RALLY NEWS NO.1                   Saturday morning/Ballymena

Today's Toshiba Rally, final round of the NI Stage Championship,once again, promises to be another classic encounter, with the overall and GpN titles still to be decided, as well as many of the classes. In addition to Championship kudos at stake, there's a strong line-up of brilliant drivers in some fabulous cars.

In overall Championship terms, only Kieran Shaw or Kevin Lynch can take the title. Both drive state of the art Subaru Impreza WRC's, Shaw's a slightly older model. Kevin Lynch, under the dropped score system, only has to finish sixth or better to take the title. The catch is that he must finish. Kieran Shaw starts the rally 2 points in front, but has to drop his worst score at the finish, so he really wants to win today! A touch of the flu during this past week won't make Shaw's task any easier, but he's feeling A1 today. There was a last minute drama also when his preparation man Dominic McNeill took the Subaru out for a run on Thursday night and it went on fire. The power steering burst. Dominic did well to extinguish the conflagration, and all is now well. Lynch's car hasn't been without last minute dramas either, preparation supremo Stan Harper having to get stuck in to a clutch change following the Ballymena Showgrounds scrutineering session last night.

In GpN, the Championship state of play is even closer, with young Michael Curran and Seamus Donnelly, each driving Lancers, separated by just a couple of points, Donnelly perhaps having the slightly easier task. John McGlaughlin could also take the GpN title, but it is a fairly long shot for him.

Outside the Championship, the interest doesn't slacken. Last year's winner Robbie McGurk leads the cars away, the Omagh man driving a Derek Jobb hired GpN Lancer Evo7 that supposedly should have no chance against the World Rally Cars grouped behind. But then with Robbie driving, who knows! Derek McGarrity starts at 2, driving an ex Barrable P2000 Impreza WRC. Glengormley man Derek is out for a day's craic on his local rally, but for sure he'll want to win and in the process beat his great rival and now fellow Champion from this year's Pirelli Tarmac series, Eugene Donnelly. Eugene, the outgoing NI Champion, slots in at 23, replacing his brother Charlie. This is an older model Celica, John Conway of Meteor is co-driving and has no illusions about his ability on the notes. Eugene says he is only out for a day's fun, John Conway says they have the picnic lunch with them, but when Eugene gets behind the wheel, stand back!

Kevin Lynch is at 4 in his KPL Impreza WRC, Kieran Shaw at 5 in his KBB doors example. Denis Biggerstaff, another former NI Champion, is at 5 in his Subaru WRC. Although Denis has struggled a bit over the years on this rally, his Metro 6R4 not liking the jumps too much, it could be a different ball game this time in his Impreza. Then at 6 is Glenn Allen, hopefully with his Escort WRC now fully sorted. Glen could so easily have been in contention for the title today except for the car letting him down earlier in the season.

Armagh's Maurice Gass, a top six finisher here last year, starts at 7 in a '98 Impreza WRC hired from Derek McGarrity. Pat Norris, a front runner in the Southern forestry series this year, has made the trip up from Dublin and starts at 8 in his ex Biasion GpA Subaru. Monaghan man Adrian McElvaney, also in a Subaru, starts at 9. Adrian, with Paul Kelly slotted in to co-drive, is here very much for experience. Toomebridge's Kieran Graffin is at 10 in his GpA Mitsubishi.

At 11 & 12 are the top two Championship GpN front runners Seamus Donnelly and Michael Curran, while just behind them are three GpN 'quick men', Raymond Johnson (14), Raymond Mason (15), and John McGlaughlin (16), which should keep Donnelly and young Curran pretty honest! Another former Champion, George  Robinson, is at 17 in a Dominic McNeill Escort WRC. Kevin O'Kane, who came within a whisker of winning the Southern Forestry Championship this year, is seeded at 18 in his Impreza WRC. Both O'Kane and Robinson will start at the back of the top 10. Electrical contractor James Murphy makes the trip from Cork and starts with No.19 on his Escort WRC. Dermot Kelly was to have started at 20, but can't make the trip.

There are lots of brilliant drivers outside the top twenty as well, and the highest seeded two wheel drive cars are down in the thirties and beyond. Its only a couple of years ago that Trevor Moore won the rally, and was 2nd last year by 1 second to McGurk. Although he's only out for a day's fun this time in his MK2 Escort, it's a sign of the strength of the rally that he's down at No.42!  Colm McFall and Declan Naughton will be fighting it out for the prestigious Mid Antrim Club Championship. Outgoing Mid Antrim Champion Keith White has had to withdraw because of illness. Sean Haveron has also pulled out, following a fall from a ladder, which left him with a damaged wrist.  91 cars should make the start ramp, further re-seeds include John McKeown,  after a lay off of 3 years, starting 20th on the road, keeping No.29 on his Escort Cosworth. Jonny McKenna, I.Peake and Stanley Ballantine also moved up the order to start around the 30 mark.

More news from the end of Parkmore. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.ralllynews.net