RALLY
NEWS NO.1 Cavan/Hotel Kilmore/Sunday 09.30
Charlie Donnelly in his
Corolla WRC heads a capacity 131 strong entry on this Cavan Rally,
with drivers such as Patrick Elliott, Niall Maguire, Adrian McElvaney,
Kevin Barrett and Martin Doherty hard on his heels in their respective
Subaru WRCs. Aaron MacHale is listed in a Corolla, but has switched
to the 03’Focus WRC with which he scored a 3rd place on the
recent Carlow Rally. These top drivers at the front of the field
should make for a great day’s rallying. That’s only
the tip of the iceberg. The battle for group N and two wheel drive
supremacy should be equally fascinating. The rally is a round of
the Dunlop National Championship, so it is significant that current
champion Ray Breen, listed at No.1 in the programme, is missing
from the line-up this morning. Also non-starting from the advertised
top ten is Glenn Allen, his Corolla WRC engine still not right.
Young Michael Curran, who was to drive a Skoda WRC and start at
No.7 is also giving it a miss, his hired Octavia not ready yet,
nor is his new Evo 9.
Clerk of the Course Marty
Sherlock has picked real tight twisty stages for today and that
should suit Charlie Donnelly and his Corolla WRC well. Charlie has
Paddy Toner co-driving as usual. Second on the road Patrick Elliot
could well be considered the local man and favourite for the rally,
but Patrick said. “I’d be just as happy rallying away
from home as here, I wouldn’t know the roads and its just
a matter of making the notes and driving to them. I wasn’t
very happy with my Subaru in Carlow, I don’t think the engine
management was right, so hopefully it will be good here today.”
Adrian McElvaney keeps No.133 on his Subaru and will run 3rd on
the road between Patrick Elliott and Niall Maguire. Adrian seemed
to be in top form when he checked in for the reconnaissance yesterday,
his co driver Paul Goodman saying that the engine of the Impreza
has been back to Prodrive for a rebuild and it was discovered that
the unit had been 30 per cent down on power for its last couple
of outings, including that significant Monaghan win. Adrian has
had a short test in the car and very happy with it.
Niall Maguire at No.5
reports all well with his car while Aaron MacHale at No.6 has changed
his co-driver. Paul Nagle, fresh from his run in Sardinia with Gareth
MacHale, steps into the hot seat. Well, when we say fresh Killarney
man Paul said he was still slightly shattered after what was a really
tough rally. Kevin Barrett at No.8 had a test run in his Impreza
on Thursday and discovered that a power steering bracket was broken
so it was as well happening there and not on the first stage. Martin
Doherty at 9 had a little bit of hassle at scrutineering yesterday
afternoon, something to do with the size of the sign writing, but
apart from that seems OK. Willie Fannin at 10 is the first of the
group N contenders, Willie driving a new Prodrive built Impreza
N12 here. Alan Ring at 11 is also in an Impreza N12, Alan saying
that the engine and gearbox for his car has been rebuilt for this
event. Kevin Kelleher at 12 is in a Group N Lancer. Kevin and his
co driving brother Martin drove all the way from Clonakilty here
to Cavan yesterday morning for 8 o’clock to begin his reconnaissance.
How he’s not exhausted even before the rally begins is a mystery!
Kevin said that their Lancer was still being rebuilt on Friday.
PJ McGrath at 14 has a new group N lancer while Ian Barrett at 15
has a new Lancer Evo9. Ian joked that “its like musical chairs”
as regards his rally cars recently.
In behind Ian Barrett
comes Car No. 141 Peter Wilson and his co driver John Kilmurray.
Peter is making a rear outing in a group N Lancer, this one hired
from Brendan Hannigan. Gabriel Martin has No.25 on his Lancer and
he has moved up to run behind Peter Wilson, then its Mark Alcorn
in the first of the 2 wheel drive cars. Mark drives a Toyota Corolla
and the engine has been rebuilt following its Monaghan blow up.
Maurice Moffett is at 19 in his Starlet and the top 20 is rounded
off by Jack Sleator in his Subaru. Jack has Andrew Purcell co-driving.
Further re-seeds include – Eddie Donaghy in his Impreza to
run behind Sleator. Eddie carries the number 139 on his car. Gary
McPhillips is also moved up from the reserves and although he has
144 on his Escort starts in the top 30. Tadgh Linehan is also in
the top 30 and has 158 on his gpN Impreza. Further stories included
Cathal O’Reilly of Jacksons for Ford here in Cavan has had
a problem with the engine of his Focus and has hired a Lancer from
preparation supreme James Foley. Patrick & Liam Higgins at 71
have a new Civic out today.
Further non-starters
from the programme entry list include: Maurice Gass, George Tracey,
David McNulty, Mac McKenna, Paul Gallagher, Damien Finneran and
Dominic McLoughlin. Michael Barrable & Hugh M. Doherty, although
on reserves, were in line for a run but haven’t taken it up.
There are still a few reserves hoping to get going including young
Alistair Fisher in his Corsa and Enda Keenan in his Escort.
More news later. BRIAN
& LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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