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Irish
Notes, 2nd June 2003.
The popular and high profile Lurgan Park Rally, originally
scheduled for 5th July, has a new date, 23rd August. Long serving
Clerk of the Course William Fullerton reports that following
agreement with Craigavon Borough Council over the use of Lurgan
Park, the event is now all stations go. The organising North
Armagh MC have still however to tie up a suitable sponsorship
deal.
Daniel and Michael Doherty report that their Impreza WRC, damaged
when the brothers crashed when leading the Harvest Rally, is well
on course to appear on their home 20/22nd June Donegal
International.
As well as moving to a new base in Armagh, the 5th/6th September
Ulster Rally has a new backer, moving on from long time title
sponsor Stena Line to Answercall Direct. The rally is round 6 of
the Tarmac Championship, round 5 of the Pirelli British series.
The definitive decision has been taken that this year's
Punchestown Rally Masters will not run. Event Director
Ronan Morgan is in negotiation with Motorsport Ireland to try to
obtain a July 2004 date when there is almost a one month gap in
the World Rally Championship calendar, providing a better
possibility of attracting world stars to the high profile
Punchestown event.
The Mid-Antrim Ballypatrick Stage Rally last Saturday was won by
George Robinson in his Escort Cosworth, with Keith White making
an impressive return to the sport 2nd overall in his 2 wheel
drive Escort. John Donnelly was 3rd, Seamus Donnelly 4th, Philip
Shaw 5th. Kevin Lynch crashed his Impreza WRC out of the event on
the Orra Lodge stage.
James and Paul McCann's Cavan Rally accident was more serious
than what we initially believed, but happily the two brothers
from Ballyjamesduff were released from hospital within days and
they are both on the road to recovery. Their Escort Cosworth was
badly damaged.
National Champion Niall Maguire opted out of last weekend's
Circuit of Munster to be with his partner Susan, who gave birth
to a baby boy on the Friday.
Rapid GpN driver Seamus Leonard has acquired a new version
9 Prodrive Subaru Impreza for Donegal and will have Paul
McLaughlin co-driving. Earlier reports that Tapio Laukkanen would
compete appear not to have come to fruition.
The Birr round of the KBB Doors forestry Championship, scheduled
for 7th September will not now take place. The Killarney round
will move into the Birr date. The series will now consist of 6
rounds, with 5 to count. Dave Slattery, C of C of Killarney, is
emphatic that, contrary to rumour, the event is fully on course.
Brian Patterson.
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