|
|
|
|
|
|
RALLY NEWS
NO.1 Mourne County/Newry..Saturday 09.00
Woodland Furniture NI Rally Championship leader Robin Philips
leads the 130 strong entry away for this 5th round, with defending
Champion Denis Biggerstaff at 2 in his Metro 6R4. Philips is
going for his Mourne hat-trick and the re-introduction of the
Cooley Mountain stage should suit his big turbo Toyota down to
the ground. Having said that, there are a plethora of top drivers
in brilliant cars here who are all in with a chance. Dromara
man Biggerstaff has his Metro 6R4 in top fettle. He's been a
tad unlucky on some of the rounds so far, but he has shown great
flashes of speed when he has had a clear run. At 3 is Sean McArdle,
in a Celica very similar to Philips'. Sean, fresh from a good
run in Donegal, knows this territory well and could be in with
a real shout today for top honours.
At 4 is defending Border Champion David Armstrong. His Escort
Cosworth sustained light body damage in an unlucky accident last
weekend just above Glen Village, but he is on course here today.
This Mourne rally is round 4 of the Border series. David at the
moment is a little out of the reckoning to retain his title.
The man with his nose in front in the Border points race is Monaghan's
MacMcKenna. He's giving this one a miss, so opening the door
for Micky McArdle. Micky has spent a couple of days this week
sorting the brakes on his BMW M3, knows this Mourne territory
well, and is aiming, if all goes well, for a top result. Trevor
Moore, currently leading the Scottish Championship and 4th in
the Woodlands points after winning the Sperrins, runs at 5. Not
normally renowned as a tarmac driver, Trevor will be giving today
his best shot. Next up is James Gillen, the Castlederg man with
Victor Carruthors in the hot seat this time. Gillen goes well
on tarmac with his Escort Cosworth. Next up is Wesley Patterson,
his Sierra fitted with a new turbo and management system for
today, then its series sponsor Kieran Shaw, a very quick man
in his own right. Gary White and former Champion George Robinson,
both in Escort Cosworths, make up the top ten. There are a lot
of very good drivers outside the leaderboard of course, which
should make it a very interesting day.
The GpN story looks equally intriguing. Top drivers in the showroom
category include Richard Hogg, Jim Crozier, Raymond Mason and
Raymond Johnston. Mason is debuting a new Subaru today, an ex
Barretts shell he has built up, but still hasn't the full management
pack for, johnston, overall runner up here a couple of years
ago, has a new gearbox in his Impreza. Also out in GpN is local
man Cyril Beattie. Stories include Keith White getting his Escort's
gearbox overhauled since his Festival Stages success. Eugene
Ferry has his Escort's gearbox and steering sorted after attacking
a Letterleague jump too hard last weekend. Changes to entry include
Eugene Donnelly sitting in with Glen Allen, while Philip Shaw
is unlikely to take the start after his huge accident in Donegal
last weekend. More news later. MICHAEL PATTERSON & ZOE TODD
|
|
|
|
|
|
