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"The Genie" is back in Contention after round 3..
A second place finish on the weekend’s UAC Easter International Rally, round two of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, has put points on the board for the reigning three time tarmac champions Eugene Donnelly and Paul Kiely. The Easter International is essentially the round closest to Eugene’s home in Maghera and a huge crowd gathered in nearby Derry on Friday night to cheer on the Esker Subaru team over the start ramp, a build up to this two day, twelve stage event.

Much was expected from the team and on stage one they didn’t disappoint, just 0.5 of a second down on fastest man Mark Higgins in a similar machine. “I didn’t feel that we had pushed that hard on the first stage so I was happy with the time and we made a few adjustments to tweak the car at service. I dropped just a little on the next two, with Mark Higgins, Kris Meeke and Andreas Mikkelson all going very well, then we made a few further tweaks” remarked Eugene. But on the second run over the Ballix Hill stage, you can imagine what might have been said in the car as Eugene misjudged a hairpin, stalled the car and dropped 11 seconds to Mark Higgins on the stage. “To be honest I went back to service and then decided to really attack the next two, but we didn’t make up any time. Mark and Kris were going very well, and they are too professionals at the end of the day, very good professionals. Then on Sunday morning over the Barnes Gap and Rousky stages we had another go, but again I just wasn’t making the time back, and I couldn’t put an answer on it, as the car was performing faultlessly, and I have to say it never missed a beat all weekend.”

Eugene and Paul kept up a fast controlled pace on Sunday lying in third place, and second point’s position. “To be honest we had to get points here, especially with Mark now having two maximum scores, and at least we did that. There is no doubt also that I would have liked to win, but Mark was a better driver and had a better package at the weekend. Maybe I didn’t spend as much time preparing as I did for Galway, and Mark, Kris and Andreas are professionals, and come to the event with a lot more seat time.”

Round three of the series is the Killarney International on May 5th-6th.
“I am looking forward to Killarney. Its one of my favourite rallies, and we will have to do some more testing. I really think that with the likes of Mark in the series the bar has been raised again. There’s always someone to aim for. When I started the National series in ’03 in a World Car it was Michael Barrable I had to beat, then on the Irish Tarmac series it was Derek McGarrity, and then Andrew Nesbitt, and now Mark is the man to beat, and it’s good to have that competition. On the Easter International I was not surprised at Kris Meeke’s pace, as is very talented, but I was even more impressed with Andreas Mikkelson who is so young, and so fast out of the box. It’s great to have all these people competing and it just continually keeps the pace very hot.” 

Photos by rallypics.org 

Photos by rallypics.org

Download the Full Results here  

LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 11 – FINAL STAGE
1st (2) Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.41.22.9
2nd (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.42.00.7
3rd (9) Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Focus WRC) 1.42.48.3
4th (6) Kevin Lynch/David Moynihan (Focus WRC) 1.44.30.3
5th (3) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.45.15.1
6th (8) Gareth Jones/Andrew Bargery (Focus WRC) 1.47.14.0
7th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 1.50.03.3
8th (20) Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 1.50.10.3
9th (21) Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Lancer N) 1.51.10.0
10th (32) Connor McCLoskey/Robbie Durant (Lancer N) 1.51.38.7

Check out a Video from the Event here

Updates and Results thanks to Brian and Liz Patterson Click Here

UAC Easter International Rally ready to roll!

by Sammy Hamill

Ireland's No.1 driver Eugene Donnelly will head a 60-strong entry list for the Londonderry-based UAC Easter International Rally which takes place on April 7/8.

Donnelly, from Maghera in Co Derry, won the 2006 Circuit of Ireland Rally - which for contractual reasons is renamed the Easter International this year - and the reigning Tarmac champion returns to lead the line-up ahead of British champion Mark Higgins, Eamonn Boland and Ireland's Junior World championship star Kris Meeke.

