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RALLY NEWS
NO.1 ULSTER HISTORY PARK ...SAT
10AM
A new setting and a new format welcomes the competitors here
this morning for this Carryduff Forklift Sponsored Challenge
2000 event. Organised and run by the Northern Ireland Motor
Club Ltd, the club responsible for previous Ulster Rallies.
The concept here today, is to run a 'mini Ulster', a blueprint
event in anticipation of the Ulster being both a Tarmac Championship
and BRC round next year, with some innovative ideas in particular
with regard to spectator vantage points. We would ask everybody
in particular those going spectating today, to observe the organisers
directions, and make use of the official spectator areas which
have been chosen to offer the best viewing, and some spots will
have live commentary and we will do our best to keep you updated
with Rally News.
Heading the field away is last year's Tarmac champion Ian Greer
in his beautiful new Taranto De Pol Toyota Corolla WRC.
Ian is in a boyant mood having got new suspension from TTE, recently
tested on the San Remo Rally, though as Ian said himself "this
moves things further up the scale again" referring to the
steep learning curve required to master the complexities of a
modern world rally car.
Another driver in the same boat is Donegal's rallying brothers
Daniel and Michael Doherty, who will debut their recently acquired
ex Juha Kankunan Impreza WRC. Daniel tested the car briefly
earlier this week at Bishopscourt, where he described the car
as so much sharper than his GpA version, his only concern being
that he hasn't had a chance to try the car over a bumpy road.
Denis Biggerstaff has taken advantage of the chance to run in
the modified class here, and he brings his venerable 6R4 out
today and runs at No 3, but Denis admits to having hardly changed
the car from its usual forest settings. Former national
champion Peadar Hurson starts at four in his Escort Cosworth,
Peadar making a welcome return to the stages this year and proving
that he has lost none of his pace, reckons that he is still learning
how to drive the car.
Maurice Gass starts at No 6 and should be a contender today,
with another former national champion just behind him, George
Robinson at No 7. Dark horses to watch out for will almost
certainly include the spectacular Philip Shaw at 10 in his Escort,
and just behind him Owen Lamont in his Impreza (11).
Sadly we have to report some notable non-starters which include
Neil Simpson, Charlie Donnelly (cracked block), Brendan Kelly
(accident damage from Harvest Rally), Kenny Gass, John Hunter,
Damien Donnelly, Ted Johnston and Ian Duff who sustained damage
in Davagh last weekend. Also a couple of changes to the
entry list include car 27 will now be co-driven by Angela Straney,
while Mark Rowan sits in with David Kidd seeded at 35.
More New Later ..... Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd |
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