Barrable set to lead in Dunlop

EVER since he lost the National Rally Championship in 1990 in agonising circumstances, Michael Barrable has vowed to win the series.

In the intervening years since Richard Smyth capitalised on Barrable’s retirement while he led the final round in Glandore, Barrable has made a number of unsuccessful attempts to capture the title.

On Sunday, in the Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Rally, the third round of the Dunlop-backed championship, the Dubliner has an ideal opportunity to take the outright lead as fellow joint leader Eugene Donnelly is not competing, Niall Maguire is a late withdrawal and Jim Harrison is also absent from the entry list.

Barrable is unaccustomed to life in his present position, “Normally, I would either be starting the series in Carlow or else have very few points amassed. I have been trying to win the Dunlop Championship for so long, I’m almost afraid to be happy at the current situation. At the moment, everything is going according to plan and I hope it will continue. Gary (Emmet) is looking after the car for me and he is doing a great job, it hasn’t missed a beat.”

Monaghan driver Adrian McElvaney has shown remarkable composure as he acclimatises to the Subaru WRC. On Sunday, he will drive the car which Eugene Donnelly drove to victory on the Rally of the Lakes. The opposition also features Wexford’s Noel Redmond in a Subaru WRC, Dunlop regulars, David Armstrong (Escort WRC), Sean McArdle (Toyota Celica), Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth), Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC), James McCann and David McNulty in Escort Cosworths.

As usual, the rear wheel drive category will provide plenty of entertainment with the likes of David James, Liam Wall, John Nolan, Mick Reddy, Gareth Lloyd and Pat Donegan.

The main contenders in Group N are Kieran Molloy, Pat Price, Eugene Meegan and Derrick Jobb in Mitsubishi’s and John Shanahan, James Cribben and Eoin Doyle in Subarus.

The Carlow event is also the third round of the Ford Ka Championship currently led by Cork-based Ian Chadwick. Vivian Noone from County Tipperary and Carrigaline’s Emily O’Mahony are his early season challengers.

The rally is also a counting round of the Triton Showers South-East Stages Championship. The four stages that will be repeated twice are Ballintemple, Tomduff, Corries Cross and Fenagh with servicing on the Bunclody-Kildavin road.

The event starts at 9.30am and finishes just before 5pm. Melvyn Evans (Subaru WRC) heads the entry for the Roush Manx Rally, a counting round of the Kumho Tyres National Rally Championship and the Get Connected Championship.

Starting this evening, Kenny McKinstry is the top Irish entry, the Banbridge ace faces opposition from Marcus Dodd (Subaru), Kumho series leader Andy Burton (Peugeot Cosworth), John Price (Metro), Mark Perrott (Escort WRC) and Mark Higgins (Renault Clio).

Other Irish drivers competing are Cathal Arthurs (Toyota Celica), Ollie O’Donovan (Subaru Impreza), Brendan Crealey (Mitsubishi) and Nigel Hicklin (Subaru). There are five stages this evening with eight tomorrow.

Undefeated in the Munster Loose Surface Autocross Championship, Gerard Lucey should maintain his record on Sunday’s fourth round in Grancore, Clonakilty. The Ballyvourney driver is 21 points ahead of Tipperary’s David Forde and 25 ahead of his brother, James.

The Monaghan Autocross also takes place on Sunday at Scotstown and the Irish Karting Championship season begins in Tynagh, near Portumna. Without an outright victory in the present World Rally Championship, Richard Burns (Peugeot) takes a six-point lead into today’s first leg of Rally Argentina where his team-mate, Marcus Gronholm is one of the favourites. Tommi Makinen (Subaru) has a good record on the event with three victories out of seven attempts.

Ford’s rising star, Markko Martin gives the Focus its latest challenge while the Citroen’s trio of McRae, Sainz and Loeb are all battling for points. Fermanagh’s Niall McShea (Mitsubishi) gets a chance to impress in the Production Car World Championship. Although there is no official statement from the organisers, it appears this year’s Punchestown World Rally Masters event has been cancelled.