RALLY NEWS NO.1 Killarney/Friday/Gleneagle Hotel
This weekend’s Ordnance Survey and Gleneagle Hotel backed Rally of the Lakes has certainly built up a late head of steam, to take on all the hallmarks of another classic Killarney Rally. From the beautiful ‘Slowly Sideways’ cars initially traversing the route, through all the many facets of the huge entry, there should be interest and excitement all the way. Those ‘many facets’ include a section for Historic cars, then the Juniors and the Fiesta Sporting Trophy contenders join in on Sunday. Within the main rally there promises to be a battle for Mitsubishi Evo Challenge honours, as well as all the classes, including the red hot rivalry amongst the Modifieds for best Escort kudos.
Inevitably the big spotlight will be on the top drivers and their World Rally Cars at the front of the main field. It would be well nigh impossible to give odds on which of the top ten drivers will take the major honours when the rally comes back to the Gleneagle Hotel on Sunday teatime following the eighteen superbly challenging special stages. There is always the chance of course that it will be a driver from outside the top ten who could spring a surprise, with the name Kris Meeke, last year’s winner, who starts at 13 in a Clio, (but it could be a Peugeot!) immediately springing to mind.
Gareth MacHale in his Focus WRC will lead the cars away, Gareth ‘the young tiger’ who can really turn on the speed, and can’t be far away from his first International win. Eamonn Boland is at 2 in his Subaru, Wexford man Eamonn proving when he surged to the top of the Global Group Tarmac Championship standings after winning the recent Circuit of Ireland that he has still ‘got what it takes’. Tim McNulty, who starts at 3, won this Lakes Rally two years ago, and if Tim can really come to grips with his new Subaru, and he has been doing a lot of testing in the Pierse backed machine, he will be very hard to beat. Derek McGarrity won the rally four years ago, but his rallying took a knock with an accident on the Manx in ’06, and it is only now that he is showing something like his old form. Showing it he is however in the former ‘Pirelli’ Subaru, which had a a gearbox change this morning, and Derek shouldn’t be far away.
A Killarney man has never won the Lakes, and Donie O’Sullivan, who starts at 5 in a McKinstry Subaru, could be just the man to change that. He will never have a better opportunity than now, and he knows that. Donie leads the 023 Tiles Southern Four series and it would be a bonus if he were to extend his lead on this 2nd round. Aaron MacHale at 7 may be in a slightly older model Focus than his brother Gareth, however Aaron is the man for the long haul, so he could be right there towards the end. Kevin Lynch, three times NI Champion, could be another real danger man – he’s fast, hugely determined, isn’t afraid of success, and although he has been out of rallying somewhat recently, he’s been doing a lot of testing this week in his new Subaru. It could be a case with Kevin of ‘watch this space!’ Patrick Elliott, current leader of the National series, is debuting a brand new Prodrive Impreza WRC S12b this weekend, so perhaps he will be a bit discreet to start, but the Cavan man shouldn’t be a mile away. P.J.McGrath (No11) & JJ Fleming (No 12) make up the top ten runners. A surprise change to entry is that former GpN Tarmac Champion and recent winner of the Monaghan Rally, Dessie Keenan, is switching from his Escort to Niall Maguire’s Impreza WRC S10 and may start somewhere around the back of the top 10.
There are lots more WRC machines outside the top ten seeds, and then there’s Kris Meeke at 13 in the Ian Roche Clio, the young man from the Bush crossroads delighted to get this opportunity to be out rallying again. Hard on Kris’ heels are the leading GpN players – Colm Murphy, Kevin Kelleher. For Colm Murphy the name of the game must be to get his Lancer to the finish. He’s been the quickest player in the Evo Challenge this year, but hasn’t a single point to his name. Alan Carmichael currently leads the points. Kevin Kelleher has endured a torrid time this year in his Lancer, he lies 2nd to John McGlaughlin in the GpN Tarmac points, and Kevin, whose main aim is the Tarmac series, will be hoping for a good fast clean run. Seeded slightly further back is Alan Ring in his GpN Lancer, and Alan, on home ground here, is another who will be looking for a big result.
Highest seeded Mk2 Escort is that of Phil Collins. The Hereford man should be the benchmark, but there is a gaggle of Escort drivers, and Darrian drivers, who will be trying to topple Phil from his perch. That won’t be easy, but no matter what, Phil will enjoy himself – that’s the name of the game!
Principal changes to entry include, as well as Kris Meeke coming in: Noel Redmond was to substitute for Seamus Leonard, but Redmond’s Subaru won’t start. Stephen Murphy, Jer O’Donovan and Willie Fannin are non-starting. Roy White has also had to withdraw due to an engine problem with the MG. More non-starters: Ger Seaman: Andrew Fanning: Tom Gormally: Enda Hallinan: James Brett. This has opened the door for quite a few of the reserves to come in.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
For SMS results text RALLY ITC to 53030 (Irl): Or 60066 (UK): Cost 30c/25p: Text RALLY STOP to stop. Provided by stagetimes.com
|
