|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.1 Mt.Errigal..Friday 10.30
Everybody wants to get into the Shell Donegal Rally act - even
Charlie Reid, one of the principal organisers over the years,
is taking time out to sample life on the other side, competing
this time only in a Toyota Corolla. His 16 year daughter Nicola
is co-driving. Gerry Burke is the man in charge of the rally
this year, an onerous task for him and all the Donegal team,
as the rally is now one of the biggest events on the Irish sporting
calendar.
Last year's winner James Cullen leads the 150 strong entry away
from a sunny Letterkenny this morning, James anxious to get back
in the groove following his Summit Rally accident. His McKinstry
prepared Impreza has been considerably lightened in the course
of its rebuild. James found the car a little skittish initially
on a test outing yesterday, he is now pretty happy with it. On
the subject of the Summit Rally, earlier this week the event
had the handing over, at the Slieve Russell, of the cheques to
the various charities they were supporting. The amount was in
excess of œ40,000 - a magnificent achievement.
Austin McHale runs at 2 today in his Toyota, Austin looking very
confident.At 3 is Andrew Nesbitt, the Armagh man full of beans
as usual - or should that be Cuisine de France buns - as he warmed
up his fabulous Subaru Impreza WRC. Cross Refrigeration director
Andrew runs Pirelli tyres, as do many of the top drivers, and
at least tyre choice should be no great problem today. It looks
like warm weather slicks and high speeds for today's eight special
stages. No 4 was to be Bertie Fisher, but his entry was never
confirmed, so its current Tarmac Champion Ian Greer next up in
his Taranto de Pol Toyota. Derek McGarrity is at 6, current Tarmac
Championship leader Stephen Murphy is 7. Eamonn Boland, this
time in a Subaru is at 8, former Tarmac Champion Frank
Meagher is at 9, and Paul Harris, driving the rorty and rather
scary Bobby King Porsche 911 is at 10. Daniel Doherty from
Carndonagh is at 11, Daniel very much the up and coming Donegal
driver in his Subaru. Next on the road is Hugh Martin Doherty
at 14. The Bunbeg man has Mike Gibson back on the pace notes
this weekend, Hugh Martin in some last minute gearbox dramas
which are now resolved.
That is just a taster of the high class of driver in this Shell
Donegal Rally. It promises to be one classic contest. There are
some changes to the entry list from the official programme -
Pete Doughty, David Greer, Mark Fisher, John Dempsey, Geo Tracey,
Robert Woodside, Mick McQuaid are just some of the non-starters.
In fact there are about 27 gone from the original list, which
gives many of the reserves the opportunity of a run, to maintain
the full complement of 150 starters. More news later...BRIAN
AND LIZ PATTERSON |
|
|
|
|
