RALLY NEWS NO.1 From a very cold, but dry Kirkistown/Saturday 11.30 am

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (7) Kevin Lynch/Raymond Hill (Impreza WRC) 3.05.8
2nd (9) Denis Biggerstaff/Barry Fox (Impreza WRC) 3.06.4
3rd (6) Charlie Donnelly/Pat O'Kane (Corolla WRC) 3.08.5
4th (61) John McKeown/Mandy McKeown (Escort Cos) 3.09.7
5th (10) Kevin Barrett/Johnny McGonigle (Impreza WRC) 3.10.2
6th (3) Gwyndaf Evans/Paul Kiely (Lancer N) 3.10.5
7th (20) Brendan O’Hagan/John Rowland (Focus WRC) 3.10.8
8th (12) Derek McGeehan/Charlie Donaghy (Escort) 3.12.8
9th (8) Glenn Allen/Leon McCrystal (Corolla WRC) 3.13.0
10th (30) Michael Curran/Michael Haddock (Lancer N) 3.13.3
111th (17) Emma McKinstry/Ryan Rogers (Impreza WRC) 3.14.1
(18) Stephen Moore/Pamela Moore (Focus WRC) 3.14.1
This leaderboard is definitely very provisional….

It is a red letter day here at Kirkistown for this Rally of the 1000 Entries and drivers from all over Ireland and indeed beyond have turned out to support the rally and the new RSMA Fund. The initial fund raising aim was to assist Christopher Rogers, paralysed in a rally accident, make the trip to China for further specialist treatment. £100,000 was the original target – it was up to £90,000 this morning, and two competitors here today, George Tracey and former 2 times Tarmac Champion, Andrew Nesbitt, have given their personal guarantees that they will make the total up to £100,000. Still, if you feel like contributing there are collection buckets in the new Clubhouse where incidentally Kieran Shaw’s wife Rosie is laying on free tea and coffee.

In many ways the rally competition today is incidental, but then at the same time it’s not. When these guys get their helmets on it is all stations go. Just some of the course opening cars today are road racing motorbike champion Robert Dunlop, with UTV’s Pamela Ballantine in the hot seat. As well we have 3 times Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly OOing in his Corolla WRC, with Darren McCarthy co-driving. Charlie Donnelly is driving the same Corolla in the rally proper.

All the drivers found the going very slippy. Former British Champion Gwyndaf Evans is first on the road. Gwyndaf has Paul Kiely co driving and the pair were laughing their heads off at stage finish, having been sideways more than straight in the stage! Kenny McKinstry is driving a new S11 Subaru and he had a massive 5th gear spin at the first corner. Kevin Lynch drove his usual blinder, his co driver for today Raymond Hill has thrown £2000 in the Fund and he commented. “It’s a bit quicker than the last time I was in a rally car, but no bother, Kevin has signed me up for next year!” Glenn Allen cooked the clutch of his Corolla on the start line but still set a good time. Denis Biggerstaff had a good run. Emma McKinstry is driving a WRC S8 and she said. “It was 100 per cent!” Emma has Cathal Rogers’ son Ryan co-driving today.

Stephen Moore felt he was still learning his new Focus WRC. Maurice Gass was nearly in the crash barriers a couple of times with his Focus WRC. Brian O’Mahony who made the trip all the way from Cork found the going very slippy in his Metro 6R4. Andrew Nesbitt, with George Tracey co-driving, was following another car but wrong slotted and got a maximum for the stage. In all fairness George spent a big part of last night in planes getting diverted from Prestwick to Dublin to Shannon to Dublin to Belfast because of the storms. Then the hotel’s 7 am alarm call was more like 9 am so it was a fair quick run down to Kirkistown! Dessie Keenan also had an overshoot in his Escort. Craig Bennett’s Metro 6R4 had starter troubles. Niall Maguire is driving an Escort G3 and was having a ball. Maurice Moffett spun his rear wheel drive Corolla. Michael Curran has a new diff in his Lancer and said it has just made a new car of it. Michael just a fraction behind Gwyndaf Evans in the race for group N honours. Garry Jennings is back driving his gpN Lancer and joked. “It’s a bit different from the big yoke”. Obviously referring to his Ulster Rally run in the Impreza WRC. Football star Peter Canavan is co driving for Derrick Jobb in a Celica WRC and he was beaming from ear to ear at stage finish and said. “A few slides, not too bad, still in one piece”. Hopefully everyone else has as good a day! More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net