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| Tour of the Sperrins |
| RALLY NEWS No.1 - Maghera Start - Saturday @ 08:31:28 |
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RALLY NEWS NO.1 Maghera/Saturday 08.30
This Magherafelt Motor Club organised Sperrins Rally has really come to life over the past few days, with the addition of a few top names. Just some of the drivers who will be slotted into the entry include NI Championship leader Kenny McKinstry, Jonny Greer and Derek McGeehan.
Kenny McKinstry, who comes to this 4th round of the Hankook NI Championship with three maximum points score to date, will have 107 on his trusty Subaru. Derek McGeehan, who is going to drive one of Seamus O’Connell’s 2.4 litre Duratec engined Mk2 Escorts. Derek did say before the start that he has had no time to get used to the Escort, he has been so tied up getting Tim McNulty’s Subaru sorted out after the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Jonny Greer was thinking of going to this weekend’s Manx National, but has opted for the Sperrins rally instead as a couple of the Greer service vans were here already. Jonny is anxious for some asphalt practice in his Skoda Super 2000 as a warm-up for his next British Championship Rally, the Jim Clark. His Skoda will carry the number 110 here.
All these drivers should start well up the running order. No.1 seed is former Ni Rally Champion George Robinson in his Impreza WRC with Neil McCance at 2 in his Evo and another former Ni GpN champion Donagh Kelly, also in a Lancer, at 3. Current Ni GpN Champion Mark Donnelly is seeded at 9 and will be looking for a good run here.
Last year’s Sperrins winner Derek McGarrity was to have started at 4, but he can’t make it. Current NI Champion Stuart Biggerstaff is at 5, his Subaru fully sorted following all the gearbox dramas with his Impreza WRC on the Circuit. Event sponsor Camillus Bradley is No.11 and he has his Escort returned to its immaculate condition after having crunched a rear quarter panel on the Circuit.
Just some of the other drivers who will probably be moved up the starting order include Donegal man Brian Brogan in his rapid Escort, Paul Britton (Impreza N12) and Stanley Ballantine (Lancer). Indeed there are so many good drivers towards the back of the latest entry list, it’s going to be a nightmare for Clerk of the Course James McKeefry and his team to get a sensible running order before the 09.00 start at Walsh’s Hotel. More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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