Rob Duggan chases Omagh rally prize

Killarney driver Rob Duggan (23) is one of three young aces vying for a top prize in Irish rallying that will be decided on tomorrow’s Bushwhacker Rally in Omagh.

The series will now be decided on the seventh and final round where it’s down to three with Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and Omagh’s Alan Smith joining Duggan in the bid for the prize estimated to be worth some €40,000.

Duggan began the season in a Ford Fiesta R2 but changed to a Peugeot 208 R2, the same car as Armstrong for his final few rounds. White campaigns a Citroen DS3R3.

The six-stage event is also a round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Mitsubishi) tops the 100-plus entry list that does not, as yet, feature Derek McGarrity, who has already won the series.

Antrim’s Desi Henry and his Millstreet co-driver Liam Moynihan will campaign their Skoda Fabia S2000 and should be at the cutting edge of proceedings as will Omagh’s Mark Donnelly (Subaru WRC). Former Northern Ireland champion Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) and Greencastle’s Mark Donnelly (Mitsubishi) along with James Gillen (Subaru WRC) are others in the frame.

Mitsubishi pair Michael Carbin and Jonny Leonard, Niall Henry (Subaru) and Adrian Hetherington (Escort) complete the top ten. Hetherington’s rivals in the Modified category include Frank Kelly (Escort), Shane McGirr (Starlet) and Vivian Hamill, Seamus O’Connell and Paul Barrett, all in Escorts.

European Rally Championship leader Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5) can move a step closer to the title on this weekend’s Cyprus Rally. The Pole leads non-competing Craig Breen by 23 points. Breen’s second place – 31 points behind Alexey Lukyanuk (Ford Fiesta R5) – could be under threat. Breen is expected to return for round nine in Greece.

Clonmel driver Roy White has acquired the ex-Eyvind Brynildsen Ford Fiesta that will be converted to full WRC specification ahead of next week’s Cork “20”.

White, a former Group N Tarmac champion, campaigned an MG ZR for eight seasons. He finished runner-up in the National series last year and previously won the Modified section of the Rally of the Lakes (twice) and the Imokilly Rally.

Following the Cork “20” he will tackle the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally in Bantry.

See Digest for Cork International top 20