Maguire top choice to take Tipp rally
The Monaghan ace has dominated this season’s campaign with six outright wins from seven starts, making him odds-on favourite for his second national title in four years.
The decision by four crews to opt out of the series after just three rounds diluted the national series.
Nevertheless, Maguire’s form in his right-hand-drive Subaru WRC is marked by reliability and consistency.
Carlow was the only event he didn’t win and there, he bounced back after losing more than a minute on the first stage to claim third overall, and with rally winner Dom Buckley not registering for Dunlop points, Maguire took second place points.
A broken collar bone has ruled out regular co-driver Paul McLaughlin and Maguire has yet to decide who will call the notes.
Nine of the top ten in the national series are in Clonmel, with Patrick
Elliott hoping to clinch second as David Armstrong and Sean Gallagher, in Escort Cosworths, chase third.
Michael Barrable (Subaru WRC) will probably be Maguire’s biggest opposition in the Tipp event, where the organiser’s programme is a tribute to the late Frank Meagher, a record nine-time Stonethrowers winner.
Cork ace Donal O’Donovan withdrew his entry earlier this week when a sponsorship deal failed to materialise.
Denis Cronin is another non-starter, leaving Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla WRC) to spearhead the Rebel challenge.
Elsewhere in the top ten are Hugh Dunne (Subaru WRC) and Anthony O’Halloran (Opel Manta).
Meanwhile, the Group N category pits the Dunlop leader, Aaron McHale, against local hot shoes Roy White and Trevor Molloy.
The three stages are all close to Fethard, with servicing at Powerstown Park Racecourse. The rally is scheduled to finish at 5.40pm at the Clonmel Arms.
It will also feature the first of the five-round Ford Ireland Ford Focus Challenge. The participants are Hamilton Bell (Down), John Foley (Cork), Brendan Kelly (Longford), Ken Lyons (Limerick), Gabriel Martin (Dublin), Colm Murphy (Limerick), Cathal O’Reilly (Cavan) and Oliver Stanley (Laois).
The Stonethrowers also counts towards the South East Stages Championship.
History favours local drivers in the Rally Finland that begins today.
World Championship leader Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot), team-mate Harri Rovanpera and former champion Tommi Makinen (Subaru) are favourites.
Having rekindled his World Championship bid, Colin McRae (Ford Focus) will hope to break the local dominance. Mitsubishi debut their Lancer WRC2 with Alister McRae looking for boost their flagging morale. Juha Ignis will drive a Suzuki on their home International as a test for its Junior Championship campaign.
Michael Keohane has withdrawn his entry for the Marlboro Masters in Zandvoort. His father, Paddy, well-known in motorsport circles, is recovering in hospital following an operation on Wednesday last.
More than 50 cars will contest tomorrow’s qualifying for the 37-car grid. British F3 frontrunners Robbie Kerr, James Courtney and Bruce Jouanny are among the entry that will have many French F3 contenders.
In Mondello, there are rounds of the Formula Ireland, Dunlop RT2000s and Ford Zetec Championships, with racing beginning on Sunday at 12.30pm.
Elsewhere this weekend, Beagh, near Ballinasloe, is the venue for the Galway Autocrosses tomorrow and Sunday. The Formula Renault UK Championship visits Knockhill, with Ireland still seeking a podium finish.
The North Monaghan Motorcycle Road Races will be run over the 2.5-mile Glasslough circuit, with a nine-race programme beginning at noon on Sunday.
Adrian Archibald, Richard Britton and John Donnan are among the star riders who will try to break Simon Beck’s 98.131mph lap record.
The 2002 West International Rally (formerly the Galway International) will complete the Toshiba Computer Irish Tarmac Championship in early November.
The event, based at the Quality Hotel in Clarenbridge, will feature eight stages in North Galway with five stages later in the evening before the 7.30pm finish.
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