06/06/06 - The final tarmac tussle of this year’s Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship gets underway this Saturday with the MT Waste and ID Graphics NI sponsored Mourne Rally. Based just outside Newry at the Carrickdale Hotel, four loops of three stages are on the agenda with Camlough, Wee Gullion and Big Gullion set to test the cream of Northern Ireland’s rally talent!

No less than 108 entries have been received including most of the championship's top contenders. Championship leader, Glenn Allen, is still in the hunt for his maiden victory this year but consistent points finishes have seen him surge to the top of the tables, 12 points clear of production category leader Richard Hogg. But Allen could face stiff opposition from Dungiven’s Kevin Lynch.

After selling both of his Subarus, it looked as though Lynch was set to take a sabbatical from the sport, deciding instead to concentrate on his business. The KPL man is the current champion and won the opening two rounds of this year’s series but he missed the Tour of the Sperrins, dropping him to third in the standings. That could change after this Saturday’s event though, as he aims to take a hat-trick of Mourne Rally victories if he can seal a deal to hire a car.

"I’m trying to pull a deal together to hire an S9 spec Subaru," Lynch said. "It would be a good test before going to Donegal the following weekend. I’m hopeful that it will all work out but nothing is definite yet!"

Enniskillen’s Raymond Johnston is also back in action with his Subaru while Strabane’s Sean Devine is hoping his luck will change for the better. An accident at round three put the brakes on his challenge and the construction company owner must keep it together on Saturday to keep his championship hopes alive.

Adding some variety to the field, Sean McArdle will take his SEAT Cordoba WRC, the only one in the country, onto the stages while Armagh’s Maurice Gass will be looking for a good result in his Skoda Fabia WRC.

Further down the order, the production category battle sees James Cullen make a return to the series. The Letterkenny man will face stiff opposition from Bangor’s Michael Curran, who will debut his new Evo 9 Lancer.

"I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel," the current Group N National Champion said. "The new car is superb and this weekend will let me get to grips with it before going to Donegal."

The Superdrive sponsored two wheel drive category has also attracted a top class entry. This year’s event is also a counting round of the Border Championship and many southern two wheel men will join the fray including Pat Donegan and Mickey Curran.

Fresh from her maiden rally, Cool FM DJ Sonya Mac enjoyed herself so much, she decided to buy a Ford Ka! She has also entered this Saturday’s rally and will be navigated by Superdrive’s Safron Thomas.

With 12 action packed stages, this Saturday’s event will be a thriller! The first stage kicks off at 10am and after 45 miles of demanding tarmac stages, the winner will be crowned at the Carrickdale Hotel at 5pm.

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