Galway’s Paul Dempsey is hiring a group N Impreza from Bill Gwynne Motorsport for the 9^th November West International Rally. The Galway organisers have announced that there will be 100 stage miles over 12 stages, 5 different stage locations. There will be 8 stages based around a centralised off road service area in North County Galway followed by 4 stages in darkness before an 8pm finish. Prizegiving will take place on Sunday morning in Rally HQ, the Quality Clarinbridge Court Hotel.

New KBB Doors Forestry Champion Eugene Donnelly is hiring the Stan Harper prepared rhd Impreza WRC for the Galway West International.

Last Saturday’s Enniskillen MC Fermanagh Clubman Forestry Rally was won by George Elliott in his Escort from Conor Kelly.

Ken O’Neill, co driven by Conor O’Neill, in his Opel Corsa won Class 9 on the recent Cork 20 Rally, a result that should help the 23 year old forward in qualifying for the Billy Coleman Award.

Following a period of doubt, the Killarney Historic Rally is now definitely all stations go for Sunday 1^st December. The event has built up a classic status throughout the British Isles and will be open for Historic, Post Historic and Classic cars. Tim Clifford is the Clerk of the Course.

Damien Connolly navigated Aaron MacHale to the gpN title on this year’s National Championship, but has not himself clinched the co driver section, so Damien is sitting with Martin Brady on the Skibbereen Rally. Killian Duffy can also take the co-driver’s title, and he is sitting with Cork’s John O’Leary in a Subaru.

Irish drivers have built up a reputation for top results on the Galloway Hills Rally, Kris Meeke winning it in 2001, and the ANICC’s Nicky Moffitt has negotiated special Stena ferry rates and entries for Irish competitors wishing to travel to the 1^st December, Castledouglas based event.

Billy Coleman Award winner Stuart Darcy acquired Adrian McElvaney’s GpN Mitsubishi Lancer just the day before last weekend’s Donegal Harvest Rally. The young Killybegs man took to the Lancer like a duck to water and finished 2^nd in the category and 4^th overall.

Rory Kennedy was co-driving for Tapio Laukkanen on last weekend’s Lake Superior Rally in the USA but the pair retired. Rory will be partnering Alistair Ginley on his world rally campaign next season.

Brian Patterson