All three will drive WRC (World Rally Car) Subaru Imprezas, Donnelly's being the latest S12 version from Subaru's World champion team, Prodrive. It was in this Esker-sponsored car that he led two-time World champion Marcus Grönholm on last month's Galway International only to crash out two stages from the end.

Higgins, who leads this year's Tarmac championship, returns to Ireland after winning the Production class on the World championship Rally Mexico. The Welsh-based Manxman drives an S11 Pirelli Subaru, partnered by Letterkenny co-driver Rory Kennedy.

Meeke will also be in a Triton Showers-sponsored S11 Subaru run by the McKinstry Motorsport team from Banbridge. Despite the fact he hails from Dungannon, this will be a rare Irish appearance for the 26-year-old who has spent the past four years competing in the Junior World championship for Opel and Citroen.

The only home event he has ever contested before is the Ulster International and last year he astounded the field by leading for a time in Citroen's little 1600cc C2. Meeke has only competed once before in one of the big WRC supercars and this will be the first time he has driven one on a closed road tarmac rally.

The starting list also includes last year's Rally of the Lakes winner Tim McNulty, triple Northern Ireland champion Kevin Lynch from Dungiven, Welshman Gareth Jones and 17-year-old wonder boy from Norway, Andreas Mikkelsen, who is taking in the Easter event in preparation for the World championship Rally Ireland in November.

The Group N production category is headed by led by current champion Colm Murphy and includes Enniskillen's Garry Jennings, Omagh's Seamus Leonard and Clonmel's Roy White.
The Easter International is the second round of the Global Group Tarmac championship and running alongside it will be the Easter National, the third round of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland championship.

It will have a capacity entry of 100 cars, headed by the Toyota Corolla of Northern Ireland championship leader Glenn Allen from Draperstown. Among his challengers will be Stephen Moore from Pomeroy who won the opening round of the series and currently leads the Irish forest championship after winning the first two rounds in his Ford Focus.

"Organising an international rally in 10 weeks, rather than 10 months, is a very intense experience," Clerk of the Course Nigel Hughes said prior to the launch. "I am delighted with the response from competitors far and wide, who have voted with their feet, giving a truly exceptional entry for all sections of the rally. A special word of thanks must go to our many friends among the motorsport community in Ireland and further afield, as without them it would not be possible to stage this event. The support received from these sources as well as local government, PSNI, residents in the Sperrins and the fans has been truly humbling."

"As ever, our main priority is safety and marshals are always needed," Hughes continued. "To this end, a marshal's get-together and briefing for all current volunteers, and those who would wish to offer their services, will be held in the Sheppard's Top of the Town Bar in Banbridge on Tuesday 3 April at 8pm. Rally footage will be shown and marshals will have an opportunity to meet some of the top local drivers. Opportunities exist to join existing stage teams and benefit from free rally packs and branded clothing."

The rally will begin with a ceremonial start at Derry's Guild Hall on Good Friday night (April 6) beginning at 6-30pm.

The Easter Saturday action involves six special stages in the Sperrin Mountains and a central service area in Omagh. The competitors return to the Sperrins region for a further six special stages on Easter Sunday, again with service facilities centred on Omagh.

The winner is due back for a champagne celebration on the finish ramp in Guild Hall Square at 5-40pm on Easter Sunday evening.

Co-Driver Changes David Moynihan with Kevin Lynch
Paul Nagle to Co-Drive Kris Meeke

1 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC)
3 Eamonn Boland/Francis Reagan (Ford Focus WRC)
4 Kris Meeke/Glenn Patterson (Subaru Impreza WRC)
5 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 Kevin Lynch/Gordon Noble (Ford Focus WRC)
7 Peadar Hurson/Dairmuid Falvey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
8 Gareth Jones/Andrew Bargery (Ford Focus WRC)
9 Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene (Ford Focus WRC)
10 Stephen Murphy/MJ Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
11 Patrick Elliott/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
12 Sean Devine/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC)
14 Terry McGonigle/Stephen Casey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
15 Martin Doherty/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
16 Hugh Martin Doherty/Michael McBride (Ford Focus WRC)
17 Denis Biggerstaff/Paul McGee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
18 Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Subaru Impreza N12)
19 Garry Jennings/Enda Sherry (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
20 Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
21 Roy White/Stephen McAuley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
22 James Foley/Paddy Robinson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
23 John McGlaughlin/David McElroy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
24 Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru Impreza N12)
25 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)

