The Hankook MSA NI Rally Championship moves to Fermanagh this weekend for Enniskillen Motor Club's Fisher Engineering Lakeland Stages Rally!
The forestry event has attracted almost 80 crews to the start line, with the two main championship contenders, Derek McGarrity and Kenny McKinstry, topping the entry list.
McGarrity and navigator James McKee will lead the field away from Ballinamallard's Fisher Engineering Ltd on Saturday morning. They currently lead the Hankook series from Kenny McKinstry, although the chasing Banbridge pilot closed the gap at August's Dogleap Rally.
McGarrity missed the Dogleap event but he still leads the series by 17 points. Second placed McKinstry, who will be navigated by Noel Orr, realises that he must start adding a few more victories to his tally if he is to stay in the hunt for another N.I. title. But no matter what happens on Saturday, McGarrity will continue to hold the championship lead.
Starting at number three, Donagh Kelly is the first of the Sunoco Fuels Group N crews and he will face stiff opposition from local man Raymond Johnston. They will also need to keep an eye on Stephen Whitford, as will McGarrity and McKinstry. The Larne driver has a Group A specification Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 at his disposal – a car that he used to win the event in 2002.
Seamus Devine will also bring his Impreza WRC into the equation but there are a host of additional production category crews that could raise a few eyebrows. Alastair Fisher is the current Group N leader in the Irish Tarmac Championship, and is another local man aiming to impress on home ground.
Carryduff's Jonathan Greer will also be in the mix, and new kid on the block, Matthew Cathcart, is hoping to impress on his home rally debut.
The Cathcart name is a familiar one in rallying, with Roy Cathcart having multiple successes to his name. Last year, it was Matthew's brother, Richard, who dominated the Lakeland event in an Impreza WRC, and now 18-year-old Matthew is beginning to make a name for himself. Less than two weeks ago, he entered his first forestry event behind the wheel of a Group N Subaru Impreza, and promptly claimed victory!
In the Superdrive two-wheel-drive category, Frank Kelly starts the event at number 15. Adrian Hetherington will be biting at his heels, while Trevor Moore and Paul Barrett will also be vying for the top spot.
The Montgomery Motorsport Historic category will provide additional entertainment for the spectators, with Philip Hunter, Tommy O'Connell and Alan Jardine all set for battle in the woods.
This Saturday's Fisher Engineering event starts at 10.00am and competitors will tackle eight stages in the County Fermanagh forests. Service will be based at Garrison, and after the final stage has been completed, the winner will be crowned at the Irvinestown's Mahon's Hotel. More information can be found online at www.nirally.com.
As part of their fundraising for the Fermanagh branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and to raise awareness of the disease, Errol Clarke is running a rally car in the MS colours – orange, while and black – in the Lakeland stages rally this Saturday.
The generous support of all will be greatly appreciated.
