The scene is now well and truly set for this, the thirty-ninth running of Wexford motor clubs flagship event formally the Wexford rally now titled the Riverbank House Hotel Dick Bailey stages rally. The roll of honours list for the event reads like a who’s who of Irish rallying, with the late Frank Meaghar and Bertie Fisher, along with the likes of Billy Coleman, Ger Buckley and Austin McHale all having sprayed the champagne on the two day event.
Last year it was local man PJ McGrath with Billy Collins on the notes made it back-to-back victories after his first win on the event in 2008. Following PJ and Billy last year was the Focus WRC of Damien Cole and Craig Drew and it is the Forest of Dean motor club members who start this year’s event with number one on the door. Damien debuted his Get-Connected Focus WRC on last year’s event and a clean début resulted in second overall after the late retirement of Michael Barrable. However, it was a clear signal of the increase of the Englishman pace that he outpaced Barrable near the end of the years ALMC stages rally to take his first overall win in Ireland. Damien and Craig are on a great run of form at the moment and the Ford crew have to start the event as one of the favourites.
At number two is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 of Neil McCance and Johnny Hart. Neil has happy memories of Wexford, having taken the 2009 Irish Evolution challenge title on the event last year. After overall wins on both the Carlow Stages and Raven’s Rock rallies, McCance and Hart seemed to have one hand one the 2010 Evo Challenge title. But having tried to drive for points on the last two rounds, McCance and Hart have had two non-finishes so they now aim to go flat from the start and ignore the Challenge situation. With the in mind, McCance should be well up with the leaders and one to watch.
While McCance took the 2009 Irish Evolution challenge, number three seed Danny Barry was sweeping all before him on his way to the 2009 British Evolution challenge title. Daniel, partnered by Martin Brady was the class of the field and had a great season last years. This year seen Daniel contest selected IRC events and will come to Wexford with victory firmly in his sights. In the hot seat this weekend is Waterford’s Craig Breen, winning driver of the recent Ulster rally and the 2009 Billy Coleman award. One can’t help but think Danny and Craig could be the men to beat this weekend.
At four is the first of the two-wheel drive entrants, Simon Mauger who has Cork’s Alistair Wylie calling the notes this weekend. Simon is a double winner of the Escort challenge in Carlow while this year has seen him challenge the WRC crews in the MSA tarmac championship. This is the first time Simon and Alistair have been paired together but Simon is sure to not let this slow him in his effort to finish top modified pilot in Wexford. The pressure will be on Mauger and Wylie to repeat the success Simon achieved in Carlow and remain undefeated against two-wheel drive opposition.
At five is a pairing who were in irresistible form in 2009. Wesley Patterson and Marti McGarrity were the top modified cars in Galway, Killarney, Donegal and Skibereen in last year and this year, the Lisburn man has been a three time modified winner, twice in Loughgall and also in Lurgan Park. This is the first time Wesley and Marti have come up against Mauger so they will be sure to bring the fight to him. Wesley was here in 2008 where despite a small indiscretion, the blue Mk2 was top modified and fifth overall. Wesley will once again be looking to claim top modified and he’ll not have to look to far for encouragement with Marti beside him.
Starting at six is the 2.5 Millington engined Darrian T90 GTR of Washington James and Llinos Jones Davies. Washington and Llinos have been regular visitors to Wexford and indeed Ireland for many years and this year could well see them top the modified battle for the first time. Washington was having a great battle on the Cork 20 last year with Phil Collins and Barry Meade until an incident on the last stage caused retirement. Washington will be hoping for dry weather to make use of the power to weight advantage of the Darrian on the fast Wexford stages and take the battle to Mauger, Patterson and the rest of the modified contingent.
At seven is a welcome addition to the Dick Bailey stages rally entry list, the ever-sideways Toyota Starlet of Monaghan pairing Maurice Moffett and Jason McKenna. Moffett and McKenna are a favourite with the fans for there spectacular antics aboard their well known Starlet, with there effort regularly getting them up into the top five in the National championship rounds. Maurice has only appeared sporadically this year but the fast flowing stages should suit the short wheelbase Starlet. One this is for sure, Maurice and Jason will be right in the thick of the two-wheel drive battle.
Seeded at eight, third Escort and the first class thirteen car in the event is the rapid Escort of Neil Williams and Eurig Davies. Neil had a massive battle with Liam Howlett and David James on this years Carlow stages and he’ll be looking to take to battle to Howlett on his local stages this weekend. Neil and Eurig are great supporters of Irish rallying, and is a regular competitor on these shores. They’ve had some great battles over here, most notably with Willy and Johnny Whitty back in 2007 where they led the local aces before being outpaced over the Sunday stages. Neil will be looking to head the class 13 battle and if rain should come, mix it with the more powerful Millington powered class 14 cars.
At nine is the second Irish evolution challenge entrant and current championship leaders, Brendan Cumiskey and Conor Foley. Brendan is another former Irish evolution champion and this year his consistency has netted him a substantial lead in this year’s championship. His win on the Ulster rally last month will have him full of hope that he can reclaim the crown her lost to McCance last year.
Rounding out the top ten is a pairing who have come so close winning group N on this event before, Mark Nangle and Nollaig Breen. They have lost out by one second on not one but two occasions in the past. They are up against it this year with the big Evo contingent but they are sure to give it their all on what they nearly consider a home event at this stage.
So that’s the top ten on this years event but there is much much more to the event outside this. Just outside the top ten includes Sam Moffett, who is tied for second in the Evo challenge with Neil McCance. After that comes the class 11 contingent with Mark Kennedy, Alan Boggan, Paddy O'Dwyer, John Hendy and Jason McSweeney all there in what promises to be one of the battles of the event. Joining Neil Williams in the class 13 battle will be Johnny Murphy, Sam Smyth, Liam Howlett, Shay Power and Graham Scallan. Both Howlett and Scallan could be the dark horses of the event. Howlett, in the Mann Engineering backed black Mk2 led the class on the Carlow and was setting top times before intercom problems lead to an off. Despite the time loss, he still took third in class while on the Raven’s Rock, he held 8th overall and lead the class once again before gearbox failure caused retirement. Scallan has had rotten luck since he debuted his Honda engined Escort back in 2008. But in between the problems, there has been plenty of glimpses of good pace and if anyone is due a break well they it’s surely the Wexford brothers in their Rallytrader.ie backed Escort.
Sandwiched in the middle of the class 11 and 13 cars is the 1400cc Darrian of John Stafford and car preparation man come navigator Richard Cleary. Stafford in the GJM Construction backed Darrian will be hoping the nimble Darrian will be able to give the more powerful cars around him a run for their money. He’ll have to watch over his shoulder at Kenny O’Brien and James Kelly though, as Kenny with his new 180bhp engine will be hoping to give the Darrian a run for it’s money.
The rally will have a ceremonial start down on the quay front on Friday evening at 7p.m. where the top cars will congregate and Dougie Hughes will get the crews views and hopes for the weekend ahead. It’s sure to be a great start to the event where crowds are sure to gather and create a buzz that will be in the air all weekend. First car will leave Hertz Parc Ferme at 09:05 Saturday morning to tackle nine stages on Saturday and a further six stages on Sunday. Centralised servicing will take place in Wexford racecourse.
So there you have it, the stage is set for this year’s event. We are guaranteed that a new name will be on the winners list but whom it will be is anyone’s guess. Entries are still open and contact can be made through the clubs website. Enjoy the rally and if you’re out there please respect the marshals. They are there for your safety and only for them and the officials, we would not have a rally at all!