Meeke’s mind turns to Finland after Mini withdrawal

THE Irish contingent in Rally Estonia, that begins today, has been whittled down to two drivers following the withdrawal of Kris Meeke and his co-driver Paul Nagle in their Mini John Cooper Works WRC.

During testing the car picked up damage to the suspension turrets but not the roll cage. The Mini WRC team decided not to compete and instead turn their attention to Rally Finland. That leaves Craig Breen and Alastair Fisher, both in Ford Fiesta R2s, as Irish representatives and they will also use the event as a test for Finland. Breen has been the busier of late with no fewer than three tarmac rallies.

Today’s four stages include the opening 18.4km test and the Otepaa City stage (5.3km), both of which are tackled twice. It appears that the stages in Rally Estonia are very similar to what the crews will find in Finland.

Breen, who will face Academy leader Egon Kaur, said: “My goal is to get some competitive mileage in Estonia before Rally Finland and to get a good setup so when we go to Finland we will be quick from the word go. It will be interesting to compare myself against other drivers in the WRC Academy. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Fisher, fresh from a fine performance in the Fiesta S2000 in Donegal, also reverts to the R2 and it will be interesting to see how he compares with Breen, who is seeded at 32, with Fisher at 33.

On the domestic front, The ALMC Rally is the principal event. Based at the City North Hotel in Gormanstown, Meath, the nine-stage encounter is a round of the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, the Midlands East Rally Championship and the Millington Escort Challenge.

The in-form Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia S2000) will provide very stern opposition to top seed and last year’s winner Damien Cole (Ford Focus WRC).

Other entries include Stephen Simpson (Subaru WRC), Simon Mauger, Brian Brogan and Pat Donegan, all in Ford Escorts, and David Kynaston (Audi A3).

The top 10 also features David Hardie (Subaru), Stephen Cullen (Subaru) and Mark Jasper (MG Metro 6R4). However, should an entry from Darren Gas (Subaru WRC) materialise, it would make for a fascinating contest between the Armagh ace and Barrable.

Tomorrow’s races at Kirkistown in Kircubbin, Down will feature the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup contenders. The 500 MRCI-organised event will also include the pre-1955 Historic Motor Racing Championship; Formula Fords and Roadsports. Qualifying begins at 9.30am.

Elsewhere, the Irish ‘O’ Plate Karting Championships take place at Kartworld, Watergrasshill on Sunday at 10am; the Clare Motor Club’s Loose Surface Autocross at Glasshouse, Shinrone, Offaly, begins at 12.15pm.

Meanwhile, Mallow Town Council, Chamber of Commerce and Blackwater Tourism are combining to underpin the Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally, round five of the Valvoline Irish Forest Championship on August 13.