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RALLYNEWS
NO.1
Ennis/Sunday 09.00
Niall Maguire may have already
clinched this year's Dunlop
National Rally Champion's
crown, so doesn't need the
points here in Clare, but he's
still game enough to come to
Ennis and compete on the rally.
Monaghan man Niall commented,
"I always enjoy the rally
here - good stages, real
hospitality. The car seems
right, needed very little work
after the Galway Summer."
Niall will have plenty of
opposition here. Just behind
his Triton Showers/McElvaney
Motors backed Subaru is Michael
Barrable in an equally fabulous
Impreza WRC, then Ollie
O'Donovan in a Hyundai WRC,
followed by Patrick Elliot in
his Subaru. Elliot is 2nd in
the Dunlop points, with David
Armstrong 3rd and Sean
Gallagher 4th. These three will
be fighting for runner-up spot
in the series.
Michael Barrable has taken a
while to get into his stride
with his Impreza WRC, but has
certainly got it together
recently. Wins in Clonmel and
Galway are clear evidence of
that. Despite winning in
Galway, his Impreza didn't seem
sharp of itself. Michael tells
us that a change of throttle
body - the small electric motor
that activates the fly by wire
accelerator was getting lazy -
has transformed the car. Ollie
O'Donovan at 3 asks us not to
expect too much this time. The
purpose of this Clare outing in
the new Hyundai WRC is to clock
up some miles, get the feel of
the car, and then give the Cork
'20' a real go. That's the
theory. No doubt when Ollie
gets the crash helmet and the
lights turn green, the red mist
will come down as usual!
At 4 is Cavan man Patrick
Elliot, his Subaru now repaired
and pristine, following the
Galway accident. Patrick was
very much getting on the pace
before his last stage mishap,
and if he can repeat that form
here, he could give the lead a
bit of a rattle. David
Armstrong at 5 should be
another to go well, While hot
on the heels of his
Castle/Hellfire win, Tim
McNulty at 6 will be out to
impress. Certainly he has the
right car for the job, his
Impreza 555 ideally suited to
the lovely twisty Clare stages.
Tim reports that the machine
needed a new propshaft after
the Castle/Hellfire, otherwise
it was grand.
JJ Fleming is entered at
7, but he has got a unexpected
buyer for the car so he is
giving this one a miss, which
leaves Hugh Dunne next up in
his Impreza WRC, then Denis
Cronin in his exciting BMW M3.
West Cork man Denis admits that
he will be a bit rusty to
start, but no doubt he will be
flying before the day is out.
He tells us that after a lot of
work and money, the BMW is like
new.
Anthony O'Halloran was to start
at 10 in a hired Mitsubishi,
but sadly the Ruan man has had
to withdraw. His brother
Francis, who had been very ill,
sadly passed away yesterday. We
offer our deepest condolences.
There is lots of interest
outside the top ten - Sean
Gallagher at 11 should go well
in his Escort Cosworth, Ed
Synan at 12 has done a deal to
drive Ollie O'Donovan's Subaru.
Ed has Kieran Cusack
co-driving, not David Doherty
as stated in the programme.
Liam McCarthy at 14 is
gradually getting all the
bugbears ironed out with his
Corolla WRC and could be a
threat if he gets it all
together this time. Tom Randles
in his potent Mk2 Escort is at
15 and could be the benchmark
for the 2 wheel drive cars.
Just some non-starters include
Eugene Ferry (16), John Dempsey
(18), David Percy (26) and
Eamonn Daly (31).
Finally for now we would ask
everyone who is spectating
today to act with the greatest
caution and respect for
themselves, the drivers and
marshals. We want you to have a
great day, but we don't want to
see anyone getting hurt.
Remember that motorsport is
dangerous. Take care!
More news after stage 1.
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
www.rallynews.net
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