National
101 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
102 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
103 Raymond Johnston/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
104 George Robinson/Sean Devlin (Ford Escort WRC)
105 Seamus Heron/TBA (Ford Escort WRC)
106 Johnny McKenna/Eugene O’Kane (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
107 Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
108 Camillus Bradley/Danny O’Neill (Ford Escort Mk 2)
109 Paul Barrett/Dermot Colgan (Escort)
110 Fintan McGrady/Brian Crawford (Ford Escort Mk 2)
111 Paul Hughes/Conor Murphy (Escort)
112 Stanley Ballantine/Richard Hyland (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
113 Gareth Logan/Alan Purdy (Lancer Evo 8)
114 James Kennedy/Andrew Murray (Ford Escort Mk 2)
115 Brian Brogan/Joe Friel (Ford Escort Mk 2)
116 Eoin McErlean/Donard McCann (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
117 Paul Britton/TBA (Subaru Impreza N10)
118 Aidan Toner/Damien Toner (Ford Escort Mk 2)
119 Shaun Murphy/Claire Hegarty (Ford Escort Mk 2)
120 Gary McElhinney/Jonathan Charlesson (Ford Escort Mk 2)

The UAC Easter Rally has launched a website.
Regulations and Entry Form are available from: UAC Easter Rally

The UAC Easter International Rally and The UAC Easter National & Historic Rally

The International will be a round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

The National will be a round of the MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship.

The Historic will be a round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championship.

Regulations and Entry Forms for all events will be available for download from the Club Website from Sunday the 25^th of February.

www.ulsterautomobileclub.co.uk

Story Compliments of Belfast Telegraph

By Sammy Hamil

A spokesman for the Ulster Automobile Club declared yesterday that they intended to stage the Circuit of Ireland Rally this Easter despite the late withdrawal of the events sponsors.

Cookstown-based Meteor Electrical took over the running of Ireland's oldest rally last year, forming a new company, Circuit of Ireland Ltd, for the purpose.

But following a series of disputes with the Holywood-based UAC in the past six months, a statement issued on behalf of Meteor boss John Conway claimed the Circuit of Ireland was "on the skids" and was in danger of being "written off" after a split between the organisers and the sponsors.

It claimed the Ulster Automobile Club had cancelled its contract with Circuit of Ireland Limited and with Meteor Electrical.

The statement said: "The UAC cancelled its contract with Meteor on January 11. Around a week later, they approached Meteor to come back on board. Meteor wanted a new clause in the contract insisting that the UAC could not cancel it at short notice again.

"On Tuesday, at a meeting between Meteor and the UAC, Meteor decided it could not sponsor this year's rally which was to be run on the Easter weekend with stages in Derry City, Tyrone and Donegal."

It added: "Meteor say they are not going to be involved in any way in this year's rally if it goes ahead in some other shape or form but are prepared to reassess their position in relation to sponsoring future Circuit of Ireland rallies if this issue is resolved."

Nigel Hughes, the UAC's representative on the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association, insisted they intended to go ahead and run the event without Meteor.

"At the end of the day the important thing is the Circuit of Ireland and we have been hugely encouraged by the support we are receiving from competitors and others who want to see the rally go ahead," he said.

"I don't intend to be drawn into a debate over the claims being made by John Conway but we felt we could not agree to the terms and conditions being imposed and have re-claimed ownership of the rally.

"It is our intention to run the rally come hell or high water and although time is short we believe we can do it."

The Circuit of Ireland has been running since the 1920s, originally as the Ulster Motor Rally, and is the second oldest of its kind.

 Story Compliments of Belfast Telegraph