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| MOTORSPORT NEWS - June 19 1999 |
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Shell Donegal Rally June 18th-20th 1999 (Preview) Ian Greer heads to Donegal this weekend in buoyant form following his win in Killarney on May 2nd. That win was enough to see him take the lead in the Toshiba Tarmac Championship. He takes his Toyota Celica GT-Four to the event facing one of the strongest fields in the championship this year. Greer is seeded number four. His strongest opposition lies in the top three seeds. First off the start ramp in Letterkenny will be Andrew Nesbitt in the Subaru Impreza followed by Bertie Fisher in his Toughmac version of the same car. Austin McHale will be using his Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD again despite rumours that he would be debuting a Corolla WRC this season.
The latter half of the field contains Frank Meagher in his Ford Escort WRC, who put in
a brilliant performance in Killarney before dropping out with mechanical failure. James Cullen
and Eamonn Boland also go to Donegal looking to take victory. This is one of the few remaining
classic Irish tarmac events and proves popular with drivers and spectators alike. The rally
starts at noon on June 18th and finishes on June 20th. The Car Enthusiast will be back with
a review of the event on Saturday June 26th.
In light of Damon Hill's disastrous season so far this year with Jordan it is perhaps unsurprising that Graham's famous son is finally throwing in the towel in F1. It is always sad to see a previous champion leave, but it is better this way than allowing himself to accept less and less competitive drives. Let's face it, as brilliant and all as Hill can be, his motivation appears to have gone AWOL. Who knows? Maybe he has realised that he doesn't want to take unnecessary risks on a track anymore - we can't deny a man (and his family) a right to a stress-free life. Here is a copy of the statement to the press, issued by Damon:
"A MESSAGE FROM DAMON HILL
Despite being a late starter to F1, at the age of 32, I am proud of my record of having won 22 GP, and the World Championship itself, in just seven seasons. F1 has afforded me many incredible opportunities, and I will cherish some fantastic memories. I have fulfilled my ambitions and consider myself fortunate to have done so. I would like to thank all those who have had to work with me, from the caterers to the team owners. You survived, well done! I would especially like to thank my wife, Georgie, who has had the greatest burden to bear. I love you. To my family and friends, your faith and belief in me, whatever the results on the track, preserved my sanity and sense of perspective for which I am eternally grateful. I promise to make more time for you in the future. To my loyal fans; you were iincredible throughout. An enormous thanks to you all. We showed 'em! To Eddie Jordan, and the whole Benson and Hedges Jordan Mugen Honda Team, thank you for all your support and I know that Spa will be only the first of many victories. I am committed to give you everything I can in order to secure your highest possible placing in the Constructors Championship. I would particularly like to thank my sponsors Benson and Hedges, Cellnet and Remus for demonstrating their loyalty and commitment to me through thick and thin. As for the future, my passion to be successful and to give my best to whatever I turn my hand to is undiminished. 'Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour!' DAMON HILL"Eddie Jordan commented: "This is a sad but typically brave and honest decision by one of Britain's great sporting heroes. Damon was a great World Champion and a wonderful ambassador for motorsport worldwide. His results will always show he was one of the sport's great winners." It was an honor for me personally, for Benson & Hedges, for Mugen-Honda and the whole Jordan team that he achieved the first Grand Prix victory for a Jordan car in Belgium last year. All of us in and associated with the team are proud to hav made a contribution to the unique Hill family Grand Prix legend. Damon brought to Benson & Hedges Jordan a level of professionalism, dedication and determination that enabled the team to emerge from its worst ever start to its best ever championship finish in 1998. In his whole career he has never shirked a challenge and together we will work doubly hard to ensure that he retires in the stylish, gentlemanly manner which has been the hallmark of his conduct from start to finish." Frentzen unhurt by Canada shunt Those of you who saw Heinz-Harald Frentzen smash his Jordan into the protective barriers on Sunday at the Canadian GP and waited in horror as he failed to get himself out of the car will be happy to know that he is ok, unhurt except for a few bruises on his legs. Frentzen was in line for a solid second place in Canada, leading Fisichella home by only a few seconds, when a brake disc failed, sending the Jordan into a spin at about 125mph. Frentzen was flown to hospital after being helped from the crashed car by marshalls and Dr. Jenkins himself, but was released a day later. He will be testing in Magny Cours next week in preparation for the French GP. Frentzen explains what happened: "I am fine, but rather bruised. I have a bull strap in my car which stops my legs moving about when I am racing. But when I crashed, my legs knocked against it quite hard and, as a result, my knees and the inside of my legs are quite bruised. It is good to be back home, and I will now rest for a few days before going to France for the French Grand Prix next week." S.O' |
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