Locals set for battle in this weekend’s Stages Rally
NEXT Sunday’s FAAC Simply automatic / Sligo Park Hotel - Sligo Stages Rally 2017 will attract nearly one hundred entries to contest the highly commended three stages run three times in the Riverstown area. Being a counting round of three prestigious rally championships, the Triton National, the Sligo Pallets Border and the Top Part West Coast Championships is reflected in the diversity in the of the field of entries.
The National Triton Championship which is currently being comfortably led by Monaghan’s Sam Moffett who holds a massive lead on his nearest rival, practically dominating all five rounds to date.
Looking almost insurmountable, 2016 title holder Roy White would have no chance to topple Moffett. Should Moffett mirror his brother Josh ‘s 2014 success, he would secure the national title on the finish ramp in Sligo to pick up the Vard Memorial Trophy.
The Border championship sponsored by local business Sligo Pallets is being led by Michael Conlon, class 13 leader entering Sligo with only a one point margin. Second place in the championship is Brennan pairing of Michael and Ryan in a class 10 Nova.
The loyal teaming of Rodger Kennedy and Wendy Blackledge sit at third spot in the class 3 Peugeot . The current standings could well be overturned as the Class based championship enters the second half and dropped scores comes into play.
2017 has attracted the highest level of local entrants in recent years, even with the pertaining insurance pressures in the sport as a whole.
Leading up the local charge are club members Cormac Phelan and Katja Auhl in their Civi, having some early teething in developing this Class 13 machine, the home event would be the occasion to prove its capabilities. Making a return from the UK to do his local event is Anthony O’Brien with fellow Tubbercurry native Aidan Gannon on notes they will be targeting Class 20, having loads of stage experience on the Belgium events in recent times.
A number of local regulars are going the hire /drive approach, Enda Haran with Sean Hassett on notes, with his own car on the axle stands is hoping to experience a Class 14 animal which could be one to watch out for if it works out. Jason Currid with the very experienced navigator Sharon Clarke calling the notes is also hiring rear wheel drive having had a super run last year in a hired Evo. Fellow North Sligo pairing Colin Currid and Paul Gallagher will be hoping to put their mark on class 12 having contested a number of neighbouring club events this year so far.
Long time Border championship participants, Alan Lawson and Sean Harte have had little outing this year but would be very focused on a the class 11f win.
The McLoughlin pairing of Domnic and Brian having very little stage mileage over recent years will be hard to call but past history documents great results. Patrick Herity debuted his meticulously prepared Escort last year, with Seamus Dolan on notes will be hoping he has all debugging done on the car.
Kieran Carroll with notes called by Tony Curran will be anxious to rekindle his past hunger having being a number of years out of the seat.
Local buddies Art McCarrick and Leigh Cavanagh will be flying the, Be a Donor Awareness campaign , on their Civic , which Art has been a strong ambassador for a number of years.
Father and daughter crew, Ciaran Phelan General Manager of National Automation a FAAC company and Aine Phelan are out in a very competitive Class 11f Civic. As well as the FAAC group being the main sponsor of the event, National Automation also sponsored the insurance levy section of one lucky junior entry.
The Ballymote Quinn rally team are out in strength, Gary and Alan are out in the Manta while in the recently repaired BMW after Mayo stages, David is guided on the notes by James McDermott. Also after a longer sabbatical Patrick Corcoran, with Johnny Rooney on notes is hiring to do his home event. Brothers Tony and Kevin O’ Brien in a 11f Honda Civic are also flying the National Automation flag. Davy Hunt and Gillian Gilmartin originally from Gurteen but based out of the USA are outing the beautifully prepared Peugeot 106.
Manorhamilton native Stephen Reynolds with Mayo’s Derek Mc Carthy who have a lot of stage mileage under the belt this year are entering Sligo.
Mark Murphy is burning the midnight oil supported by Paul Stuart in an attempt to have his Escort ready for his local event. It is encouraging to see young new blood entering the sport, and debuting their cars are Jeff Gunning and Adrian Callery and also Jordan Charters and Gavin Kelly.