As entry lists go, it doesn’t really get any better than this weekend here on the Shell Donegal Rally. The line-up of cars and drivers is simply stunning. There are so many angles to it all, champions past and present from home and abroad, young world stars, the best of world rally and GpN cars, along with a host of Modifieds, it’s a rally enthusiast’s  delight really.

Gareth MacHale is at No1, and along with Matthew Wilson at 2, fits in to the’ young world rally stars’ category. Gareth was testing his Focus WRC with Gerry McGarrity at the start of the week, and a new engine fitted to the car suddenly developed an appetite for oil, so a new unit had to be rushed  over from M-Sport.  The last time Matthew Wilson was competing here, two years ago, he skidded his Focus backwards off a Knockalla cliff, so the young man has at least one experience on his CV that few others have!  At No3 is former World Rally Champion Colin McRae, driving a Metro 6R4. Colin is of course a rally legend and it is such an honour to have him in the line-up here in Letterkenny. Colin drives a Metro 6R4, which has to run in the ‘modified’ category, but still should be some sight to behold, as well as sound to savour, and of course evocative of some of his father Jimmy’s great rally success in Ireland.  There was a slight hiccup with the Metro 6R4 yesterday when a crank shaft sensor came adrift but the car is back on full song now.

Pirelli Tarmac Champion and current series points leader Eugene Donnelly is at 4 in his Corolla WRC. Eugene and his tightly knit team wring so much out of this car, it seems illogical against the most modern WRC’s machine. Results are what it is all about, and Eugene’s record with this car is stunning. He has completed further testing, tried a stiffer spring set-up, and was reportedly grinning from ear to ear at the results. Former Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity is at 5 in his Subaru Impreza WRC S11. Derek may have won the Circuit of Ireland 3 times, but has never won Donegal, a situation he would dearly like to change. Derek was testing his Subaru in the Glens of Antrim this week, and again all went well. Andrew Nesbitt, four times a winner here in Donegal, rounds off the top six . Andrew has teamed up with current British Champion Mark Higgins to drive in a two pronged  Mitsubishi Lancer WRC team, running on Pirelli tyres. The pair were testing one of the  Lancers earlier this week, and Andrew felt that he would have liked more time to get the car better set up for the bumpy roads here, but that it should still be good. Mark, who will have Rory Kennedy co-driving, is listed at 19, but will start in the top 10.

“Can’t wait to get going” was Tim McNulty’s comment before the start. The big Co. Meath man, the heroic winner of the Killarney Rally of the Lakes last month, starts at 7 today, told of an extensive and successful test in his Pierse backed Subaru earlier this week, and continued, “I’m delighted at such a great turnout, any of 10 or 12 drivers could win and it will be a great measure to compete. I’ll take my hat off to whoever wins, hopefully it might be me, and the Donegal Rally is the prize. I’m going to go down that first stage like a rocket. It will be maximum attack from the word go.” Behind Tim is Eamonn Boland in his Focus WRC, then five times Tarmac Champion Austin MacHale in another Ford, followed by the amazing Kevin Lynch at 10 in his Subaru.

Just outside that top ten, young Welsh star Gareth Jones starts at 11, his Impreza WRC totally overhauled since its last very impressive outing on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Paul Harris at 12 is the top seeded ‘local’ man and he drives Denis Heaney’s Corolla WRC run by the Donnelly team. Paul said “It has the paddle gear shift plus all the whistles and bells, It’s a bit like a space ship inside!” Garry Jennings at 14 is listed to drive a Subaru WRC but  this hasn’t worked out and he has reverted to his GpN Lancer. The car has been extensively rebuilt since its Killarney accident. Garry is the reigning GpN Pirelli Tarmac Champion, but will certainly have his work cut out here. Just some of the top GpN names gunning for top honours include former British Champion Jonny Milner. Jonny was last here in Donegal in 1992 when he finished in the top ten in a Peugeot 205, then went to Glengormley and changed the engine for Lurgan Park the next weekend! Jonny is at 20 and just one of the things he was saying before the start is that he can’t understand why more of the British Championship contenders aren’t here for tarmac mileage before the Jim Clark Rally.  There is still a massive turn out of group N crews who will be fighting for supremacy.

Just a few of the changes to the entry list as published include - Ray Breen was to be at 16 but has withdrawn. While in from the reserves comes former multiple National Champion Niall Maguire in his Subaru Impreza WRC and also Hugh Martin Doherty who will be driving the ex Donie O’Sullivan Focus WRC.  Hard to belive that its raining this morning, but the Donegal fishermen say it will all be cleared up by 3 o’clock! But then we’re not fishing, we’re rallying, and the roads will be very slippery. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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