RALLY
NEWS NO.1
Inishowen Gateway Buncrana-Sunday
morning.
www.rallynews.net
In the absence of Paul Harris,
Niall Maguire in his Subaru WRC
leads the 151 starters away on
this Donegal Harvest Stages
Rally, with Monaghan man Niall
sure to face stern opposition
from Carndonagh brothers Daniel
and Michael Doherty in a
similar Subaru World Rally Car.
In truth the entry may be
thronged with good drivers but
it is hard to see any
combination of car and driver
that will challenge those two.
Having said that, new Clerk of
the Course Leonard Wilson has
laid on a challenging series of
special stages, so anything can
happen. Paul Harris isn't here
because his Subaru is not
repaired following its Galway
Summer Rally accident. David
Armstrong was to be at 4 and
could maybe have raced the
Impreza's in front, but his
Escort Cosworth is on the
market for sale. That
leaves James Gillen at No.5 on
the seeded list, 3rd on the
road. Castlederg man James is a
quick driver, revels in wet
tough conditions, but it would
be a tall order indeed for
James to get in amongst the
Subarus. Having said that, we
should still have a fascinating
rally.
Behind Gillen drivers such as
Ivan Stewart, even though his
Escort Cosworth is using a drop
of water: Philip Shaw in his
famous black Mk2 Escort: Andrew
Stewart in the first of the GpN
Mitsubishis: Norman Armstrong
in his Mk2: Seamus Donnelly in
the ex Camillus Bradley Mk2.
All are brilliant drivers in
their own right and will be
giving the rally a real go. Top
names go on outside the top ten
seeds - Cathal Rogers at 11,
although he has been away from
rallying, can never be
underestimated, the fencing
contractor having acquired a
very tasty G3 Escort. Trevor
Lancashire at 12, Stephen
Harris at 14, Paul Gallagher at
15, hoping for rain to equalise
the power stakes, can go
indecently quickly in his
Corolla.
In terms of winning outright
though, you have to go back to
Maguire and Doherty. Daniel and
Michael Doherty are on their
home patch, and should have an
advantage, but they are adamant
there is one stage, which goes
over the daunting Mamore Pass,
which they don't know. Since
finishing 3rd on the Ulster
International, the Doherty
Subaru has had no more than a
routine checkover. Maguire has
had a fantastic rally season,
pure speed allied with
reliability netting him his 2nd
National Title in the clearest
of fashions. Niall's Subaru has
also had no more than a
checkover. Remarkably he hasn't
even needed a new clutch in it
this year - and apart from
trying to win the rally he can
also take the Border
Championship. The Border is a
class based series so there are
many permutations for the
destination of the title.
Trevor Lancashire, John
McElhinney and John P Kelly can
all take the title if they have
a good class finish.
Just some more of many names to
look out for today include
Killybegs man Stuart Darcy who
has acquired Adrian McElvaney's
Mitsubishi, Angus Hunter who is
making a rally comeback in a
Richard Hogg Lancer and David
McNulty who has done a lot of
work to his Escort Cosworth.
Sean McArdle debuts an ex
Kankkunen 205 Celica. Looking
outside this Donegal Harvest,
Kenny McKinstry finished 6th on
yesterday's tough Bulldog
Rally, just missing out on his
2nd ANCRO National title, which
goes to Mark Perrot. Noel Orr
does however take the
co-driver's title. Stephen
Harron finished well back after
lying 2nd on the morning icy
Welsh stages and Eamonn Boland
finished just outside the top
ten. Julian Reynolds won.
Finally for now, this is the
first Donegal Motor Club Rally
since the tragedy that occurred
on the International. That was
a sad, tough time for all
concerned, particularly the
families affected. The club
officials and members have also
had to pick themselves up to
move ahead with this event.
Naturally, the spotlight this
weekend will be very much on
safety. We all want to enjoy
the rally. That must be
tempered with a total awareness
of safety and consideration for
others at all times.
More news after stage 1. BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON
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