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Irish
Notes 19.03.03
Tim
McNulty
is just one of several top drivers who are going to compete on
next weekend's Tralee based Circuit of Kerry, as much as anything
as a shakedown for the Circuit of Ireland. The event is
normally a round of the Dunlop National Championship but is on
its opt out year this time. Aaron McHale(Lancer) and Niall
Maguire (Subaru) have also entered. Austin McHale has requested
regulations for the event, but has yet to confirm his entry.
Pat
Donegan from
Kells is one of the first drivers in Ireland to move to the new
Mountune Duratec engine in his Mk2 Escort, in readiness for the
rules revision next year that will mean a Vauxhall engine will
not be acceptable.
The
29th June Ravens Rock Rally
is moving base from Waterford to Kilkenny this year, with the HQ
in the Kilford Hotel. The event is a round of both the Dunlop
National, Ford Ireland Focus, Get Connected and Triton Showers
South East Stages.
Enniscorthy's
Ray Martin,
a Billy Coleman Award finalist, has clinched sponsorship from
Yoplait to compete in the Get Connected series in his ex Eugene
Meegan Peugeot 106 Gti.
Top
Group N exponent Roy White
plans to do the Tarmac Championship this year but is also going
to sign up for the British series, as 3 of the rounds coincide.
Roy will be driving the Tim Ashton prepared Evo 7, and although
he may miss the Pirelli fully intends to do the gravel rallies
later in the year.
Former
2 times Forestry Champion Dermot Kelly
is having an active diff fitted to his 7 speed Escort Cosworth to
mount a serious challenge on KBB Doors Forestry Championship
leader John McCarthy on the forthcoming Mitchelstown event. There
is one new stage planned for the Mitchelstown Rally in the
Ballyhoura complex.
Derek
McGarrity
has shown an interest in this year's Pirelli Rally, the current
NI Champion saying last weekend "Pirelli is very keen on
have me on the rally and I've always wanted to go to Kielder. We
will probably use a 98 or 99 spec Impreza as the rally falls
between the Circuit and Killarney".
KBB
Doors supremo Kieran Shaw
hired a McGarrity Impreza WRC for last Saturday's Bishopscourt
Rally. The Magherafelt driver loved the experience compared to
his usual Escort WRC, and was running strongly in the top 10,
only to retire on the final stage when he ran out of fuel.
Rallying
newcomer Kevin Lynch
continued his learning experience with a fine drive at
Bishopscourt last Saturday. The plant hire expert chalked up a
few more miles in his newly acquired Impreza WRC, and despite a
100mph overshoot he brought the car home in an impressive 7th
overall.
Brian
Patterson.
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ã
2003 www.rallynews.net
(Patterson Agencies). All rights reserved. Unauthorised
duplication is a violation of applicable laws. 18/03/03 16:52
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