|
Irish
Notes 11th June 03.
Tarmac Championship points leader Derek McGarrity took delivery
of a new Impreza WRC S8 from Prodrive last week, for his own use
on next weekend's Donegal International. The new car is similar
to the Circuit of Ireland winning machine, in yellow with Pirelli
livery. Derek has another S8 for sale, "if the price is
right".
Letterkenny's Brendan Kelly, badly injured in an accident last
year on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes, has been to Sweet Lamb
for a test session in a Lancer. Brendan found he was more than up
to the driving task and may '00'in Donegal driving the David
Greer Corolla WRC if the car can be re-prepared in time after
Natalie Barrett uses it on the Scottish.
Aaron McHale, the current National GpN Champion, has a new Lancer
Evo 8 being prepared for the Donegal International and is seeded
at 27.
George Robinson made it two wins in two weeks when he took his
Escort Cosworth to victory on the Aghadowey stage event last
Saturday. Glen Allen was 2nd and Ivan Stewart 3rd, also in Escort
Cosworths. Kevin Lynch's team made a superb effort to get his
Impreza WRC ready for the event, but a puncture knocked him out
of contention.
Maurice Gass, joint sponsor of this weekend's Mourne Rally with
his brother Kenny and their Gosford Service Station, is offering
a run as co-driver on the Lurgan Park Rally in his Subaru WRC in
a charity draw in aid of the Newry Hospice.
Gass reports that his Subaru is getting a complete overhaul
before the Donegal Rally, and that he is switching to Pirelli
Tyres. Armagh man Gass currently lies 3rd in the Tarmac
Championship points table, behind Derek McGarrity and Eamonn
Boland. Maurice also leads the 023 Tiles Southern Four
Championship.
The Mourne Rally, a round of the NI Championship as well as the
Border series, has an entry in excess of 100 crews, with Eugene
Donnelly, Denis Biggerstaff, Glenn Allen and George Robinson just
some of the top drivers. The event will have 12 stages over the
tarmac roads of Slieve Gullion and Camlough, starting from the
Mourne County Hotel at 10.30 am Saturday.
Tipperary Motor Club is running an interesting stage event this
Sunday, using a new 10 mile stage repeated three times just to
the North of Cashel. Restricted to two litre cars, Mike Reedy is
No1 seed in his Mk2 Escort, with Davis Percy at 2 in his Escort
F2 Maxi and Eamonn Murphy at 3 in his Mk2. Kearney's Castle Hotel
is HQ and the first car is away at 10.30 for the familiarisation
run.
Young Philip Morrow attended the Forest Experience Rallyschool
last week as part of his prize for winning the NI Young Driver
Scholarship. Mark Higgins put Philip through his paces as a warm
up for the Scottish in his 206 Super Cup machine, an experience
he described as "A bit of an eye opener. I learned more in a
few hours with Mark than I did in a year's rallying".
Former National Champion James Doherty is now rallying for a bit
of fun in a Corsa, and had a great dice with his son Roland on
the Circuit of Munster. Two stages from the end James' example
had electric problems and Roland went on to win his class. Peter
Cummins had been leading the class but went off the road towards
the end.
Brian
Patterson.
|
|
