Jennings, Gallagher to race in Scotland
Jennings, from Ballinamallard, is the Peugeot Sports official works driver, and following the cancellation of the Rally of Wales, this event was selected to ensure he gained experience of his 206 Super 1600 ahead of next month’s Pirelli Rally.
Ironically, the event is the first round of the British 206 Super Cup, the series he won last year.
Jennings, a spectator at last week’s West Cork Rally remarked: “After the recent test at Sweet Lamb, I am starting to feel more confident about the 206 S1600. When the news came about Wales being cancelled I thought I might not get out until April. Doing the Border Counties is a good alternative.”
Jennings will be co-driven by Gordon Noble.
Meanwhile, Shaun Gallagher, who begins his assault in the 206 Super Cup, has a busy season ahead. The Billy Coleman Award winner also plans to contest the French 206 Cup and complete the Norwegian national series where he is leading his class.
The 22-year-old County Donegal driver will be supported by Mullen Express Transport and Pearse Road Tyres and has acquired two left-hand drive Peugeot 206’s to compete in during the year.
His busy schedule means he will compete in over 20 rallies within nine months. The French series is particularly daunting with each of the 10 events of a three-day duration. However, this is cushioned by a top prize of a S1600 works drive with Peugeot in the 2004 French Championship.
The Super Cup entry in Scotland also features Gareth MacHale and Rodney Wilton. Thomas McGovern (Escort) heads the entry for Sunday’s Midland Motor Club mini stage.
Sean Gallagher is the top local hope and his Escort Cosworth will have stern opposition from the Toyota Celicas of George Cullen, Cathal Arthurs, Tom Holton and Sean McArdle.
The Irish karting season starts in Kartworld on Sunday with a round of the MMC & CC Championship.
The 100 National category includes Michael Slein, Brian O’Mahony, Aron Coby and Joseph McMonagle. Also this weekend, the Healy Cup Sporting Trial at Ballybrew, near Enniskerry, starts at noon tomorrow.
On Sunday, the final round of the Hewison series is at the Curragh at noon. The Wexford Autotest takes place at Butlersland Industrial Estate, New Ross, and the Killarney Loose Surface Autocross is at Cronin’s Pit, Killarney, also with a noon start.
The Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, organisers of the Raven’s Rock Rally, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, have announced the event will based in the Kilford Hotel, Kilkenny, on June 29.
The rally, also a round of the Get Connected Championship, South East Stages, and Ford of Ireland Focus Championship, was previously based in Waterford.
As with Jennings, the cancellation of the Rally of Wales has forced Austin MacHale to revise his plans and he is considering debuting his Subaru WRC on the Tralee-based Circuit of Kerry.
Other drivers using the event as a shakedown for the Circuit of Ireland are Niall Maguire and Tim NcNulty. Meanwhile, Liam McCarthy has also expressed an interest.
Carlin Motorsport driver Alan van der Merwe continued his impressive pre-season form by heading testing times at Croft earlier this week. At the north Yorkshire track, van der Merwe was followed by his Carlin team-mates Jamie Green and Richard Antinucci.
Meanwhile, Sweeney Racing duo Michael Keohane and Adam Carroll opted to skip the session in order to continue their week’s testing in Pembrey. The next Avon Tyres British Formula 3 official test is in Snetterton next Tuesday.
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