Post by leslieprentice on Sept 9, 2006 16:50:52 GMT
Hi I thought I might try and start a decent discussion about Irish rallying as most of you guys seem to really into the BRC. As most of you know Ireland recently was allowed into the WRC and rightfully so in my opinion. I am lucky enough to live in Fermanagh just 3 miles from where the service area will be held in 2007, the March 2006 pilot event of Rally Ireland actually went past my house!
People in Ireland are simply rallying mad, even madder than the Finns. Its a little known fact that there are more WRC and Group A rally cars in Ireland than any other country in the world. It comes as no surprise to me that Ireland has now got a round in the WRC, it probably should have had one years ago during the so called 'glory days' of the 80s, when people like Ari Vatanen, Mikkolla and Rorhl were all visitors to the Irish Tarmac.
I think rallying in Ireland at the minute has never been better. We had a PWRC Champion in 2004 - Niall Mcshea, and great upcoming talent at the minute like Gareth Mchale and Kris Meeke. I do have a biased opinion but I feel the Irish Tarmac Championship is the best championship outside the WRC. It has an 8 round series with some of the best rally stages in Europe, fantastic scenery take a look at this(http://www.rallyireland.org/gallery.aspx?c=10&g=-1) and also a brilliant selection of cars and drivers. The donegal international 2006 had one of the best entry lists in recent years. Just take a look!
1 Gareth MacHale Paul Nagle Ford Focus WRC Dublin 8
2 Matthew Wilson Michael Orr Ford Focus WRC Cumbria 8
3 Colin McRea Nicky Grist Austin Rover Metro 6R4 Lanark 15
4 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla Maghera 8
5 Derek McGarrity Chris Patterson Subaru S11 Glengormley 8
6 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Armagh Mitsubishi EVO 8 WRC
7 Tim McNulty Anthony Nestor Subaru Impreza WRC 8
8 Eamon Boland Francis Regan ford Focus WRC Wexford 8
9 Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus Dublin 8
10 Kevin Lynch Subaru Impreza Dungiven 8
11 Gareth Jones David Moynihan Subaru Impreza WRC S10 Carmarthen 8
12 Paul Harris Eugene O Donnell Subaru Impreza Convoy 8
14 Garry Jennings Subaru Impreza WRC S10 Kesh 8
15 Stephen Murphy Michael J Morrissey Subaru Impreza WRC Waterford 8
17 Patrick Elliott Paul Goodman Subaru WRC S10 Cavan 8
18 Tony Davies Patrick Walsh Subaru Imprexa England 8
19 Mark Higgins Mitsubishi EVO 8 WRC Isle of MAN 8
20 Jonny Milner Duncan McMath Mitsubishi Evo 9 York 4
21 Kevin Barrett Barry Goodman Subaru Impreza WRC Maynooth 8
22 Sean Devine Subaru Impreza WRC Strabane 8
Both Mark Higgins (2nd) and Andrew Nesbitt (1st) drove with the Mitsubishi World Rally team who allowed the two drivers to come in and drive the EVO on a one-off basis.
Colin McRae was simply sensational and not many rallies can boast 22 wrc cars! I think the WRC sometimes struggles to get even that! There must have also been at least 40 group n.
The final round of the current series is in Cork for the Cork '20' international its on the 29th Sept-1st October. The entry list for it also looks brilliant with Markko Martin having confirmed his entry. Although the champion (Eugene Donnelly) has already been crowned the Production class will go right down to the wire as there are 50% extra points on the final round and I cant wait to see Markko Martin take on Donnelly.
I cant wait for Rally Ireland next year I can definitely recommend it!
If you have a spare weekend sometime the Irish Championship is a great option!
Just take a look at the amount of people on the cliff face below! This is one of the best stages in Europe. You can see the cars wind their way up the mountain in Kilarney in the distance a la monte carlo. Though I do admit Kerry is a bit less glamorous!
Im afraid these pictures dont do the scenery justice they are simply
breathtaking.
People in Ireland are simply rallying mad, even madder than the Finns. Its a little known fact that there are more WRC and Group A rally cars in Ireland than any other country in the world. It comes as no surprise to me that Ireland has now got a round in the WRC, it probably should have had one years ago during the so called 'glory days' of the 80s, when people like Ari Vatanen, Mikkolla and Rorhl were all visitors to the Irish Tarmac.
I think rallying in Ireland at the minute has never been better. We had a PWRC Champion in 2004 - Niall Mcshea, and great upcoming talent at the minute like Gareth Mchale and Kris Meeke. I do have a biased opinion but I feel the Irish Tarmac Championship is the best championship outside the WRC. It has an 8 round series with some of the best rally stages in Europe, fantastic scenery take a look at this(http://www.rallyireland.org/gallery.aspx?c=10&g=-1) and also a brilliant selection of cars and drivers. The donegal international 2006 had one of the best entry lists in recent years. Just take a look!
1 Gareth MacHale Paul Nagle Ford Focus WRC Dublin 8
2 Matthew Wilson Michael Orr Ford Focus WRC Cumbria 8
3 Colin McRea Nicky Grist Austin Rover Metro 6R4 Lanark 15
4 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla Maghera 8
5 Derek McGarrity Chris Patterson Subaru S11 Glengormley 8
6 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Armagh Mitsubishi EVO 8 WRC
7 Tim McNulty Anthony Nestor Subaru Impreza WRC 8
8 Eamon Boland Francis Regan ford Focus WRC Wexford 8
9 Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus Dublin 8
10 Kevin Lynch Subaru Impreza Dungiven 8
11 Gareth Jones David Moynihan Subaru Impreza WRC S10 Carmarthen 8
12 Paul Harris Eugene O Donnell Subaru Impreza Convoy 8
14 Garry Jennings Subaru Impreza WRC S10 Kesh 8
15 Stephen Murphy Michael J Morrissey Subaru Impreza WRC Waterford 8
17 Patrick Elliott Paul Goodman Subaru WRC S10 Cavan 8
18 Tony Davies Patrick Walsh Subaru Imprexa England 8
19 Mark Higgins Mitsubishi EVO 8 WRC Isle of MAN 8
20 Jonny Milner Duncan McMath Mitsubishi Evo 9 York 4
21 Kevin Barrett Barry Goodman Subaru Impreza WRC Maynooth 8
22 Sean Devine Subaru Impreza WRC Strabane 8
Both Mark Higgins (2nd) and Andrew Nesbitt (1st) drove with the Mitsubishi World Rally team who allowed the two drivers to come in and drive the EVO on a one-off basis.
Colin McRae was simply sensational and not many rallies can boast 22 wrc cars! I think the WRC sometimes struggles to get even that! There must have also been at least 40 group n.
The final round of the current series is in Cork for the Cork '20' international its on the 29th Sept-1st October. The entry list for it also looks brilliant with Markko Martin having confirmed his entry. Although the champion (Eugene Donnelly) has already been crowned the Production class will go right down to the wire as there are 50% extra points on the final round and I cant wait to see Markko Martin take on Donnelly.
I cant wait for Rally Ireland next year I can definitely recommend it!
If you have a spare weekend sometime the Irish Championship is a great option!
Just take a look at the amount of people on the cliff face below! This is one of the best stages in Europe. You can see the cars wind their way up the mountain in Kilarney in the distance a la monte carlo. Though I do admit Kerry is a bit less glamorous!
Im afraid these pictures dont do the scenery justice they are simply
breathtaking.