Irish rodders set to trounce visitors in European final

5 October 2001: Ireland's leading National Hot Rod drivers are set to show Britain's best just what a force they have become when Tipperary Raceway plays host to the largest number of high-speed oval racers competing for the European Championship and the Davy Evans Memorial Trophy on Saturday/Sunday, October 13/14.

Intent on defending the European title won last year is Dungannon's Keith Martin, who brings his Ford Focus in which he finished fourth in the recent National Championship at Hednesford. However, Martin is one of several Irishmen - from north and south of the border - capable of lifting the crown. Pat Canavan (Mallow) took a resounding victory in the Celtic Thunder 2001 at Rosegreen in July, while Ballyduff's Tom Casey trounced the visitors to win the Irish Grand Prix the same weekend.

Winner of the National Championship, Carl Boardley (Peugeot 206) will be hoping to add the European title away from 'home', but the competition promises to be stronger than ever with World Champion, John Steward, back at Tipperary with his Corsa. Talented Mark Willis (Corsa) is a newcomer to the Irish oval but is by no means a novice to oval racing and could well spring a surprise along with regulars, Andy Steward, Steve Skitmore, Colin Comm and Shane Brereton. More than just making up the numbers is popular German, Volker Timm, who is back at Tipperary, this time with his Audi TT.

With 30 plus National Hot Rods due to battle for the big prize, four 25-lap heats are scheduled with16 cars in each race on Saturday night. The top 26 drivers will qualify for Sunday's monster 50-lap European Final.

As well as Casey and Canavan, Rathdowney's Neville Stanley could finally land a major title, having narrowly missed out by being runner-up in the National in August. Mike Riordan (Fermoy) in his Mitsubishi Colt, Denis Kinane (Thurles), Des Cooney (Clerihan) and Barry English (Dublin) are more of the home guard eager for honours.

The packed weekend also features the Southern Irish Stock Rod Championship with the heats on Saturday night. Frankie Lynn (Portadown) and Cork's John O'Donovan - brother of the late Mary O'Donovan - will be the drivers to watch, while completing the three-formula line-up on Saturday will be the Lightning Rods.

There's practice from 15.30 on Saturday afternoon before racing starts in earnest at 19.00. Sunday's full-blown race meeting with full supporting programme gets underway at 13.30. LK