Donnelly looking forward to tarmac challenge

IRISH Tarmac Rally champion, Eugene Donnelly will drive his Skoda Fabia WRC on tomorrow’s Tour of Sperrins Rally in Maghera. Interest in the rally is heightened by the fact that the organisers, the Magherafelt and District Motor Club, have switched the rally from gravel to tarmac surface.

Donnelly is looking forward to competing on home territory, he said, “It’s also my home club and I don’t think there has ever been a home winner so that’s another thing as well. I really want to see what potential the Fabia has and the best way to achieve that is in race conditions. I have a good feeling about the car.”

The event is the third round of the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship and with top seed and leader, Kevin Lynch having withdrawn his entry, Glen Allen (Toyota Corolla WRC) has an opportunity to take the initiative. Sean Devine and Raymond Johnson (Subaru WRC’s), Kieran Shaw (Mitsubishi) and Stephen Moore (Ford Focus WRC) complete the top six. Cork driver, Liam McCarthy makes the journey north and will use the event as a test after recent changes to his Toyota Corolla WRC. “The car is now close to the factory settings, McGeehan Motorsport have inserted the paddle shift and joystick. We (Kieran Murphy, my co-driver and myself) reckoned that the event was very suited for all concerned to try out the changes,” said McCarthy.