Pirelli Star Driver Daniel McKenna is seeded at number 2 for this weekend’s Midland Moto Stages Rally in Co. Roscommon. Daniel had hoped to use the event to get match fit before the opening round of the British Rally Championship the following weekend but with the unfortunate cancellation of Rally North Wales, Daniel heads to Roscommon with a little less pressure on his shoulders.
“It’s disappointing the first round of the championship was cancelled. I was really eager to see what my pace was like in the Citroen but the cancellation means I can now focus fully on the Midlands. People were surprised when they saw I had entered in the Escort but as part of my job with Pirelli for the year I’ve been asked to develop a new tyre for them, which has been available to Irish and UK customers since the end of last year. These tyres have been used by continental drivers for a few seasons and reports have been very good and if I can raise awareness of them here Pirelli would be delighted. The tyre is designed to work with 13 and 15 inch wheels and after a short test with them recently there’s definitely a difference. I don’t think the Escort has ever turned in better but competition is different and that’s the whole aim of the exercise, to see how the tyres work in a competition environment.”
The Midland event has been good to Daniel in the past and he has won it on 2 previous occasions but it will be difficult to complete the hat trick this year with the event having attracted a stellar entry. “It’s a brilliant entry” says Daniel, “one of the best I can remember for the Midlands. In order to help me get used to the paddle shift gear change system I will use in the Citroen in the BRC, I’ve had a similar system fitted to the Escort and I’m looking forward to using that. The fact that Pirelli are trusting me to develop a tyre for the Irish market is a great opportunity and one that increases my experience as a driver. It will also be a help to me when I tackle the Circuit of Ireland next month which will be the first event for a new Pirelli WRC tyre that will be used on future European rallies.”
The Midland Moto Stages will provide 130km of competitive, challenging roads this Sunday and Midland Motor Club have even laid on a shakedown stage on the Saturday before the rally to give competitors a chance to set up their cars although unfortunately, Daniel and co-driver Arthur Kierans won’t be able to attend. “I’m over in Pirelli headquarters in England this Friday and Saturday so won’t be able to make the shakedown but Arthur and myself were happy with our recce last week and we can’t wait to start our 2014 season.”
You can follow Daniel’s progress this year by following him on Twitter @DMKMotorsport and by checking out his all new website, www.danielmckenna.net
Picture with thanks to Barry McCaul of Flashpointpix
