RALLY NEWS NO.1                            Carrick-on-Suir/Sunday morning

To-day's Willie Loughman Memorial Rally marks the start of another forestry Championship, this season sponsored by McCauley Trailers. The rally is also the opening round of the Triton Showers South East Stages Championship.  Around 80 cars will start the rally, spearheaded by John McCarthy/Dan Maguire in an ex works Corolla WRC, with Kevin O'Kane at 2 in a newly acquired Subaru WRC, Kevin Lynch at 3 in his immaculate Impreza WRC S6. That sets the tone for the rally, Lots of fabulous cars, good drivers, challenging stages through beautiful countryside. Seeded down at 13 is former Champion Dermot Kelly, while further dark horse include Pat Norris in a Subaru at 26, young Stephen Moore in an Impreza at 73, while amongst the late entries, not on the published list, is Gabriel Martin (91).

John McCarthy was the man to beat here last year in his Subaru, this time he is in the Corolla WRC and said, "The car feels quicker, its down to me and how I get on with the left hand drive".  Former Champion Kevin O'Kane, moved up from a group A to a WRC Subaru said about his new car: "As soon as I put my backside in it I knew it was a proper rally car, real sharp."  Kevin Lynch at No.3 was rallying all day yesterday at Kirkistown where he finished 3rd, so he should be really sharp today.  Brian Murphy at No.4 hasn't really driven his new Subaru in anger, and although he hasn't been out on a rally for some time, he has proved in the past that he can turn in superb performances just out of the blue.

James Murphy at 5 is always a very solid man in his Escort Cosworth, and shouldn't be a mile away today.  Paul Barrett at 6 moves up to 4 wheel drive from his Escort, now driving a group N Lancer.  Quick man that he is Paul is up against some massive competition in the group N category.  Current Forestry gpN Champion John Shanahan is right behind him at No.7 in his Subaru.

At 8 it is Patrick Elliott with Sean Moriarty on the notes.  Patrick normally drives a Subaru WRC these days, but has hired Robbie McGurk's Lancer for the Forestry Championship.  Patrick won gpN on the Dunlop series just a few years ago so he should go really well.  We mentioned earlier about Dermot Kelly - he is seeded at No.13 and hopefully will make the start line. Dermot was working hard on the car over the last couple of days fitting re-valved suspension.  Pat Norris at 26 is driving an ex Miki Biasion/McKinstry Group A Impreza, and although he has done little or not testing, should figure amongst the top runners if he gets a decent run.

Just a couple more drivers in gpN cars who are seed outside the top 10 include Aaron MacHale at No.16. Subaru dealer Eddie Garry at 17, who, interestingly, has hired a Lancer to try it out.  Young John Foley, the Fisher Foundation Award winner is at 21. James Cribben at 19 and he is another who always goes hard. 

Rounding off the top 10 is John Reid and Ray Benskin in their respective Escorts. James Coleman at 15 is another Escort man to look out for. Lloyd Hutchinson is at 18 in his amazing Mini Cooper and must be a potential class winner.

Looking outside this Carrick on Suir Forestry Rally, Derek McGarrity was the winner at Kirkistown yesterday in a 99 Impreza WRC. Robin Philips was 2nd in Davy Greer's Corolla WRC and Kevin Lynch 3rd in his new Impreza S9.   Dickie Curran won group N.  On the Qatar Rally, Middle East Rally Champion Nasser Al Attiyah & Chris Patterson took victory in a Group N Subaru.

More news from service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON  www.rallynews.net

 

 

 

 

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