Fastnet finale in Bantry
The Dunlop National Rally Championship concludes on Sunday next with the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally in Bantry in West Cork. The nine stage encounter that meanders through some of the most spectacular scenery along Bantry Bay, Dunmanus Bay and Mount Gabriel will determine the outstanding issues within the popular eight round series.
Top seed and back to back Fastnet champion, Daragh O’Riordan (Fiesta WRC) will renew rivalry with Welsh ace, Hugh Hunter (Subaru WRC), who won the last Dunlop round, the Galway Summer Rally. On that occasion, he finished a minute and 22.5 seconds behind Hunter, who is likely to contest the 2014 Dunlop series.
However, O’Riordan, who will start as favourite. He is seeking to become the third driver to secure a hat trick of wins on the Fastnet (Carrigaline’s, Frank O’Mahony won the inaugural event in 1982 and also won in 1996 and 1997 while Dunmanway’s, Liam McCarthy won in 1988, 1992 and 2008) and the first to win three in a row.
This will be his fourth Dunlop round this season, he finished third overall in Monaghan where he felt unwell throughout the rally. In the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, he led from the start until he crashed out on the fourth stage.
Clonmel’s, Roy White in his MG S2000 is having one of his most successful seasons to date and can finish third overall in the series. He needs just five points to deny present incumbent, Josh Moffett, who is not on the entry list. “If we (Roy and co-driver, James O’Brien) finish third, it will be a lot more than what our plans were at the start of the year, it will be an awesome result for us.” Throughout the season, White has notched up several top five finishes but he has no doubt about selecting the highlight so far, “If I want to be totally partisan, it has to be the Stonethrowers Rally, that was my best ever in a national round.” He added, “The car is more reliable this year and given that, we have more seat time and we are able to be more competitive. There is great camaraderie in the series, , it’s been brilliant, along with the Irish drivers, James Belton came across from Wales and he added a lot to the championship, we all met up after recce, in parc ferme and service, it’s a real good feeling and a great championship and I’m definitely doing it next year.” White is aware of what is needed in terms of points, added, “I think the situation we are in is more nerve wrecking than anything else.”
Although Kevin Barrett (S14 Subaru WRC) is seeded at number four, he will not be participating. This season he had only brief outings in the Dunlop series but plans to return for a full attack in 2014.
Early season Dunlop front runner, Wexford’s, James Stafford in his rear wheel drive Darrian T90 GTR will be hoping that the weather along the Atlantic coastline is dry so he can give mount a challenge to the WRC brigade. Non-finishes in the rounds in Monaghan, Sligo and Galway have ruled him out of contention for the top rally.ie award (the highest wheel drive competitors in overall standings). He is currently third in the standings behind Donegal’s, Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and Cavan’s, Jonathan Pringle (Ford Escort), who occupy the respective number six and seven berths I Bantry, Stafford could still take the runner-up spot.
On the last round, the Galway Summer in Ballinasloe, Gallagher secured 18 Dunlop points – two more than Pringle, who is nine points adrift heading to Bantry, the Cavan driver has already won the Escort Mk. 2 Dunlop Champions Trophy. All three can add all their points tally from Bantry due to the fact that they have all failed to finish at least two of the events thus far.
Meanwhile, the top ten is completed by Lisburn’s, Wesley Patterson (Ford Escort), Meath’s, Pat Donegan (Ford Escort) and Kilkenny’s, Eoin Doyle in the Ford Focus WRC that won the Fastnet Rally and indeed, the Dunlop National Rally Championship, in 2005 in the hands of Ray Breen.
Elsewhere, Meath’s, John Hendy will compete in a BMW M3 Compact, last year, driving a Toyota Corolla, he was seventh overall after the opening stage, but dropped down the order with problems and retired on the second loop of stages.
Londoner, Dan O’Brien, the son of newly crowned Irish Forest Rally champion, Michael, will occupy the number twelve slot in a Ford Focus WRC and will be followed by Waterford’s, Eddie Power (Toyota Corolla WRC), Killarney’s, Kevin O’Donoghue (Ford Escort) and Clare’s, Anthony O’Halloran (Opel Manta 400)
The top Group N entry is that of local driver, Jer O’Donovan (Subaru). Opposition will be provided by Waterford’s, Brian O’Keeffe, also in a Subaru and last year’s Dunlop Class 3 winner, Baltimore’s, Stephen Carey (Honda Civic).
Kenmare’s, Vincent O’Shea (Ford Escort) fourteenth overall in last year’s rally will be hoping for an improved performance this time around.
Aside from O’Donovan, some of the local entries are Dunmanway’s, Jason McSweeney (Mitsubishi EvoVIII), Bandon’s, Vincent McSweeney (Honda Civic) and Murragh’s, Andrew Mahon (Ford Escort).
The now traditional ceremonial start in Bantry Square takes place at 7.30pm on Saturday evening next.
Organising Club: Skibbereen & District Car Club.
Clerk of the Course: Ger Hayes.
Rally Headquarters: Westlodge Hotel, Bantry. Tel: 027 50360.
First Car Away: 9.15.
S.S.1, 4 & 7: The Goats Path 8.30, 11.21 & 14.12.
S.S.2, 5 & 8: Mizen Head 9.17, 12.08 & 14.59.
S.S.3, 6 & 9: Mount Gabriel 9.56, 12.47 7 15.38.
Service, Bantry Square: 7.55, 10.39 & 13.30.
Finish Ramp: Westlodge Hotel, Bantry. 16.45.
Top 10 Seeded List:
1. Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC)
2. Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Subaru WRC)
3. Roy White/James O’Brien (MG S2000)
4. Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru WRC)
5. James Stafford/Amy Ryan (Darrian T90 GTR)
6. Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Toyota Starlet)
7. Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort)
8. Wesley Patterson/Alan Whyte (Ford Escort)
9. Pat Donegan/Alan Keena (Ford Escort)
10. Eoin Doyle/TBA (Ford Focus WRC)
Dunlop National Rally Championship (Positions after Round 7): 1. D. Boyle 112pts (Dunlop National Rally Champion); 2. J. Belton 98pts; 3. J. Moffett 76 pts; 4. R. White 72pts; 5. S. Moffett 70pts; 6. N. Maguire 66pts; 7. D. Gallagher 57pts; 8. J. Pringle 48pts; 9. S. Wright 42 pts 7 10. J. Stafford 32pts..