Austin McHale has taken delivery of a new Subaru Impreza WRC S9 but has made no final decision on his 2004 programme. Five times former Tarmac Champion Austin will almost certainly start the year with the Galway International. Aaron McHale will have a few National outings in their Corolla WRC as well as his GpN Lancer and Gareth may also try GpN as well as further Peugeot 206 outings.

Confirmation is expected early in the New Year that Killarney based Donie O’Sullivan will drive an M-Sport late model Focus WRC on next year’s Tarmac Championship. The talented Cork man, 2^ndo/a on the Killarney International this year, would prefer a shakedown rally before the opening Tarmac round in Galway, but there isn’t a suitable one, and instead plans a major test session. Donie sees the Focus WRC as a two year project, with 2004 a learning curve, the aim in 2005 a serious attempt at the Tarmac title. It has been confirmed that Donie has acquired the ex-Alistiar Ginley Focus, rebuilt to 2002 specification.

Former Tarmac Champion Andrew Nesbitt was performing TV interviewer duties at the recent Titanic Rally Sprint and reckoned that he wouldn’t be able to do many rallies in 2004 as he has expanded his Cross Refrigeration concern into America. However the Prodrive door is still open for Andrew and he certainly isn’t ruling anything out, including a WRC outing.

Further new car moves for next year include Pat Price moving up to a Lancer Evo 8, as is Kieran Molloy. Eddie Garry and Willie Fannin are having their Subaru Impreza N9’s upgraded to N10, 2004 specification, and Seamus Leonard is negotiating for new GpN Impreza.

Galway International Rally will be backed by First Choice Flooring, the 6th/7th/8^th February Tarmac Championship opener, based in Galway City’s Radisson SAS Hotel having stages in the East of the County around Ballinasloe on the Saturday and South Galway on the Sunday. Reconnaissance will take place over the weekend of 31^st January/1^st February, meaning an early start to the season.

FOR SALE

Our own Subru Impreza Turbo 5-door. We bought it new 1st Aug 1995. Equipped with trips (Coralba), Proflex and underbody protection. Not new but a fabulous little car. £4000.00 stg. E-mail us for more details.

Obituary

It is great with sadness that we mark the passing of Mr Gordon Neill, (94yrs), in Devon. Gordon was the great motivator and organiser in NI and Irish rallying after the second world war, and his was the hand at the tiller for 25 years. He resurrected the Circuit of Ireland in his position as secretary of the Ulster Automobile Club and also organised the return of the TT to Dundrod. He represented Northern Ireland motorsport at the RAC and made most of the decisions for 25 years. Gordon was a leading businessman with his flour milling business in Belfast and he competed in trials and raced his Bugatti in the early Thirties. He retired to Devon eventually and his son Malcolm, who also became a Clerk of Course of the Circuit of Ireland in equally difficult circumstances due to the ‘Troubles’, also went to live in England and became C of C of the RAC Rally. Gordon was an Ulster Automobile Club member to the end of his days. He was a very special man, a motorsport luminary. To all his family we express our deepest condolences.

Regards, Brian Patterson.