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RALLY NEWS
O.1 Ennis...Sunday morning 09.30
Finely poised as the Dunlop National Championship is, the action
at the head of this Clare Stages Rally is bound to be frenetic,
specially between points front runners Niall Maguire and Paul
Harris. Austin McHale and Eamonn Boland are listed as 1st &
2nd seeds but neither can make it, which leaves reigning Champion
Maguire leading the 131 cars away. Such is the quality of cars
and drivers at the front that the event is wide open.
Maguire has his Subaru well tidied and tightened since hitting
it a thump on the last Dunlop round, the Stonethrowers. Harris
says his Impreza is very much on the pipe now that the engineers
have seemingly cured a misfire which has afflicted the engine
for several rallies, lower gearing also making the machine much
sharper. Donal O'Donovan at 5 has new brake discs on his Celica,
the Dunmanway man determined to make up for a lost opportunity
of a National win over in Clonmel. At 6 is Tim McNulty, sitting
handy in the Dunlop Championship, his Celica needing little more
than a check-over before the rally. Next up is George Cullen,
his Toyota with the power steering fluid leak fixed, which should
prevent a repeat of the flame throwing escapade that happened
in Tipperary. Denis Cronin was to be at 8 but his BMW hasn't
been fixed since the Clonmel accident. Donegal man Hugh Martin
Doherty is at 9 in his Escort WRC, Hugh Martin showing lots of
speed on the Donegal International, and could be a real force
here. Then its Anthony O'Halloran in a McKinstry Subaru. Although
Anthony is a fine driver, and he knows his home stages like the
back of his hand, he's still in at the deep end a bit on his
first outing in a four wheel drive turbocharged car. One thing
is for sure, he's mad for a top result. At 11 is Maurice Gass,
his Toyota now with the water injection system sorted, Maurice
another who could be right in the hunt. Davy Armstrong was to
be next but he's not here, so then it's Tommy Graham in his Escort
WRC at 13. Number 14 Hurson is missing, so next up Joe McGurk,
then Richard Casey. Patrick Elliott, who is the new GpN National
Champion, is at 18 - his main 'showroom' opposition will almost
certainly come from English visitor Jon Tainton in a similar
Lancer at 39. The very rapid Philip Shaw is at 19 in his Mk2
Escort, the anticipated category battle between Tyrone man Philip
and the likes of Richard Casey and Jimmy Lambert likely to be
classic.
That's just a taster of this Clare Stages Rally. Even the '00'
cars will be interesting - one of them is the new front wheel
drive turbo Focus (T230) on shakedown, to be driven by David
Paveley, with engineer Baz Cannon co-driving and checking out
how the suspension works over the Irish tarmac. Further non starters
include car numbers 17, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35. While just some of
the reserves getting a start include Sean Gallagher, Gareth McHale,
Barry Barrable and Paul Reid. Another interesting "OO"
is Willie Singleton in the ex Patrick Snijers Escort WRC, co-driver
is Tom Collins. More news from service.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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