Kerry interest in Australia this weekend

Australian Rallying .

By Dermy O’Donovan

Western Australia’s biggest rally, the Make Smoking History Forest Rally, takes place this weekend and there is  Kerry interest in the event.

Kenmare native Murish O’Connell is on co-driving duties for Zimbabwean expat Glen Cawood in a Mitsubishi Lancer.

The Make Smoking History Forest Rally usually a three-day round of the Australian Rally Championship, has been reduced to just one day this year as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

It is run over famous Rally Australia stages harking back to days when the country’s WRC round was based in Perth.

O’Connell and Cawood are entered in the clubman class, which is restricted to two-wheel drive cars only, without pacenotes and will only tackle half the stages.

Other Irish interest includes navigator, Stephen Wade (Dublin) who starts at five in a Subaru Impreza alongside Craig Rando.

Wexford’s Declan Stafford is on codriving duties for Peter Major in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9.

The first all Irish crew on the entry is that of  Glenn Alcorn (Donegal) and Jonathan Charlesson (Derry)who field a Ford Escort M2.

Tyrone’s Paul McCrory is entered in a Subaru Impreza and his county man Gary Mills is driving another Lancer. Mills starts one place in front of Max McRae, the 16-year old son of Alister McRae and a nephew of the late Colin.