69 entries for Rally Ireland 2006

Sixty-nine entries have been received for Rally Ireland 2006, Ireland’s bid for qualification for a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

The event, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Events Company, has once again attracted a top group of international drivers to take on the considerable local talent.

Drivers from seven countries will take part in Rally Ireland 2006, which will take place from Friday to Sunday, March 10-12 in Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Tyrone.

Top international drivers include Sweden's Daniel Carlsson, the Swede who is in third position in the current WRC standings; Frenchman Nicolas Bernardi, who is the current French Rally Champion; Chris Atkinson from Australia who holds tenth position in the championship; Estonia's Jaan Molder who finished 11th in Rally Ireland 2005.

The Irish talent will be led by Gareth MacHale who finished third in Rally Ireland 2005, and who is participating in his first WRC season this year. Having missed last year’s event, current Irish Tarmac champion Eugene Donnelly also takes part. Northern Ireland’s Andrew Nesbitt also enters Rally Ireland for the first time. Eamon Boland, runner-up in Rally Ireland 2005 returns for the latest challenge.

Rory Galligan makes up the second part of the Mitsubishi WRC works team alongside Daniel Carlsson. This will be the first time that a full WRC ‘works’ team (ie a team supported by a car manufacturer) will have entered a WRC candidate event. Ray Breen and Peadar Hurson make up the top 10.

The only female driver, as in Rally Ireland 2005, will be Northern Ireland’s Emma McKinstry.