McShea back behind wheel for Czech tilt

Editorial Department • Published 12 Aug 2010 16:00 0 Comments

Share this

Niall McShea is set to return to competitive action in the next round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. The Monea driver has rarely been seen behind the wheel behind since his outing on Rally Ireland in 2009, but he is set to drive a Proton Satria S2000 on the Barum Czech Rally at the end of the month. Proton are also supplying a car for reigning British Rally Champion Keith Cronin and his Enniskillen co-driver Barry McNulty.

Niall’s last outing in the Proton started in spectacular fashion when, co-driven by Marshall Clarke, the pair set the third fastest time on the opening stage of Rally Ireland. Although he eventually failed to finish after mechanical problems and an accident, Niall has kept in touch with the team and carried out several test sessions. He has now been rewarded with an opportunity to mix it with some of the best drivers in the world in the Czech Republic.

The IRC is widely regarded as second only to the World Rally Championship in terms of international standing. The reigning champion is Dungannon’s Kris Meeke, with Peugeot and particularly Skoda the recognised front runners in the series. Proton are now trying to break that two car monopoly, and McShea and Cronin will take up the challenge over the smooth fast and flowing roads of the Czech Republic.

It’s a challenge that Cronin’s co-driver Barry McNulty is looking forward to. “It’s a great opportunity to get into the IRC and get involved with another works team,” acknowledged Barry. “This year in the IRC the Protons have been struggling a bit, but Niall showed good pace in Rally Ireland in the Proton and there is no reason we can’t set top eight times on the tarmac. It’s probably a step behind the Peugeot and definitely the Skoda but it’s a car in development and that is why we are there, to help develop it. If you compare it to the Group N car they are one or two seconds a kilometre faster so it’s going to be a huge step up in pace compared to our usual car but I can’t wait.”

For Keith and Barry the event is another step towards their ultimate aim of competing in the Production World Rally Championship in 2011, a title that Niall McShea won in 2004.

The pair held a well supported fund raising night in Enniskillen to gather together a budget for their campaign, and they are hoping to tackle both the Scottish round of the IRC and Rally GB before committing to a fuller programme the following year. Prior to that they are continuing their assault on the British Rally Championship. With the Ulster Rally coming only days before their Czech adventure, the pair are set to carry out two days of testing in the Proton in Eastern Europe less than 24 hours after the finish of their home round of the British Championship.

The Ulster Rally starts on 20 August, with the Barum Czech Rally starting seven days later.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 12 Aug 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.