drivers from Donegal. As well as Boyle winning the National Circuit and scooping maximum Tarmac Points to increase his lead in the series, Donagh Kelly survived a few dramas in his Focus WRC to take 2nd and the modified winner Declan Gallagher was 5th o/a in his Starlet. Although reckoned by most to be a Monaghan man, Daniel McKenna lives much of the time in Donegal, and he had a great result as well on his first outing in the Pirelli Citroen DS3R3T.

So, that’s it, another Circuit, another year. There were a hundred stories of exploits, triumphs and disasters. The main thing was the rally went well, with the beautiful weather doing no harm either.

Now it is time for the Tarmac Championship contenders to get themselves and their cars refettled for the trip to Killarney for the Rally of the Lakes. It is all very well to have the Circuit of Ireland at Easter, but with the Easter date moving around the calendar, competitors are again faced with the prospect of having just over a week to get ready The Lakes will no doubt be a brilliant rally, but tough, a major undertaking. In these days of frantic work schedules it is certainly not easy for a driver to put a package together for a major event such as The Lakes in a few days. We mentioned last week that previous winner Denis Cronin was unlikely to be contesting his home event in his Subaru. It would appear now that Denis may well have his Impreza’s gearbox sorted in time and may make the Killarney start after all. Full details of the entry should be available shortly. One of the interesting facets of the Lakes is that is a round of the European Historic Championship. Fifteen or sixteen interesting historic cars are reportedly making the trip from the Continent.

Before that, this weekend indeed, we have the Lark in the Park Rally, as well as the Monaghan Stages, plus there is the RAC Championship Hamsterley Rally. Just some of the top names scheduled to appear at the River Ridge Recycling backed Lark in the Park include Kieron Graffin, Mark Alcorn, Seamus and Tommy O’Connell, Joe McGonigle, Anthony Cairns, Pat Kirk and Stanley Ballantine. As well as the runs through St. Columbs Park, the rally will include a closed road special stage at An Granian in Donegal, which should provide a bit of extra spice for the drivers.

This Sunday the rally spotlight will be on the Monaghan Stages. Considering the rally is on an opt-out year from the Dunlop Championship, this always- popular event has attracted a top class entry, even running to a reserve list. Last year’s winner Sam Moffett tops the seeding in his Fiesta WRC, with Niall Maguire, Paddy McVeigh, Kevin Barrett and Peadar Hurson, all in World Rally Cars, slotted in behind. Sam is driving the same Fiesta he used on the Circuit, upgraded with a bigger restrictor, the aerodynamic bumpers and so on. Josh Moffett in his Lancer rounds off the top six. Then the story is all about Escorts – with drivers such as Daniel McKenna, Gary McPhillips, Rodney Wilton, Manus Kelly and Dessie Keenan sure to provide plenty of fireworks. On and on through the entry list there are a lot of really good drivers, which should provide a cracking day`s rallying. The CoC Brendan Flynn has laid on three very demanding and technical long stages, to be repeated three times. The rally should be a great test of man and machine.

On the Hamsterley event, Owen Murphy/James O’Brien line up at No.7 in their Lotus Sunbeam surrounded by a sea of Escorts. Ray Cunningham/Gary McElhinney are down at 50 with Ross Forde/Arron Forde a few places further back in their similar Mini Cooper.