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| Kerry Mini Stages |
| RALLY NEWS No.1 - Banna Beach - Sunday @ 08:45:23 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.1 Banna/Sunday morning..early
Following a quiet season, Alan Ring sprang back into rally prominence two weeks ago when, driving his Lancer, he won GpN and finished 3rd overall on the Fastnet Rally. Co-driven as usual by Adrian Deasy, Killarney man Ring is No.1 seed here on this six special stage Banna Beach Resort backed Mini Stages event. He knows for sure that there are at least half a dozen drivers capable of winning, and that he will have his work cut out to finish No.1.
Behind Ring are Frank Kelly in his Escort and Colm Murphy in his GpN Subaru. Either could win the Top Part West Coast Championship on this final round. If both falter, Co. Limerick man Frank Sweeney could nip in for the title. Kelly, who will have Liam Brennan once again co-driving, has had a brilliant season, just one of his successes being to finish best Escort on the Dunlop National series. Frank’s last rally was the Glens of Antrim forestry, where he finished in the top ten and top Escort. In the intervening two weeks he has changed the Escort from gravel to tarmac specification and reckons that as this will be last event of the season, he won’t be sparing the horses. If the roads are dry, it may help Kelly, both in terms of grip and also that he will be able to utilise his Escort’s great power and top speed.
As regards the Championship, Kelly is up against a very capable opponent in Colm Murphy, an absolute master in slippy conditions. Behind Murphy is James Stafford at 4 in his very rapid Darrian, while computer supremo Roy White rounds off the top five. Clonmel man White, a former Tarmac GpN Champion, can fairly make his Ford engined 4WD MGS2000 sing along, but here on the Banna perhaps a lack of outright top speed could be a handicap. Tipperary man Barry Ryan is at 6, and although his Escort is only a 1.6 litre, he is capable of setting very quick times.
Frank Sweeney at 7 is, as we said earlier, still a Top Part West Coast possible Champion as is Stephen Carey (Civic) at No.25). Eamonn Dervan at 8 is yet another quick man, having won the ‘King of the Mk2’s’ accolade in Galway. Tommy Mason at 9 could be a real dark horse here as he was 6th o/a last year in his MK1 Escort, but this time is in Gary McPhillips’ very potent class 14 Escort. Tom Relihan, the Kilflynn car breaker, is driving Mason’s Mk1 Escort, and starts at no97. With the stages running past his door, Tom should go well.
John Hendy rounds off the top ten and he never fails to surprise with his speed in his Corolla Twin Cam. The above is just a sample of what is a very good entry. There have been some withdrawals from the published entry, which in turn makes way for some of the reserves to be slotted in. Main Withdrawals from the top end of the entry include Raymond Conlon (11), Jim McKenna (15), Charlie Hickey (18), Anthony Hand (22) and John Danaher (36). Reserves to be slotted in include former Top Part West Coast Champion Ed Synan in his class14 Escort (No.143) and Mark Nangle (Impreza No.144).
There are some historic cars running in the main field, including David and Rita Dee from the West End Service Station in their very special Mini Cooper, Philip McKibbin in his Cortina, and Denis Collins (Escort) at 81. Around 126 cars are expected to start, which in these tough times must be very pleasing for the Kerry MC organisers. For now it is a matter of rubbing the sleep from the eyes following the great birthday party in the Banna Beach last night for Aisling Grimes, whom Club Chairman Senan Raggett refers to as “Rashers”….
More news after stage 1: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net *Follow RallyNews on Twitter @Pacenotes or @ Real_RallyNews
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