Leader in sights of Welsh ace Evans
The rally is a counting round of the REIS Get Connected UK Asphalt Championship, with Welsh ace Mel Evans (Subaru WRC) heading the 80-plus entry. A regular in Irish rallying, he is the overwhelming favourite and Kerryman Fitzmaurice played down his own chances over the nine stages.
“The engine has just been rebuilt and I need to run it in and also blow off the cobwebs so to speak,” he said. “I’ll play it good and safe and see what happens after that. I’m actually quite nervous as I haven’t competed since early May.”
REIS series leader Damian Cole (Ford Focus WRC) won last year’s event while John Stone (Skoda Fabia WRC) also returns. An interesting top 10 features the Subaru WRCs of Steve Simpson and James Belton, Washington James (Darrian T90 GTR), John Stone (Skoda Fabia WRC), Simon Chapman (Metro 6R4), Christopher Jones (Ford Focus) and Antrim’s Desi Henry in a Citroen DS3.
The rally is also being vetted for a possible return to the Dunlop National Rally Championship. It was part of the national series until 1999 but in 2000 the club ran a two-day event and had to drop its national status.
“Our location on the east coast would bring a different aspect and it would also mean that there would be a rally in mid-summer and near the capital city where Dunlop are based,” said clerk of the course Noel Devlin.
Meanwhile, Dubliner Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia S2000) competes in Rally Bohemia in the Czech Republic tomorrow, whereopposition includes Juho Hanninen, Jan Kopecky, Roman Kresta and Mads Ostberg.
Sunday’s Clare MC’s Loose Surface Autocross returns to Ardnacrusha after a six-year absence. The event is the fourth round of the Munster Autocross Championship and the highest entry of the season is likely.
Former Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Kris Meeke, who lost out on the opportunity to drive the Mini WRC in the World Rally Championship due to a lack of funding, will drive one of the iconic Mini WRCs at the Orchard Motorsport-backed Lurgan Park Rally on July 28.
Clare co-driver Gráinne McEnery, who sustained a number of injuries on last month’s Heartlands Rally in Portlaoise, continues to make a steady improvement.
The Top Part West Coast champion co-driver has been transferred from Beaumont Hospital to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.
Reigning Irish Forest Rally champion Owen Murphy will contest next Saturday’s dual surface Kerry Rallysprint at Tralee Racecourse to iron out the issues in Tralee.
To retain his national crown, he must win both remaining rounds, the Bushwhacker and Glens of Antrim.
Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle will partner Craig Breen on next month’s Rally Finland as the latter resumes his quest for the S2000 WRC title.
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