Elfyn Evans injects pace into championship race
A one-year sabbatical and the switch to R5 cars has resulted in a more invigorating BRC and, with World Rally competitor Elfyn Evans contesting the series in the M-Sport-prepared Ford Fiesta R5+, the barometer of pace is at a very high level.
Evans has the advantage of having plenty of seat time, unlike former triple British champion Keith Cronin, who returns to the series in a DGM-prepared and run Citroen DS3 R5. Evans has probably done more rallying in the last two months than Cronin has in the past two years. Indeed, the West Cork driver is under no illusion and reckons it may take a few events to get to the speed of the Welshman.
Drivers such as David Bogie and Tom Cave, both in a Skoda Fabia R5, will be eager to try and set a pace close to Evans. The top 10 also features Fredrik Ahlin (Ford Fiesta R5), Euan Thorburn (Peugeot 208 R5) and Max Vatanen (Ford Fiesta R5). Aside from Cronin there is plenty of Irish interest. Last year’s Irish Forest champion, Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta R5), Carryduff’s Jonathan Greer (Citroen DS3 R5), Monaghan’s Sam Moffett (Fiesta R5), with two wins under his belt within the last few weeks, and Derry’s Marty McCormack (Skoda Fabia S2000) will be aiming to get their BRC bid off to a strong start. There are two stages tonight and four tomorrow.
On Sunday, Monaghan’s Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) will head the contenders for the Triton Series that opens its account in Ballina. Though he remains the only driver to have won three titles — the last in 2004 — he is finding it difficult to increase his tally. In that regard, second seed Declan Boyle is probably one of his biggest obstacles. The first driver to score maximum points in a Power Stage in Irish rallying, Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings (Subaru WRC), is favourite to win in the nine-stage event. The top 10 is a lock out of WRCs, with Tyrone’s Paddy McVeigh (Subaru WRC) ready to build on his top-three finish in the recent Abbeyleix Rally. With his Fiesta WRC now on hire to Boyle, Derek McGarrity’s participation remains unclear, but there is a possibility he will campaign another car.
Clonmel’s Roy White (Ford Fiesta WRC) is eyeing a title bid and has strong form, having notched up a top-three finish in the past three seasons.
A contender for national honours is Warrenpoint’s Peadar Hurson (Subaru WRC), who won in 1992 in an Opel Ascona. He won the Galway Summer Rally last season and has the pace to succeed.
Steve Wood, Kevin Barrett, and Frank Wray, all in Subaru WRCs, round out the top 10.
Others in the mix are former Irish Forest champion Michael O’Brien — the London-based Corkonian will campaign ex-Sam Moffett Ford Fiesta WRC — and 2007 National Champion Aaron MacHale (Skoda Fabia S2000).
The Escort quartet of Gary McPhillips, Jonathan Pringle, Frank Kelly, and Chris Armstrong are the leading two-wheel drive exponents and in Group N the Mitsubishi trio of Trevor Bustard, Shane Maguire, and Aidan Wray are the top seeds. Former Irish Forest champion Pat O’Connell (Mitsubishi) is also competing.
Rally Guanajuato Mexico, the third round of the World Rally Championship begins in earnest today with seven stages.
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