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RALLY NEWS NO.1 Dromhall Hotel/Saturday morning.
Last year’s winning driver, Ray Cunningham, heads a star studded
entry on this Killarney Historic Rally. Immediately behind Ray’s
Mini Cooper S is a quartet of Porsches, crewed by drivers such as
former Tarmac Historic Champion Dessie Nutt, three times Belgian
Champion Marc Duez, Rally of the Lakes Historic winner Todd Falvey
and top English driver Nick Whale. Cunningham is unperturbed by
this plethora of heavy metal behind. The Galway man is ‘up
for it!’ Dessie Nutt has won this rally 6 times, Todd Falvey
was the Post Historic winner here last year, Nick Whale won the
Post Historics in 2003 and although his co driver Sally Woods is
only on her 2nd pace note rally, Nick will be giving the rally a
good go this weekend.
All in all then there is a great level of competition this weekend,
and a terrific route as well. Following the town centre start, with
its special Killarney Christmas atmosphere, the crews face twelve
fabulous asphalt stages, many of them over classic Ring of Kerry
territory, roads with evocative, memory provoking names, such as
Molls Gap, Ballaghbeama and Caragh Lake.
Belgian driver Marc Duez did his first reconnaissance through the
floods on Thursday. World rallying and racing star Duez, despite
suffering from a cold, was in top form and commented “Really
good stages, nice roads, very challenging. I think when I was in
Ireland before, for the Circuit, I wasn’t down here in Killarney.
I’m looking forward to the rally, but for me the right hand
drive may be a little difficult at maximum speed” (Duez is
using Adrian Kermode’s Martini liveried Porsche). There could
be more than a little partying after the rally for Duez, or more
especially for his co driver John Muth, who celebrates his 40th
birthday here in Killarney.
Happily Thursday’s floods, which threatened to disrupt proceedings,
have abated somewhat, and its all stations go for the rally. As
well as the Historics, Post Historics and Classics, there is huge
interest in the Modified car section. The Modifieds are numbered
from the ‘90’s’ onwards, and include such drivers
as former Billy Coleman Award winner Dessie Keenan, Herefordshire
man Phil Collins, Kerry Mini Stages winner Kevin O’Donoghue,
local crew Peter and Peggy Kelly, Camillus Bradley and Dave Slattery,
all in Escorts plus Kieran O’Neill in his rapid Kadett. The
battle of the modifieds will make a rally of its own, never mind
the Historics!
Just some of the changes to the entry include Steve Perez non-starting,
his Lancia Stratos breaking its gearbox. Gareth Lloyd hasn’t
made it over from Wales due to work commitments and Sean Treacy
(BMW) is another non-starter. Owen Murphy & Gary Nolan were
to compete in Owen’s father’s Avenger but the water
pump blew on the way from Cork this morning. Also missing are modified
Escort men Donie O’Sullivan, Kevin Kelleher and Pat Bonar.
Slotted in to the entry list is Tom Randles, co-driven by Sean Duggan.
Their Escort will carry the number 91. Additional non starters include:
James O’Mahony (Volvo): Andrew Haddon (Porsche): John Stangle
(Lotus). Pat Donegan has Andy Donoghue co-driving. Alan Coleman
will now co drive for Adrian Randles (114).
Former Historic Champion Phillip Wylie is making a comeback in his
MGB and has John Lemon co-driving. Drew Wylie is another making
a comeback, and has Dean Beckett co-driving in an Escort RS Mk1.
Phil Collins had his reconnaissance cut short because of problems
with flights through the storms.
More news after stage 1: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net |
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