Kelly favourite to win in Carrick
Clubs and event organisers have been informed that certain individuals have spread misinformation without any regard to the consequences. The letter outlined that Irish Motorsport is a democratic body and individuals can have their say through their clubs or appropriate committee.
Meanwhile, triple forest rally champion, Dermot Kelly, heads the entry for Sunday’s Suirway Forklifts Carrick-On-Suir Forest Rally, the opening round of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship. The Kilmallock driver won the Willie Loughman Memorial event in 2000 and is the favourite to add to that solitary win. Even in the absence of national champion, Eugene Donnelly, who is concentrating on tarmac events, and Dominic McNeill, who skips this round, opposition is still formidable.
Another national champion, Kevin O’Kane (Subaru Impreza) is amongst the top ten that also includes John Donnelly (Escort WRC), Garry Jennings (Peugeot Maxi Kit Car), John McCarthy (Subaru Impreza 555), Eddie Kinirons (Toyota Celica), Paul Staunton (Escort), James Murphy (Escort Cosworth), John McGaffin (Subaru Legacy) and Kieran Boland (Mitsubishi). Others like James Cribben, John Shanahan, both in Subarus, and Brian McCloskey (Ford Escort) bolster the capacity entry of 100.
Kelly has the respect of his rivals, amongst them John McCarthy, who remarked: “for several years, Dermot has been a model of consistency. For certain, he’s the one to beat, you just have to look at his record.”
McCarthy is one of several drivers who are of the opinion that forest rallying is the ideal way to hone drivers’ talents.
Sunday’s rally is also a counting round of the Ford Rallyesport KA Rally Championship with Mallow’s, Gordon Coleman making his championship debut alongside 14 other hopefuls.
The entry also features another Cork driver, Emily O’Mahony, with Cork-based Ian Chadwick, Martin Laverty (Magherafelt), Ian Liston (Athea), Kenneth Mulvaney (Sligo), Gary Reidy (Adare), John Doolan (Clonmel), Eoin Fogarty (Roscrea), Cathal Greaney (Galway), Trevor Hutton (Carlow), Mark Kane (Tullamore) and Walter Walsh (Waterford) completing the list.
The Ford KA Rally Championship is being supported by Ford Rallyesport, Pirelli Tyres and Champion Spark Plugs. First car away from Carrick on Suir is at 9.15 a.m. The day’s ten stages features regulars like Gurteen, Anner and Slievenamon and the event finishes shortly after 5pm.
In Norway, Shaun Gallagher/David Moynihan compete in the Finnskog Rally. They lead the Peugeot category after impresive performances in the opening two rounds. Fourteen stages, each a minimum of 30km. provide the latest test.
Robert Woodside (Subaru WRC) heads the Irish contingent on tomorrow’s Bournemouth based Rallye Sunseeker. Ollie O’Donovan (Subaru Impreza), Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) and Shane McCarthy (Peugeot 206) are also competing.
Top seed, Mark Perrott (Escort WRC) will be followed off the start ramp by Marcus Dodd (Subaru WRC), Andrew Burton (Peugeot Cosworth), Steve Petch (Hyundai WRC) and Raymond Munro (Subaru).
The event consists of six tarmac and 14 gravel stages.
Eddie Peterson (Mini Special) takes a three point advantage into Sunday’s latest round of the Hewison Autotest Championship in Rathcoole, Dublin. J.J. Farrell is his closest rival while Eamonn Byrne is the only other driver in with a realistic chance of championship honours.
The final round of the Fran-Am Winter Series takes place in St. Petersburg as part of the programme dominated by the opening race of the CART Champ Car Championship.
Wexford’s James Murphy has moved into fifth place courtesy of a fine third last Sunday and with only 58 points covering the top five drivers, he is well capable of a top three championship finish. Juan Martin Ponte from Argentina leads the series. The vastly experienced co-driver, Stephane Prevot has replaced Jean-Marc Fortin as co-driver to Ford RallyeSport driver, Francois Duval.
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