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RALLY NEWS NO.1
Mitchelstown/Sunday 09.30
Today's Tipperary MC
Mitchelstown Forestry Rally marks the beginning of a fresh new year for the
KBB Doors Forestry Championship. The series is certainly getting off on the
right foot with a glittering array of cars, many talented drivers and more
applications for entry than even Jim O'Brien, long serving Clerk of the
Course, can juggle. There is no way unfortunately that even the redoubtable
Jim can juggle a quart into a pint pot.
Shock news before the start is that No1 seed Dermot Kelly can't get going.
The former forestry champion's new Escort WRC isn't quite ready. This leaves
Kevin O'Kane first on the road in his Subaru, keeping No.2 on the car. It
sometimes takes Omagh man Kevin a mile or two to get into his stride, but
today's long tough stages should suit him well enough and Kevin could be the
benchmark for the rest to aim at today. At 3 is Dominic McNeill, reckoned to
be one of the best drivers around in slippy conditions. Certainly there will
be muddy patches today, following recent rain, and if Dominic gets his head
down he surely won't be far away. Francis Reagan is again co-driving for
Dominic. Another favourite for victory is Eugene Donnelly at 5 in his Celica.
The Magherafelt man has only had a few outings in this car, but every time he
gets behind the wheel, he produces fireworks, and he is certainly eager to
score his first win with his Toyota. Eugene's brother Charlie is down to
start at 15, but he has had car problems and won't be out today, but promises
it will be a different story for the next round of the championship at
Carrick on Suir. Eamonn Boland in his dramatic Subaru WRC is next up. The
Wexford man did a pre-event test yesterday and pronounces himself more than
happy with the car. Eamonn has always been known as a top tarmac driver. Over
the past couple of seasons he has been chalking up the miles in the forests
and is getting faster with every event. Could today be the day when he clocks
up his first forest win? Peter McCullagh in his upgraded Escort Cosworth
completes the top six.
Current KBB Doors Champion Niall Driver is at 7, then its a newcomer to the
series, London based Limmerick man Ollie O'Donovan at 8 in his ex McRae
Legacy turbo. John Donnelly and John McCarthy, both in Escort Cosworths,
round off the top ten. The interest certainly doesn't stop there. There are
loads of interesting drivers throughout the entry. John Drislane at 23 is
home from New York and doing his first Irish forest rally. Brian McCloskey, a
co-director of series sponsor KBB Doors is slotted in at 13. Paul Staunton
and Jimmy Lambert, 16 & 17, should provide a Mk2 Escort battle royale.
Noel Driver has moved back to a 2wd Escort. Max McKillen (Saxo) and Garry
Jenkins (Peugeot) should show lots of class in the 1600 tussle. In theory
McKillen's Saxo should have the legs of the 106, but we shall see. Gus
Kearney in anther 106 is on his first forest rally. Pete Willoughby has hired
the ex Neil
Simpson Lancer from Philip Johnston of CSE/Pitlane and is going to have his
first taste of 4WD through the forests. Pete tested the car yesterday and
couldn't beleive how fast and quiet the car is. James Murphy at 19 is out for
the first time in an Escort Cosworth, having moved up from his Sierra. Lots
more stories from the end of the first stage. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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