Rob writes own Czech
It follows his impressive performance in last week’s fifth round of the series in Ypres in Belgium, where he became the first driver with a Motorsport Ireland licence to annex points in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ categories of the IRC.
Initially, the 23-year-old and current Billy Coleman award-winner’s plans centred around the British Rally Championship, along with interloping the Dunlop National Rally Championship and a foray into the IRC series.
After protracted negotiations to secure the ex-Jan Kopecky car and following a cautious debut, Barrable finished seventh in Rallye Sunseeker, the opening round of the BRC. In Clonakilty, in the West Cork Rally, he secured his first outright victory after he fended off a strong challenge from another young driver, Cork’s Daragh O’Riordan (Subaru WRC).
Since then, Barrable, who is being co-driven by Monaghan’s Damien Connolly, finished third overall in the Monaghan Rally and second in the Pirelli, Carlow and Cavan events. His participation in Cavan only came about after he retired from the opening leg of the Jim Clark Rally in Scotland.
Seeded at 34 in the Ypres Rally, Barrable was fifth quickest through the second stage before an off-road excursion on the third test. Dropping to 24th, he fashioned a terrificrecovery to claim 10th overall.
He said: “I would have been happy with a result that was higher than where we started, I was surprised with the top 10 finish. We received great help from Skoda Motorsport, who have invited us to compete in the Barum Rally, the full arrangements will not be tied up until next week.”
In the meantime, Barrable will take in the Sligo Rally tomorrow week and also his home event, the ALMC Rally, a week later. Even though he has only contested three events in the Dunlop series, his three top-three finishes has him in third place — two points off second placed Sam Moffett and 28 adrift of series leader Tim McNulty.
“I will contest Sligo and see how it goes, unfortunately, the Barum Rally clashes with the Galway Summer Rally, which is a Dunlop round. However, while the overall title is a big task — I would need to win all the remaining while second place finishes will be enough for Tim (McNulty) — I would still like to finish second in the series.”
Other young guns such as Craig Breen, Alastair Fisher and Marty McCormack are also impressing this season, however a contest involving all three seems remote. Nonetheless, Barrable admitted he would like such a mouth-watering prospect. One event the Dubliner is eagerly awaiting is the Cork “20” International Rally that will feature some night stages. “I like rallying the night stages, I had experience of them in the Pirelli, the Jim Clark, Ypres and there will also be some on the Ulster Rally, the next round of the BRC that I am also doing.”
Barrable’s busy season is being overseen by his father, Michael, and Garry Emmett. “They have all been great and we have received enormous support from Skoda Ireland and I have to acknowledge the input of both Zac Holis, who heads up that organisation and also Raymond Leddy (marketing manager).
Meanwhile, Dunlop National Rally Championship series leader McNulty will miss next week’s sixth round in Sligo where his regular co-driver Paul Kiely is the clerk of the course. His absence will offer Sam Moffett, Barrable and Liam McCarthy an opportunity to close the deficit.
On what is a relatively quiet weekend on the domestic scene, the Tipperary Hillclimb at the Sweep in Dungarvan on Sunday is the main event.
Elsewhere, the latest round of the Jerry Murphy Tyres Munster Autocross series is at Grancore, Clonakilty (11.30am); the TDC Multi Venue Autotest takes place at Beaulieu House, Drogheda, (9.30am); the IKC Kart Races at Collon, Co Louth (10.00am) and the Mayo and District Motor Club’s loose surface Autocross at Harrington’s Quarry, The Valley, Swinford starts at 10.30am.
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