USRC - International Rally New York 2007: Ten to Watch
Aug-30 2007 / 13:23 EDT | posted by RallyJGD

With the majority of the entries filed for International Rally New York, we know many of the stars and cars who will appear in the starting line in Ellenville, New York on the evening of Thursday, September 6. We can’t predict the winner, but the following are entries to watch:

Hampton Bridwell/Josh Katinger, Ford Focus – Second in the Production 2WD class in the spring Rally New York USA. Won the Stock Focus class in Rally Tennessee in May.

Seamus Burke/Eddie Fries, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 – Burke was the 2006 U.S. Rally Champion in the all wheel drive category. This season he has already won Rally Tennessee and Rally West Virginia.

Celsus “Charlie” Donnelly/Noel Gallagher, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 – Midseason leaders of the U.S. Rally Championship after wins in February’s Sandblast Rally (in South Carolina) and March’s Rally New York USA.

Gerard Coffey/Dave Dooley, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 – Fifth overall in Rally New York USA 2007.

Larry Duane/Eamonn Sweeney, Toyota Corolla – Placed third in the two wheel drive (2WD) category in Rally New York USA 2007.

Michael Hall/Dave Stockdill, Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup – This team is a favorite among those who like trucks, and always one of the best-placed two-wheel-drive vehicles. They won the M1 (modified) class in the Eastern States championship segment of International Rally New York ’05.

Rafal Listopad/Amy Feistel, Volkswagen Golf GT – Listopad was third in the two wheel drive category in the Sandblast Rally and second in Rally Tennessee.

Enda McCormack/Bernard Farrell, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 – Placed third overall in the Sandblast Rally in South Carolina, and then second in Rally New York USA.

Maciej Przybysz/Constantine Mantopoulos, Subaru Impreza –. Przybysz finished seventh in International Rally New York 2005. Mantopoulos is a former North American champion co-driver in his class, who also placed second overall in the Northeast series as a driver in ‘96.

And last but not least, let’s not forget the local team of Jay Menzo/Dave Florina – Mazda 323, who competed in their first rally last spring at Rally New York USA. In the second of the two regional championship events (run within the main event), they were a respectable 16th overall. Expect them to gain speed as they gain experience.