McVeigh and Wood hoping for change of fortunes

Regaining and rebuilding confidence can be a slow process for many rally drivers. Tomorrow’s Wexford Volkswagen Rally is a case in point for the top two seeds, Tyrone’s Paddy McVeigh and Welsh ace Steve Wood. Earlier this season Wood crashed his Subaru WRC out of the Abbeyleix Rally while McVeigh has been involved in a few skirmishes that altered the shape of his S12B Subaru — a championship-winning car in the hands of Cavan’s Patrick Elliott.

Ironically, Wood and McVeigh have led the National Rally Championship in previous seasons, however, they have struggled to recapture the form they showed on those occasions.

Earlier this season Wood won the Circuit of Munster while McVeigh took the laurels in Sligo — however, it was the modified cars of Frank Kelly (Escort) and Damien Toner (Escort) that were their closest and respective rivals. Neither event was a guide to their true pace and they would welcome drivers in World Rally Cars to provide that test. It will be something similar in the south-east tomorrow with the entry bulging with Mk. 2 Escorts.