The action resumes once more as the 2024 Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship heads to Enniskillen for its fourth stop of the season, the ever-exciting Lakeland Stages Rally, this Saturday. With six stages on offer, including a daunting blast over the full 26km Ballintempo route on both loops, its sure to be an exciting day right from the off.
Championship leader Derek Macarel, guided by long time navigator Eamonn Creedon in the Ford Fiesta R5, knows that this is the perfect opportunity to make the title race his own as many of his closest rivals have elected to not score points this weekend, instead competing for the event victory by running in the Open Class.
While the power disadvantage will naturally frustrate, the opportunity to gain a maximum score to sit alongside the likes of his victory in Carrick-on-Suir will weigh strongly on the mind.
Ian Dickson & Martin Brady will also be looking to take advantage on the Enniskillen Motor Club event as they too have elected to score Championship points, the pair showed strong speed in their Ford Fiesta R5 in both Killarney & Cork but will be looking to make a real statement on more familiar territory west of the Fermanagh town.
Also in the 4WD battle for top honours will be both James McCarville, Paul McCann & Dylan Reilly and Marty McKenna & Stephen Joyce.
In the 2WD race things are once again red hot looking at the entry list, as all the big stars are rearing to put on a show.
Last years class winners Hugh McQuaid & Declan Casey lead the charge in their Ford Escort MK2, but they are followed by Cork’s Drive of the Day winners Sam Stewart & Stephen Peoples, current 2WD Championship leaders and real Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship contenders Shane McGirr & Denver Rafferty as well as back-to-back 2WD Champions Mickey Conlon & James McAneaney.
The opportunity to take on the exciting 68km route around the Ballintempo region of Fermanagh, coupled with the opportunity to score strong points in the race to claim Class honours has seen quite a strong number of registered competitors elect to make the trip, including Christy Butler & Ann Hutchinson in their Class 11F Honda Civic.
While Class leader Ian McCarthy has chosen to miss this event, Butler and fellow class rivals Eugene Ward & Patrick Heaney will both be on the hunt for a maximum score.
