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RALLY NEWS
NO.1 Ballymena..(hey)..Saturday
09.30
Wexford's Eamonn Boland, driving a Subaru WRC, heads an exceptionally
strong entry for today's Toshiba Rally, the quality and quantity
of the line-up testimony not just to the popularity of this Mid
Antrim MC event, but also of the Woodland Furniture NI Championship,
of which this is the final round. Behind Boland is Derek McGarrity
in a newly acquired Subaru 555, then its Denis Biggerstaff in
his Metro 6R4 and Robin Philips in his Toyota Celica. The latter
two will be fighting it out for the Woodlands Furniture NI title,
while McGarrity is just here to win the rally! Eamonn Boland
is on his first visit to this event, and is really looking to
build up 'gravel' experience for the Rally GB. For Derek McGarrity
making the start line has been a bit of a panic. His Subaru for
today belonged to a Corsican and has just arrived in from Nice.
Derek had a little bit of drama with the car in testing - the
rear suspension is a bit short on travel - and there has been
some midnight oil burning to get the car to the start line. Just
one of Derek's worries for today is that he has had no time to
recce the stages, which are being run in reverse of the last
couple of years.
Denis Biggerstaff is the defending NI Rally Champion. His Metro
6R4 is in top shape despite its small excursion on last Saturday's
Challenge 2000. Robin Philips' Toyota was suffering a misfire
on its last outing, the Bulldog, and that seems to be cured for
today, Robin looking forward to the challenge. Trevor Moore at
5, John McKeown at 6, Richard Hall at 7, Kevin O'Kane, currently
leading the KBB Doors Southern forestry series and running at
8, all report no major problems. Richard Hogg at 9 has changed
his Escort Cosworth for the Neil Simpson GpN Lancer Evo 6. This
could upset the balance in the race for the GpN title today.
Raymond Mason, Jim Crozier and Raymond Johnston can all take
the GpN title, but if Hogg finishes in amongst them he could
change the points balance a little. Crozier by the way had a
last minute panic when he sliced the top off two fingers yesterday
when fitting his Proton's spotlights. A quick trip to hospital
for stitches saw him back on course for the rally! Maurice Gass
in his Millview Fuels Toyota rounds off the top ten. Maurice,
with Geoffrey Orr on the pace notes could be a real dark horse
today, although his Celica is not really a 'gravel' car.
Sure to be mixing it in with the top ten should be late entry
Robert Woodside. He has Dean Beckett on the pace notes in Ken
McKinstry's Subaru Impreza 555. Woodside & Beckett managed
to slot into No 23 following Brendan O'Hagan's withdrawal. Brendan
Crealey (19) has also withdrawn, as has Neil McCance, whose wife
has just had a baby. Glenn Allen at 11 has already won his class
in the Championship, but he could force his Mk2 Escort up to
3rd overall in the series, especially as James Gillen hasn't
entered. Gary White at 12, Keith White (14) & former NI Champion
George Robinson at 16, along with a whole lot more, should be
in the thick of the action today. Further news of non-starters
include Kieran Shaw, D Heaney, along with car no's 81, 84 &
92. Well over 100 cars will still start, Willie McKee of BSS/Toshiba
is one of the '00' cars..more news from Glenariffe service..
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON |
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