McRae star attraction at Rally Masters
The Scot, who arrives in Punchestown on the back of his Safari Rally win that has firmly established his WRC bid, is certain to attract the crowds to the Kildare racing venue.
The McRae name has been synonymous with Irish rallying, his father Jimmy is a seven-time winner of the Circuit of Ireland and although it’s been almost 10 years since Colin last competed here, he has built up a huge Irish following. In the light of his Safari win, McRae, the first driver to win 25 WR victories, his appearance is a coup for the organisers, who have had to change the name of the event.
In the absence of other manufacturers, McRae will be able to tackle the six timed runs (three in each direction) in competitive mode, providing a challenge for last year’s joint winners, Andrew Nesbitt and Austin McHale. Nesbitt is enjoying unprecedented success in the Cuisine de France Subaru Ireland WRC and with eight consecutive wins, it will be intriguing to compare his times with McRae.
McHale has yet to find the form and consistency that made him a feared rival in Irish motorsport. Patrick Snijers is still hopeful he can clinch a deal to drive group A or WRC car as opposed to group N.
James Cullen (Subaru 555), Derek McGarrity, Daniel Doherty in Subaru WRC’s, Paul Harris (Subaru) Peadar Hurson (Toyota Celica), Robert Woodside (Subaru WRC) and David Greer (Toyota Corolla) complete the top 10. Niall Maguire is a non-starter due to family commitments.
Others like Liam McCarthy (Toyota Corolla), Peadar Hurson, (Celica), Ollie O’Donovan (Subaru), Maurice Gass and Michael Barrable (Subaru WRC’s) are on the 40 invited list.
Billy Coleman and champion jockey Richard Dunwoody will drive the Ford Focus cars that will contest the new Ford Focus Championship and RTÉ sports presenter, John Kenny, will pilot a Ford Ka. Aaron McHale (Mitsubishi) and Gareth McHale (Peugeot 206) are also competing. The gates open at 9.30am with the first timed run at 11.15am. The final run starts at 4.45pm.
The Rockingham Speedway hosts a double round of the British Formula 3 Championship. Robbie Kerr has been re-instated as winner of one of the Silverstone races allowing him close to within 18 points of series leader, James Courtney. Though Kerr had a strong case, it was a procedural irregularity in changing the charge at the first appeal that made the Motor Sports Council give the Briton back his race win and the 20 championship points.
It remains to be seen what effects Courtney has suffered from his high speed accident while testing the 2003 design Jag R3 at Monza last week. The front and rear wings and all four wheels were torn from the car when the rear suspension failed and landed Courtney into the barrier at the Ascari chicane.
It is also an important weekend for the likes of Bruce Jouanny and Michael Keohane as they bid to stay in touch with Courtney and Kerr. Keohane’s Achilles heel seems to be in qualifying and if the Clonakilty driver can overcome this problem and qualify anywhere on the first two rows, then he should be equal to the task.
Keohane has slipped to fourth in the series but a good showing in Rockingham should see him reach third at the expense of Jouanny. In the Scholarship Class, Portadown’s Adam Carroll is the runaway leader, almost 100 points ahead of Clive Piccione with fellow Ulsterman, Stephen Colbert of Meritus Racing a further 24 points adrift.
On the domestic scene, in Mondello Park, the Formula Ireland series reaches mid-point with Cork drivers, Robbie Coleman and Peter Walsh leading the charge. Coleman with two wins has built up an 18 point lead and will be determined to build on his success. John O’Hara is the only other driver along with Walsh and Coleman to have won a championship round.
The Formula Ford Zetec championship is much tighter with Paul Dagg, Alan Dwyer and Charlie Donnelly in pursuit of the title. Sunday’s race programme, starting at 1.50pm also includes Fiat Uno’s and Punto’s and Formula Vee.
Formula Fords dominate tomorrow’s racing at the Kirkistown circuit, qualifying from 9.30am, and racing from 1.30pm, and there are autotests in Punchestown 2.00pm and Foynes 6.00pm. On Sunday the Irish Karting Championships take place at Tynagh and the Midland Autocross at Doon.
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