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Carryduff’s Jonny Greer Wins Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages Rally!

Jonny Greer in action on the opening round of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship today, Saturday 19 Februrary, 2022. The event, organised by North Armagh Motor Club, was held at Kirkistown Racing Circuit in Co. Down. (Photo by Graham Baalham-Curry)

Carryduff’s Jonny Greer Wins Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages Rally! Carryduff’s Jonny Greer and Sligo’s Darragh Mullen secured victory at today’s Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages Rally, round one of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship!

Greer snatched the lead from early leader Stephen Wright after stage two and stayed in front until the finish. Once the reigning champion was out in front, he never let go as he rallied his Citroen C3 home to secure the spoils at what was a tricky day at County Down’s Kirkistown Race Circuit.

Rain in the morning left the track extremely slippery for the North Armagh Motor Club organised event. Even when the clouds dispersed to reveal blue skies during the afternoon, competitors still had to contend with a very slippery surface. Then a splash of rain before the final test dampened the track some more but Greer took it all in his stride to secure the win, getting his title defence off to the best possible start.

“We lost a bit of time on the first stage when another car stopped in front of us,” Greer said. “After that, we had a clean drive and it’s great to get the win!”

The fight for second position went right down to the wire between Phillip Allen and Derek McGarrity. Former champion McGarrity and navigator Graham Henderson really piled on the pressure in their Skoda Fabia R5 during the closing stages with a string of fastest times. Allen and navigator Emily Turkington were being hunted down and they tried to do everything they could to fend off the challenge over the closing miles.

Going into the final stage, it was Allen who held the upper hand by 1.1s from his rival. However, a delighted McGarrity turned the deficit on its head with another fastest time to seal the runner-up spot by just seven-tenths of a second, leaving Allen to settle for third in his Fiesta R5.

“I was trying too hard,” a frustrated Allen said at the finish. “I was overdriving the car and made a few mistakes.”

In fourth overall, two-time Kirkistown winner Stephen Wright was a little bit dejected after a problem on stage two. He and Ger Conway had been fastest on the opening test to lead the rally from Greer, only to get caught behind another competitor on stage two. They lost around 10 seconds as well as any chance to fight for the win.

“I took a chance and entered the last stage with wet compound tyres in the hope it might rain,” Wright said, “but it wasn’t to be. I was really frustrated after that second stage but hopefully we’ll be back for round two at Bishopscourt.”

Such was the ferocity of competition at Kirkistown that just 5.3s separated the top three overall at the end of the event, with winner Greer claiming the victory by 4.6s from McGarrity.

Outside the top four, Darren Gass and Marc McMillan were the best of the rest in their Citroen C3 R5. They survived an overshoot which thrust them over some trackside tyres on stage two. A few lurid slides later, they claimed fifth ahead of the Fiesta WRC belonging to Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran.

On what was his first visit to Kirkistown, McLaughlin gradually improved as the day progressed. After a couple of early trips off the track, he claimed a number of top three stage times to seal sixth from the Fiesta piloted by Mark Massey and Alistair Wyllie.

Joseph McGonigle and Ciaran Geaney were eighth ahead of the Impreza WRC belonging to Alan and Lewis Carmichael, with young Lewis enjoying his maiden event as a navigator. Finally, Michael McGarrity and Damian Garvey completed the top 10 despite a misfire with their Fiesta R5.

Two-Wheel-Drive

In the hotly contested two-wheel-drive category, Andrew White and Paul Hughes quickly got the attention of their rivals when they went fastest out of the blocks during the morning’s wet stages.

However, as the track started to dry, James and Heather Kennedy started to reel them in. The experienced husband and wife team eventually overhauled their rivals with the Kennedys taking the category spoils by just 6.8s, leaving White to settle for second.

“I wish it had stayed wet!” a delighted White said after sealing second position. “We picked the wrong tyres for the middle loop of stages but we really didn’t expect to be up there fighting for the win. It was a great day!”

Jamie Grant and Jonny Chambers finished third in the category with their Starlet, taking 22nd overall in the process. They had to fix a burst brake pipe before the event had even started but survived to tell the tale.

