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MID SEASON REVIEW
The mid point of the 2009 Peugeot Service Club Irish 205 Challenge shows Galwayman Kenny English with a commanding lead in the championship. Co driven by Joe Bannerton, back to back victories on the last two rounds added to his third place finish on the first round have catapulted them into a 20 points lead as we enter the second half of the season. Tipped at the start of the year to win at least one rally following a very encouraging debut season in 08, they have produced a strong showing on each rally so far. Rarely out of the top three stage times and driving with good mechanical sympathy has put them in the right place at the right time when it matters most. Looking forward they will need a decent haul of points on the next event as the dropped scores will start to play into the hands of their rivals. Their ace card though is the ability to bring their car to the finish and with three tough rallies including the two day Wexford stages ahead, the hard work may have been done already but there is no room for complacency in this championship.
The fastest driver this year and by a good margin on some stages has reached the mid point in second place courtesy of a win on round one and a third place on round two. Andy Slattery can enter the next group of rallies confidant that he has the speed to win but must temper that with the need to finish as high up as possible. A non finish on the last round caused by a heavy landing over one of the many jumps has put the priority on finishing. Co driven this year by Donal Lynch who has been a good influence, he will also have to play his part in taming his driver to secure a result.
Noel Smith holds third place and has proven to have the speed to challenge for the win on all the events so far but may just be struggling a little to pull all the ends together to make it stick. This is his and co driver Dara Lyttles first championship bid and inexperience in tackling a full campaign has shown on a few occasions. A couple of strong scores on the next two rounds could lead to a very exciting finale.
Second place on round one was the start Norman Dunne was hoping to build on as the season progressed but his luck would desert him again on the Midland stages, the same rally that left him and his co driver needing a visit to hospital last year after a huge crash. This year a roll when in a podium position put him out and also led to a myrid of problems on the next event in his rebuilt car left him and co driver Eoin O Flatterty languishing in fourth place. Hopefully the summer break will have given them the time needed to sort out the car and get them back to the sharp end of the pack.
A delayed start and a non score on round two would be enough to dishearten anyone but not Damien and Thomas McGuaran who never gave up and were rewarded with third place on the Cavan stages and some much needed points. Now with stage miles under their belt after a string of non scores they are looking forward to improving their position in the championship. Lack of previous experience on the remaining rallies may just go against them but they could just make things difficult for the drivers still in with a chance of lifting the title.
The remaining teams of Ulton McGowan, Aidan Cooney and Joe Ward have all been effected one way or another and it remains to be seen if they can make it out again this year but all can certainly upset the title race if they do.
The City North Hotel ALMC stages on July 19th is the next stop for the crews. Eighty fast and flowing stage miles lie ahead with the unpredictable summer weather thrown in for good measure. This will be the third time the challenge has visited this rally and each time the result was in doubt until the very last stage so expect no difference this year.
The Irish 205 challenge is proud to be sponsored by,
www.serviceclub.ie
Slatterys of Puckane, Peugeot and Subaru dealerships
Total quartz lubricants
Blaklader workwear
Kumho tyres
Ears motorsport
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