RALLY NEWS NO.1 Saturday morning…early
To-day’s Glens of Antrim Rally is the traditional final round of the NI Championship, and has once again attracted an interesting top level entry. Kevin Lynch has already won the overall title and Stanley Ballantine the GpN section, so, certainly at the top end of the field, the drivers can just ‘have a go’ through the forests and enjoy the day. Kevin Lynch was to be No1 today in his Subaru, but the Dungiven man is tied up with business and regrets he can’t make the start, while GpN winner Ballantine certainly is here in his Lancer.
We do have more than a couple of wild card entries though – last year’s winner Sean Devine and former Champion of just about everything rallying, Kenny McKinstry, have made last minute entries in their respective Subarus. Maurice Gass in a Celica, Martin Cairns in his GpN Impreza, Brian McGillin in the ex Kevin O’Kane Impreza WRC and Camillus Bradley in his Escort are just some of the drivers tagged on to the end of the entry list, but will start further up. Neil McCance was to be at 6 but his Lancer isn’t repaired since he tumbled it on the Down Rally a couple of weeks ago, while Kevin O’Kane looks as if he may not make the start either, as he is suffering from flu.

The top end starting order then looks as if it will be, first on the road Sean Devine, his Impreza sporting the number 75. At 2 will be Glenn Allen in his usual Corolla WRC, then Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnston in his Subaru. Kenny McKinstry, with Noel Orr on the notes should be next up in his right hand drive Impreza WRC. Kenny will have 82 on his Subaru S8. James Murphy makes the trip all the way from Cork to start at 5 in his Dominic McNeill prepared Escort WRC.
Next up should be John McKeown, with his wife Mandy co-driving in their Escort WRC. This will be John’s 20th Glens, or Toshiba, Townparks or whatever else it has been called over the years. Maurice Gass will probably be next up, and carries the no 93 on his Celica. This is the same ex Eugene Donnelly Toyota his son Darren drove so well a couple of weeks ago on the Down Rally. George Robinson is at 8, with Tommy Speers co-driving, but George has switched from his Escort WRC to a hired Graffin Lancer, George’s first real opportunity to drive the car will be on the way to the first stage. John McGlaughlin/David McElroy are at 9, as per the programme entry list, in their GpN Lancer and Peter McCullagh is at 10, with Alan Dolan co-driving in his GpN Lancer.
Some more changes from the programme entry list include:- Richard Cathcart has Aidan Friel co-driving. Brian McGillin will keep the number 80 on his Impreza WRC and slot in between 17 and 18, Martin Carey and Jody McGrath. David Crossan (34) and Martin Cairns (76) will be moved up to run around about 20-21, possibly in front of Andy Magee. Camillus Bradley will go in between 23 and 24, Paul Ward and Adrian Hetherington.
Points of interest include – Alistair Fisher/Barry McNulty, running at No52, have switched from their Corsa to the ex Colin Britton Peugeot SuperCup 206 and this is Alistair’s first Glens of Antrim Rally. Emma McKinstry is at 33 and hoping she has better luck than on the Bulldog two weeks ago when her Lancer was sidelined with a petty electric malfunction Kenny Hull is co-driving for Emma as usual.…Jonathan Patterson/Jeremy Taylor are having their first run in Raymond Mason’s hired GpN Lancer….Jody McGrath starts at 19 and was fiddling with the wipers on his Legacy before the start, so hopefully we don’t get the weather he must be expecting…John Donnelly’s son Oran is at 71 and has a new differential in his Fiesta…Glenn Campbell is at 72 in the left hand drive Micra, but the car was mysteriously cutting out yesterday, Glenn more than anxious to get it to the finish of the rally to try and wrap up the class in the Mid-Antrim MC Championship….. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net