Rally // News

30 January 2009

Weather wreaks havoc - night stages cancelled

Concerns mounted during the day as incessant rain poured down on northwest Ireland. Ultimately, organisers were left with no choice and cancelled the two scheduled stages around Fardross and Murley in Co Fermanagh.

"We are especially disappointed for all the fans who were looking forward to seeing the starts of the FIA World Rally Championship on their doorstep," according to Gordon Noble, Clerk of the Course. "All we can do is look forward to better conditions tomorrow."

The stages will not be rescheduled.

Loeb leads Sordo by 44 seconds, with the BP Ford Abu Dhabi of Mikko Hirvonen in third ahead of tomorrow's six stages around Sloughan Glen in Co Tyrone and Ballinamallard and Tempo, Co Fermanagh.

Leading Irishmen are Gareth MacHale in ninth and Eamonn Boland in tenth.

The drivers expressed disappointment about the cancellation but were not surprised given the difficulties encountered earlier in the day, particularly in the morning.

"I don't have a lot of information on the reasons for cancellation but if the organisation decided to cancel these stages they must have had a good reason," Loeb said. "When we saw the conditions this morning and it wasn't cancelled ... if it was worse then I think it was the right choice."

Better news is forecast on the weather front for tomorrow. According to Met Eireann, the region will have further spells of heavy rain but these should clear in the afternoon. Winds should moderate.

Failte go Ireland in January!

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