September means different things to different people; back-to-school, the end of summer, the evenings drawing in, but to local fans the first weekend in September means only one thing – forest rallying at its very best!
The Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship visits the forests of north-west Fermanagh again this Saturday for the Fisher Engineering Lakeland Stages Rally for forty miles of flat-out action over some of the very best gravel stages on the island.
Last year's winner Kevin Lynch has decided not to defend his title due to business pressures and it will be the current leader of the championship, Glenn Allen, partnered by Damien Connolly who will lead the field away from Fisher Engineering's Ballinamallard premises.
Glenn's Corolla has a six point lead in the series over the Focus of fellow Cookstown driver, Stephen Moore, who starts at number three behind the Subaru Imprezza WRC of Sean Devine, while the similar car of top local contender, Raymond Johnston is fourth car away.
A new and exciting addition this year is the inclusion of the Lakeland in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy championship, supported by T P Topping. This series is currently being led by Ballinamallard driver Alistair Fisher. In all there are nine identical Fiesta ST's entered and competition is fierce and a close race is guaranteed. Bellanaleck's Willie Mavitty has been plagued by bad luck in the FST this year, so he will be hoping for a clean run on his home event.
Other local drivers include former PWRC world champion Niall McShea, Richard Cathcart, Errol Clarke, former Irish Tarmac GpN champ Garry Jennings, Howard Clarke and Ian Cochrane, all of whom are contesting the popular Group N class, while among the two-wheel drive brigade local favourites include Andrew Trotter, Trevor Elliott, Paul McShea and Shane McGirr.
Scrutiny for the event will be at Fisher Engineering's Ballinamallard base from 6:30PM on Friday evening and the same venue will host the official start at 10:00AM on Saturday morning, with the first stage starting at 10:54AM.
Route details are included in the official programme, which will be available at Fishers on Friday evening and Saturday morning.
