With the majority of the entries filed for Rally New York USA (Narrowsburg, New York, March 30-31), we know many of the stars and cars who will appear in the starting line in Narrowsburg, New York on the evening of March 30. But who will lead the field when they return to Narrowsburg on March 31?

While there are favorites, there is no way of predicting the outcome. The winning team will have to prove their skill on 43 miles of special stages (speed tests) on paved roads on Saturday morning, followed by 50 miles of special stages on dirt and gravel in the afternoon. All of these “stages” will be in the Tusten area, including some on the grounds of the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. The winners must also avoid spin-outs (which will cost them time and possibly mechanical damage) and flat tires, and deal with any changes in the weather.

The competitors will represent the United States, Canada, Europe and South America, including many of the front-runners in the Unites States Rally Championship. Some of the entries to watch are the following:

Emilio Arce (Argentina)/Sara Gardescu (USA), Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS – Arce will be back to try to duplicate the stock class win (and perhaps better the fifth overall) that he achieved in International Rally New York in Fall 2005.

Seamus Burke (Ireland)/Eddie Fries(Ireland), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 – Georgia-based Irish driver Burke was the 2006 U.S. Rally Champion. He was runner-up in this event last year, and winner in 2005.

Celsus Donnelly (Ireland)/Noel Gallagher (Ireland), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 – Winners of the ’07 season opener, the Sandblast Rally in South Carolina.

Scott Gardner (USA)/Constantine Mantopoulos (Greece), Audi S2 Quattro – This is a quick, consistent team in a very robust car. 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.

Michael Hall (USA)/Dave Stockdill (USA), Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup – This team is a favorite among the truck crowd, 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.

Patrick Lilly (Ireland)/(co-driver and car to be announced) – A frequent top-ten finisher here, and third in the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship.

Danny O’Brien (Ireland)/(co-driver to be named), Subaru Impreza WRX STi – O’Brien won the Eastern States Rally Championship in 2004 and 2005.

Joshua Wimpey (USA)/Jeremy Wimpey (USA), Volkswagen Golf GT – One of the series’ best two-wheel-drive teams. Co-driver Jeremy placed fourth here in last Spring’s Rally New York USA while navigating for Matt Iorio.

One notable co-driver who will probably not be in the starting field is Robbie Durant, the 2004-5 Junior British National Champion co-driver and member of the prestigious 2007 MSA British Rally Elite. David Anton, with whom Durant finished third in Rally New York USA ’06, is unlikely to have his Subaru ready in time for this year’s event. Therefore, Durant will be teaching a course on making pace notes (i.e. short-hand notes on the roads) on the day before the rally, and will be working as a rally official.