Des O'Loan (right) from Newry and Mourne District Motor Club shakes hands with Rory Byrne, Director Modern Tyre Service. Modern Tyres promotional girl, Niamh Kerr, pictured left. picture:Stephen ShawThe Modern Tyre Service Mourne Rally kicks into action on Saturday 9 June with some of Northern Ireland's leading competitors ready to take their high-powered rally cars to the Newry start line!
The event marks the fifth round of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship and current championship leader, Glenn Allen, is among the hot favourites in his Toyota Corolla WRC. In search of his maiden championship title, the Cookstown man has been on great form of late, with three maximum scores on the trot.
Aiming to bring his victorious run to a screeching halt, Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston has also entered the event in his Subaru Impreza WRC. The former karting exponent is still in the hunt for his first rally win this year, as it was Stephen Moore who won the opening round at Kirkistown. Moore is also back in action with his Ford Focus WRC, and he needs to start making inroads on Allen's championship lead.
Sean Devine also returns to the series after his final stage mishap during the KBB Tour of the Sperrins. The Strabane man lost control of his Subaru after a jump and plunged into the undergrowth, putting a halt to his bid for a top three position.
Devine's absence from rounds two and three of the championship have given him an almost impossible task to regain lost ground, as he lies almost 50 points behind the leader. Still, while he may be an outside bet for the championship, he is one of the favourites for the Modern Tyre Service Mourne Rally.
Although not registered for the series, Armagh man Maurice Gass is also making a welcome return to rallying with a Group A Subaru Impreza at his disposal. It is his local event and while he hasn't contested the event for a few years, he will be aiming to show the N.I. regulars the quickest way home!
Almost 20 Sunoco Fuels Production category crews have entered the rally in what will probably be one of the closest fought battles. Last year's winner, Michael Curran, is absent from the start list on this occasion, paving the way for a new face to top the Group N podium.
Comber's Neil McCance must be one of the favourites, after taking class victory at last month's Manx National and Tour of the Sperrins rallies. He had a difficult start to the year with retirement at the opening round thwarting his progress. Now he is just one point in arrears of category leader, Ian Cochrane, and looks set to take control as Cochrane is missing from the start list.
Eoin McErlean is another competitor who will be vying for a solid result. He finished second at round one but has endured a torrid time since February. Trevor Ferguson, who is currently fourth in series standings, is also back in action with his Subaru Impreza while Enda McNulty joins the action with his Evo.
The battle for Superdrive two-wheel-drive category honours will also be a hotly contested affair. This is always a popular event for the local Armstrong family and no less than four cars will be adorned with the Armstrong name. Former winner, Norman Armstrong, is regarded as one of the favourites but his family members could well throw the cat among the pigeons. Stephen, his son, could spring a surprise while his nephew Brian is the current Border Rally Champion. Brian's brother, William, has also entered in an Escort.
Gary McPhillips also intends to uphold Mark 2 Escort honours while Denis Patterson's nimble Darrian could also spring a surprise. Declan McKeown also brings his beautiful BMW M3 to the event while William Smith is back behind the wheel with his Mini.
Scrutineering takes place at Modern Tyre Service in Newry on Friday evening. Competitors will leave the premises on Saturday morning before starting from the Town Hall. They will face 12 stages, with some familiar classics including Slieve Gullion and Camlough Mountain. Service will be in Carnbane Industrial Estate with cars finishing at the Sheepbridge Inn on Saturday evening.
The event marks the fifth round of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship and current championship leader, Glenn Allen, is among the hot favourites in his Toyota Corolla WRC. In search of his maiden championship title, the Cookstown man has been on great form of late, with three maximum scores on the trot.
Aiming to bring his victorious run to a screeching halt, Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston has also entered the event in his Subaru Impreza WRC. The former karting exponent is still in the hunt for his first rally win this year, as it was Stephen Moore who won the opening round at Kirkistown. Moore is also back in action with his Ford Focus WRC, and he needs to start making inroads on Allen's championship lead.
Sean Devine also returns to the series after his final stage mishap during the KBB Tour of the Sperrins. The Strabane man lost control of his Subaru after a jump and plunged into the undergrowth, putting a halt to his bid for a top three position.
Devine's absence from rounds two and three of the championship have given him an almost impossible task to regain lost ground, as he lies almost 50 points behind the leader. Still, while he may be an outside bet for the championship, he is one of the favourites for the Modern Tyre Service Mourne Rally.
Although not registered for the series, Armagh man Maurice Gass is also making a welcome return to rallying with a Group A Subaru Impreza at his disposal. It is his local event and while he hasn't contested the event for a few years, he will be aiming to show the N.I. regulars the quickest way home!
Almost 20 Sunoco Fuels Production category crews have entered the rally in what will probably be one of the closest fought battles. Last year's winner, Michael Curran, is absent from the start list on this occasion, paving the way for a new face to top the Group N podium.
Comber's Neil McCance must be one of the favourites, after taking class victory at last month's Manx National and Tour of the Sperrins rallies. He had a difficult start to the year with retirement at the opening round thwarting his progress. Now he is just one point in arrears of category leader, Ian Cochrane, and looks set to take control as Cochrane is missing from the start list.
Eoin McErlean is another competitor who will be vying for a solid result. He finished second at round one but has endured a torrid time since February. Trevor Ferguson, who is currently fourth in series standings, is also back in action with his Subaru Impreza while Enda McNulty joins the action with his Evo.
The battle for Superdrive two-wheel-drive category honours will also be a hotly contested affair. This is always a popular event for the local Armstrong family and no less than four cars will be adorned with the Armstrong name. Former winner, Norman Armstrong, is regarded as one of the favourites but his family members could well throw the cat among the pigeons. Stephen, his son, could spring a surprise while his nephew Brian is the current Border Rally Champion. Brian's brother, William, has also entered in an Escort.
Gary McPhillips also intends to uphold Mark 2 Escort honours while Denis Patterson's nimble Darrian could also spring a surprise. Declan McKeown also brings his beautiful BMW M3 to the event while William Smith is back behind the wheel with his Mini.
Scrutineering takes place at Modern Tyre Service in Newry on Friday evening. Competitors will leave the premises on Saturday morning before starting from the Town Hall. They will face 12 stages, with some familiar classics including Slieve Gullion and Camlough Mountain. Service will be in Carnbane Industrial Estate with cars finishing at the Sheepbridge Inn on Saturday evening.
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