RALLY NEWS NO.1
Castlebar/Sunday morning early..
Defending Dunlop National
Champion Niall Maguire will be looking over his shoulder with
some astonishment, let alone trepidation, when he looks at the
quality and quantity of entry behind, studded as it is with a
plethora of World Rally machinery. This opening
round of
the 2005 season is certainly a fantastic endorsement as to the
winning Dunlop Championship formula.
Monaghan man Maguire and
his co-driver Paul McLaughlin will certainly have their work
cut out to repeat their Championship success. If the quality
of the entries stays at anything like this level, the title
will surely not be easily won. Today’s course, as laid out by
rally chief Sean McHugh, is tough and exciting, with such
stages as Partry Mountains and Lough Mask on the agenda.
Immediately behind Niall
is Patrick Elliott, his Impreza WRC in all sorts of engine
difficulties through the week, but hopefully all sorted out
before the start. At 3 is Jim Harrison, the Macclesfield man
suffering from a heavy cold, but otherwise in top form and
straight from a test session in the McKinstry Motorsport
Impreza WRC.
At 4 is Kevin Lynch, the
Dungiven man having the confidence of two outright rally wins
under his belt already this year. When asked about his
championship aspirations Kevin replied. “Yes, I’m thinking of
the championship, but at the same time I just want to win this
rally. I’ll be flat out. The stages are tricky enough, lots of
bumps, it will take a full commitment”. Donie O’Sullivan was
to be at 5, but he is non-starting, so Daniel Doherty is next
up, 5th on the road but keeping No6 on his Subaru.
Charlie Donnelly is at 7, driving his brother Eugene’s Corolla
WRC, and says the car felt fabulous in a test session and he’s
going to show it no sympathy on the rally!
Seamus Leonard is next
up in his GpN Lancer, the Omagh man anxious to find out how
the car’s gearbox sticks the pace here, and depending on that
a decision on whether to proceed with his Circuit of Ireland
entry. Ray Breen is at 9, and very much a potential winner,
having steered his Focus WRC to a conclusive victory on the
Laois stages. Sean Gallagher is at 10, and, solid man that he
is, Sean shouldn’t be a mile away at the finish.
Just outside the top 10 we have
Welshman Melvyn Evans at 11 and Noel Redmond at 12. Both in
Impreza WRCs. Also in Subarus are Triton Showers man Kevin
Barrett at 20 and Sean Devine at 21 who now has James McKee
co-driving. Aaron MacHale is at 22 and is listed to drive the
“family” Corolla WRC. Interestingly, Aaron’s Corolla is
subject to further clarification regarding being right hand
drive.
Group N is looking equally
strong, just as fascinating. Besides Seamus Leonard, whom we
have already mentioned, Current National GpN Champion, Willie
Fannin is at 14, his Impreza rebuilt since it’s Galway
accident. Michael Curran is No.15 in a brand new Lancer Evo 8.
Noel McCarrick at 17 also in a new Lancer. Alan Ring No.23 in
his Impreza N11. John Cairns at 25 in an older model Lancer.
Gabriel Martin 26 in a new Impreza. James O’Sullivan at 28 in
a Lancer. 023 Tiles man James is listed as having Rebecca
Walsh co driving, that is now changed to Adrian Deasy.
Further down the entry
list (108) Frank O’Mahony’s daughter Emily is debuting a just
out of the box Prodrive built Impreza N11. Further non
starters include Maurice Gass (24). Darragh Raftery (29). Joe
McHugh (33). Seamus Gallagher (48). We have a full list of
151 entries today, with many of the reserves, including Pat
Kirk making a welcome return after a 7 year break, getting a
run.
More news after stage 1:
BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
