Rally news No.1                           Walsh’s Hotel Saturday 9.00am

Once again Magherafelt and District MC have worked endlessly over the winter months to bring the Tour of the Sperrins to life and COC Philip Shaw promises an excellent days rallying for everyone. With six stages running twice, Philip is taking the rally further a field with two new tests in Davagh as well as such classics as Banagher, Moydamlaght and the rally opener at Glenshane.  With only one service planned at the halfway point at Rogers Fencing just outside Draperstown, this could well prove to be one of the toughest Tour of the Sperrins ever.

In that vein, one of rallyings  toughest competitors is last year’s winner and current NI Champion Kevin Lynch. Fresh from another impressive win on last Sunday’s Moonraker Rally, the KPL Impreza driver is no doubt the clear favourite for the win today and will head the field away this morning from Walsh’s Hotel in Maghera. Next up is NI Championship leader Glenn Allen in his Easter Stages winning Corolla WRC. Local man Glenn is chomping at the bit to take a gravel win on the NI Championship and should be capable of taking the fight to Lynch today.  Raymond Johnson is a bit of an unknown quantity at 3 in his Impreza WRC. Stunningly fast on gravel in a GpN Lancer, this is the Fermanagh drivers first real go on the gravel in a WRC car and admits to being a bit apprehensive.  Even so, this crew are well worth watching and start at three today.

Once again Kieran Shaw has stepped up to sponsor the rally with his KBB doors business and will start the rally today at 5 just behind Denis Biggerstaff.  In a change to the entry list, Kieran has moved to an Escort WRC in favour of his Lancer in a quest for reliability and with plenty of experience of these machines in the past, it shouldn’t take him long to settle in to the ex-Frank Meagher car.

On last years rally the GpN battle went down to the wire with Seamus Donnelly taking victory from Raymond Mason at the very last hurdle. This years GpN race promises to be as closely contested with numerous fantastically quick drivers all in with shout. Johnny McKenna will be looking to get a decent result after some impressive drives have ended in disaster while Stephen Moore, Martin Elliott and John McGlaughlin have all proved that they have the speed to win GpN. Dark horse today has to be Terry McGonigle in his Evo8. GpN winner on the Easter stages, the Strabane driver was impressive on the recent Rally of the Lakes and today could be a chance to surprise on gravel.

Such is the quality of the entry, the first seeded 2wd car is that of Alistair Cochrane at 31 in his trusty Mk2. Stand back when these guys come past as the battle for class 7 will be one of the fights of the day. Any number of drivers are capable of the class 7 win but in particular look out for Camilus Bradley, Andy Magee and Seamus O’Connell who almost won the Mk2 Challenge in Carlow a fortnight ago.  Some further changes to the entry list include Sean Mulaly co driving for American visitor Laim Egan at 17 while young Conor McCloskey has withdrawn his GpN Lancer.  Graham Henderson co drives for Stanley Ballintine, Aiden Friel sits in with Frank Kelly and Martin McNicholl has slotted in with Bob Riddles.  Conor Kelly will run in the twenties with number 89 on his Lancer.  More News Later Michael Patterson & Zoë Todd