Rallying – Galway
The Irish Times February 2, 2004 | DAMIAN CULLEN What is it? The Galway International is the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. site 2003 ford focus
When and where? The race – running for the first time since 2000 – is back in Galway city centre and back to its traditional February slot. The three-day event starts next Friday (February 6th).
So who’s competing? The star attraction is 1999 British rally champion the Flying Finn, Tapio Laukkanen – who, despite being slotted in at 13, will be running as number one. Co-driven once again by Harri Kaapro, Tapio will use the Impreza S7, but he will face some stiff opposition, with reigning champion Derek McGarrity out on the event in an Impreza S9, former champion Austin McHale in a 2003 Ford Focus and Eugene Donnelly in his recently-acquired Toyota Corrola WRC amongst the leading entries.
Worth seeing? The race is definitely a challenging event, using some of the most demanding tarmac stages in Ireland.
And the route? Headquarters will be at the Radisson SAS on Lough Atalia Road. Following scrutiny on Friday evening, the rally will leave Galway early on Saturday morning for a four-stage, 100-mile race with centralised servicing in Ballinasloe and visiting Monivea, Attymon and Kilconnell areas. The focus on Sunday will shift to Oranmore, with 60 miles run from the Kinvara area to Craughwell. Centralised servicing will be on the old Oranmore Road. The winning car is expected on the finish ramp in Eyre Square at approximately 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Top 15 1 Austin McHale … Ford Focus WRC 2 Eugene Donnelly … Toyota Corolla WRC 3 Derek McGarrity … Subaru Impreza WRC 4 Eammon Boland … Subaru Impreza WRC 5 Michael Barrable … Subaru Impreza WRC 6 Maurice Gass … Hyundai Accent WRC 7 Peadar Hurson … Subaru Impreza WRC 8 Donie O’Sullivan … Ford Focus WRC 9 Tim McNulty … Subaru Impreza WRC 10 JJ Flemming … Subaru Impreza WRC 11 Patrick Elliot … Subaru Impreza WRC 12 Denis Cronin … Toyota Celica 185 13 Tapio Laukkanen … Subaru Impreza WRC 14 Paddy White … Subaru Impreza WRC 15 Roy White … Mitsubishi Evo 7 DAMIAN CULLEN go to website 2003 ford focus
