This week saw the launch of one of the most popular events of the year, the Ulster Rally. An event which is well supported in terms of championships and entries a like and this year looks set to be one of the most exciting Ulster Rallys yet. Big names such as Gary Jennings, Stephen Wright and current British Rally Championship leader Daniel McKenna were on hand to launch the event in the grounds of the Castle Coole Estate in Fermanagh.
The event could play a pivotal role in a number of championships this year. In the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, Declan and Brian Boyle will head to Enniskillen on the back of a fantastic home win in the Donegal International Rally and a win in Ulster will surely wrap up the championship for them. But the Boyle brothers didn't have much luck last year only managing to complete one stage before retirement so will they fair better this time? Sam Moffett and James O'Reilly have had a great year so far with victory in Killarney and taking second after a tough battle in Donegal, they are currently second in the championship. A victory in Ulster and a retirement for the Boyle's might just see them head for Cork with a chance at the title. Last year's winner Gary Jennings will no doubt be eager to make it two in a row and although he currently is fourth in the championship he could well play a role in how this championship concludes.
Another man looking for a strong Ulster performance is Monaghan man Daniel McKenna. After victory in the Scottish Rally McKenna is leading the British Rally Championship by 20 points. His chief rival Osian Pryce failed to finish with gearbox problems and comes into round 4 of the championship needing a good result. Pryce won the Rally NI section of the event last year so he will travel to Fermanagh with confidence in that regard however the stages are 70% different to last year. McKenna will attack his home round of the BRC with the knowledge that his car is 100% where he wants it to be in terms of performance which certainly will help his confidence when attacking the stages. So this I think will be the battle of the rally. Ulster could prove all the more important in terms of the championship as there are rumours circulating that Rally Dorset may not take place. After the announcement that the BRC will not be run in 2015 the Southern Car Club, who organise and run the event, released a statement earlier in the week blasting the MSA for the decision which has all but put an end to a potential deal to bring important sponsorship to the event, which could lead to it being axed. Nothing of course has been made official in terms of the cancellation of Rally Dorset and it would be a tremendous shame to lose the event formally known as Rallye Sunseeker. In the event that the rally is canceled however it would make the Ulster Rally the penultimate round of the championship and thus the result could be all the more important.
Stephen and Suzanne Wright will also be tackling the event. The Monaghan pair have been impressing in the Belgian Championship this year and finished in the top 10 in the R2 category at the Ypres Rally. The crew will come to Fermanagh looking to challenge Irish and British R2 contingent. Wright took second in Group N here last year and although he's in a different car he knows the stages so will definitely be one to watch.
As the entries are set to open there will be many more crews to keep an eye on including Billy Coleman Award Nominees Kevin Eves and Josh Moffett as well as many more familiar faces. The event is just 6 weeks away so put it in your diary and get ready!
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