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RALLY NEWS
NO.1 Clonmel..Sunday morning..early
Frank Meagher leads the 150 cars away for today's rally, many
times Stonethrowers winner Frank looking a bit bleary eyed as
he has just returned from Pat Moloughney's brother's wedding
up at Roscrea. Behind Frank is a star studded entry, with top
Dunlop Championship National contenders Niall Maguire and Paul
Harris down the list slightly at 5 & 6. No.1 seed Austin
McHale couldn't make it, his Corolla not yet repaired after the
Donegal accident. Cloneen man Frank tells us that he has
been doing some more work to his Escort WRC's suspension, engine
& g/box. Next up is Eamonn Boland, the Wexford man driving
a new Subaru 2000. Eamonn has had the new car out for a run on
Mount Leinster and is well pleased with it so far. Interestingly
George Tracey, seeded back at 35, also has a new Prodrive built
Impreza for today, his a GpN example.
Pete Doughty, multiple MN Champion, is at 4 in his Escort WRC,
then its Monaghan man Niall Maguire, his Subaru suffering no
real damage in its Sligo excursion. Paul Harris is at 6 in his
Subaru, Paul still reckoning there is the hint of a hesitation
in the engine. That didn't stop him winning Sligo. In real terms
The Dunlop National Championship is looking to be a head to head
between these two for the title. West Cork man Donal O'Donovan
is next up in his Toyota, then its Ravens Rock winner Michael
Barrable at 8, also in a Celica. Michael is really coming to
terms with this car now. Jim Harrison is at 9, the English visitor
driving one of Kenny McKinstry's Imprezas this time. Listed at
10 & 11 in the programme, David Armstrong and Peader Hurson,
couldn't make it, so Tim McNulty is next up. Tim has a last minute
worry with his Celica's engine. Joe McHugh, Denis Cronin, Cathal
Arthurs, Tommy Graham, Maurice Gass, Jimmy Lambert and Kieran
Molloy are all seeded in the top twenty and should be in the
thick of the action, as will some of the later numbers. Patrick
Elliot is at 21 in his Mitsubishi, just behind Molloy in a similar
Lancer. These two run in GpN. The highest seeded GpN driver is
Joe McHugh at 14. George Cullen is seeded way back at No.70,
and he will almost certainly start in with the top runners.
Running in the 'seventies' are the Ford Ka's, with Examiner deputy
sports editor Declan Colley making his rally debut in the 'guest'
car, running behind the Ka Championship regulars.
Further non starters include Dermott Kelly (29), John Treacy
(30), James/Ann Foley (22), Mac McKenna (31), Dessie Keenan,
John Sheehan, Fergus Kelly, David Percy. There are some more,
which means many of the reserves will get a run.Liam McCarthy/Kieran
Murphy are one of the '00 cars in their Celica. More news from
service.BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON. |
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