Boland and Morrissey hold 18th on tricky Monte Carlo stage

The Irish crew of Eamonn Boland/Mickey Joe Morrissey (Subaru) had an untroubled run through the penultimate leg of the Monte Carlo Rally where world champion, Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) seems set for yet another victory.

Boland maintained 18th position in GC with co-driver Morrissey remarking that sudden patchy ice on stage 12 proved difficult.

Loeb still managed to post the best time on yesterday’s opening test. On SS 12, Mads Ostberg punched in his maiden stage victory but Loeb was back at the helm on 14 and will begin today’s final leg with a lead of 1:47.4 over Sebastien Ogier (VW Polo).

Following weeks of speculation, it was finally confirmed yesterday that Waterford’s Craig Breen, the reigning S2000 World Rally champion, is joining Peugeot Sport as a factory driver.

He will take part in eight European Rally Championship events this season and is being tasked with leading the intensive test programme for the Peugeot 208 Type R5 that starts next week. He will be co-driven by Mallow’s David Moynihan.

Today’s New Year Stages Rally has Antrim’s Derek McGarrity (S14 Subaru WRC) winner of last year’s rally at number one. Garry Jennings (S12 Subaru WRC) has entered late and is seeded at number 35. In the junior category Michael McGarrity (Derek McGarrity’s son) competes in a Nissan Micra.

Tonight’s Cork “1000 Shakes” Navigation Trial is the fifth round of the National Navigation Trial series and a counting round of the Munster series. Colin Duffy and Sam Johnston lead the way, 12 points ahead of the novice crew of Martin Tynan and Fintan Clerkin.

Pakie Duffy and Nigel McCloughrey are only two points behind followed by the top Munster crew of Joe Shinnors and Greg Shinnors.

Following last week’s seminar in Athlone, there is unlikely to be any imminent changes to the rules concerning fuel and tyres. New chairman of the Rallies Committee, Limerick’s Ger Healy, was quite satisfied: “I suppose it did what it was designed to do by bringing on board the views of competitors.”

Those views, together with submissions from the Motorsport Ireland affiliated clubs in relation to the Protection of Sport document are likely to be presented at next month’s Competitive Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting.