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| Circuit of Kerry |
| RALLY NEWS No.1 - Pre start - Sunday @ 07:49:22 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.1 Carlton Hotel/Tralee/Sunday morning
Clerk of the Course of this Kerry Stages, Senan Raggett, was full of bright ideas at breakfast this morning in the Carlton Hotel about playing some sort of an April Fools Day joke on the competitors. Thankfully Senan was talked out of the April Fool idea, but one thing is for sure, when the top drivers hit the opening two stages, Headley’s Bridge and Desmond’s Grave, there will be no fooling around. The competition has been hot, heavy and close on the opening two rounds of the Dunlop National series, and promises to be no different on this third counter.
Former National Champion Niall Maguire, who also currently leads the Dunlop points, commented. ”The stages are tough today, especially the first two. It won’t be easy, and the first four cars will all be going hard, especially Fitzmaurice on his home ground. In fact it’s been very close all year so far.” Indeed it’s Fitzmaurice, currently 2nd in the points, who will lead the 122 starters away.
Its remarkable really, considering the current climate, 95 starters last year, 122 this time – a reflection of the hard work put in by the club perhaps. Thomas does lead the Top Part Championship points, of which this is the second round.
As well as Maguire and Fitzmaurice in World Rally Cars, Kevin Barrett and Brian O’Mahony make up the WRC quartet at the front. Barrett nearly always goes well here in Kerry, and O’Mahony is ultra quick most places, which should all make for a very interesting battle at the front. Roy White is at 6 in his interesting MG S2000, and although Roy reckons the opening stages will be too fast for his car, he should still be there or thereabouts. At 7 is Colm Murphy, the gearbox of his GpN Subaru rebuilt for this rally. Just some of Colm’s opposition in the GpN category will include Kevin Kelleher, Shane Maguire, Eugene Meegan and Mark Donnelly.
Clonmel man Andrew Kearney, a former Dunlop Junior Champion, is out for the first time in a Dominic McNeill/Gerry McGarrity built Evo 9. Another GpN driver to watch could be Neil Tohill. He starts at No.32 and Kearney, running with 93 on his Lancer will start one place behind. Mike Quinn, Frank Kelly and Declan Boyle, all in Mk2 Escorts, make up the top ten. There is fantastic interest in the competition between the Escort aficionados, and this rally will be no exception, with talented competitors throughout the field.
Some changes to entry include Derek McGarrity non-starting as he is in Portugal. Eamonn Daly, who was 4th here last year and won GpN, is another non-starter as the set up on his car isn’t quite right. Anthony Hand (27): Paul O’Brien (33): Pat Ryan (35) are also non-starters. Sean Moran who was to be at 26 has not made it because his car is not ready.
There have been quite a few last-minute entries and these include – Mark Donnelly/Andrew Purcell who will have the number 127 on their Lancer and will start in the top 20. Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey (Lancer Evo 10) will carry the number 131 and also start in the top 20.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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