RALLY NEWS NO.1 Ballymena/Saturday 09.00

This year’s rally, running under it’s new Glens of Antrim title, will be led off by the Bennett brothers from the Clogher Valley in their Focus WRC, closely followed by Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnson/Richard Bell in their Subaru, and then with Magherafelt’s Kieran Shaw and his co-driver Crawford Henderson running at 3. That’s just a taster of the quality and variety of the entry. The event is once again the final round of the NI Rally Championship, and even though the 1st and 2nd places in the title race have been decided, in favour of Kevin Lynch and Glenn Allen, there is still a great deal of interest in this rally. That applies particularly to the destination of the GpN title. Overall the rally may have less entries this year (just 59 starters), but there is still a great swathe of rallying talent here, as well as some fabulous cars.

No.1 seed Craig Bennett was hoping to get a test session in the car this week, but pressure of work precluded that. Craig’s engineer, Norman Burns, reckons their Focus WRC is in A1`shape, has been checked from stem to stern. Craig will just have to get enough miles on the run from Ballymena out to the first stage, Slieveanorra, beyond Newtown-Crommelin, to click into full flow!

Raymond Johnston at 2 tells us his Subaru has been down in Kenny McKinstry’s since the Bushwhacker, getting the gearbox, fuel/water injection and a few other bits and pieces sorted. When asked how he thought he would go here then, Raymond, in that quiet way of his shook his head and said “TMB”. Further enquiry elicited the explanation that this is what Trevor Cathers would always have said – “Too many birthday’s, too old, no chance” We will see.

KBB doors man Kieran Shaw is at 3 in his Lancer WRC. Kieran hasn’t been on a rally since August, has been flat out with work, and hasn’t even seen his Lancer WRC. By co-incidence, we were standing talking to Dominic McNeill when Kieran landed in to scrutineering last night. Dominic assured Kieran that the Lancer was in top shape, beautiful to drive, and despite the fact the anti- lag system is set ‘very mild’, the car should be grand.

Dominic is, as ever looking after a bundle of cars in the rally besides Kieran Shaw. Just one of those others is the Escort WRC of James Murphy, who is making the trip all the way from Cork to compete. Dominic has replaced the 6th speed gearbox in James’ car with a seven speeder. James starts at 7, and although he lives so far away, still has a fair feel for these Co. Antrim stages, as he has been up for the rally a few times now. However, with Brendan O’Hagan and Sean Devine in the two cars in front, at 5 & 6, James is not likely to get it easy.

O’Hagan hasn’t been doing quite so much rallying of late, but has been developing his Focus WRC, and could spring a surprise, even though he has no real experience of the car through the forests. Sean Devine, running at 6 in his Impreza WRC, has been going really well all year, on gravel and asphalt stages, so he could be a hard man to beat today.

Former NI Rally Champion John McKeown is tucked in at no4 in his beautiful Escort Cosworth. John is very much out for the fun of it all these days, but still can’t be underestimated. This is a fabulous car, he knows the stages backwards, and he and co-driver Mark Hanna could just spring a surprise.

Behind these top WRC and GpA cars are the first of the GpN cars, led by Neil McCance’s Lancer. Neil really only has to keep his brain in gear, get his car to the finish amongst the top four or five GpN registered drivers, and he will take the title. He knows that is what he has to do, but of course when the flag drops, the red mist comes down! That’s what makes rally drivers what they are! Neil can also take 3rd overall in the Championship, as can Craig Bennett and Raymond Johnston. Neil’s main opposition for the GpN title is John McGlaughlin, with Martin Elliott a slightly more outside bet.

In truth, there are so many top GpN drivers and cars it should be a terrific battle. Similarly, there are a stack of really quick Mk2 Escort men not least Trevor Moore running a new 16 valve Mountune Escort for the first time in anger, and really it will be surprising if there not at least a couple of Mk2 Escorts in the top ten. OK, so maybe you have to be slightly mad to go that quick in a MK 2, which will make it all the more interesting to see what happens!

A late entry not on the programme list is Keith McQuillan at 68. He is shown as having entered a Civic, but he may well swap cars with Joe mcQuillan at 47, who is entered in a Lancer! Some non starters include car numbers 26, 31 and 37. Changes to codrivers include Damien Duffin sitting with Sean Devine. Con Mulcahy with James Murphy. Ciaran Kelly with Bob Riddles.

More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net