Next event

Round two of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship takes place in a couple of weeks’ time at Bishopscourt Race Circuit. Based near Downpatrick, the Race and Rally Bishopscourt Stages will host another octane-fuelled event on 12 March.

For more information, including stage-by-stage reports from the Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages, visit nirallychampionship.com.

Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages Rally Results (Top 10)

1 Jonny Greer/Darragh Mullen (Citroen C3) 32m38.8s
2 Derek McGarrity/Graham Henderson (Skoda Fabia) +4.6s
3 Phillip Allen/Emily Turkington (Ford Fiesta) +5.3s
4 Stephen Wright/Ger Conway (Ford Fiesta) +15.3s
5 Darren Gass/Marc McMillan (Citroen C3) +17.2s
6 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta WRC) +29.2s
7 Mark Massey/Alistair Wyllie (Ford Fiesta) +37.9s
8 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Ford Fiesta) 43.9s
9 Alan Carmichael/Lewis Carmichael (Subaru Impreza WRC) +1m04.6s
10 Michael McGarrity/Damian Garvey (Ford Fiesta) +1m37.3s

Full results are available from rallyscore.net.

ENDS.

Feb 20, 2022 | View Post

Rally Crews Rev Up for NI Championship Opener at Kirkistown!

***Image caption:*** Fintan McGrady and Aidan Hughes are gearing up for the Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages, round one of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship. The event takes place this Saturday 19 February at County Down’s Kirkistown Race Circuit. (Image: Bill Swann)

Motorsport bursts back into action at Kirkistown Race Circuit this Saturday 19 February for round one of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages Rally!

Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, Stephen Wright and Ger Conway head a high-quality entry list for the six-stage event, which is open for spectators to attend, but two-times event winner Wright will have his work cut out as he bids to take his third consecutive victory at Kirkistown

A host of former champions and event winners will be eyeing up the crown, including reigning champion, Jonny Greer, in his Citroen C3. Navigated on this occasion by Darragh Mullen, it was Greer who claimed his second N.I. Championship title last year. The Carryduff driver is back to defend his crown at what will be the first of five championship rounds that will take place between February and July.

Also in a Citroen C3 will be Darren Gass and James McCarville. Markethill’s Gass has enjoyed some sporadic outings in recent years and finished runner-up at Kirkistown in 2019.

Derek McGarrity is an eight-time N.I. champion, with successes that span a 20-year period after his maiden crown was secured in 2002. He and Graham Henderson will be in the Orchard Motorsport mix with their Skoda Fabia while Aaron McLaughlin and Kenny McKinstry have a pair of Fiesta WRCs at their disposal.

Others to keep an eye on include Philip Allen (Fiesta R5), Scottish visitor Nigel Feeney (Fiesta WRC), plus another quartet of Fiesta R5 crews that include Emma McKinstry, Joe McGonigle, Mark Massey and Kieron Graffin.

The two-wheel-drive category adds to the wonderful array of machinery with James Kennedy (Escort MkII), Jamie Grant (Starlet), Niall Carey (BMW) and Championship sponsor, Fintan McGrady, in a brand new historic specification Escort.

McGrady Insurance’s sponsorship of this year’s series marks the Downpatrick based firm’s 30th year of support for motorsport in Northern Ireland.

McGrady Insurance Director, Fintan McGrady, said:

“The motorsport community in Northern Ireland is a tight-knit and loyal band of enthusiasts which I have had the pleasure of being supported by in both sport and business. I am delighted to support the N.I. Rally Championship as a way of giving back to the community that has made such an important contribution to McGrady Insurance over the years.”

McGrady Insurance’s sponsorship will cover the five main championship events as well as the three-event Forest Challenge that runs separately from the Northern Ireland series.

Timetable

The rally starts at 9.15am with all six stages held within Kirkistown Race Circuit. Admission to the event is £10 per person. Event sponsor, Orchard Motorsport, will be on-site with a display of scale models and clothing.

For more information, including regular updates as Saturday’s rally progresses, visit nirallychampionship.com or follow on Facebook at fb.com/nirallying. Live results will be available from rallyscore.net.

ENDS.

Feb 15, 2022 | View Post

Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages 2022 – Regulations and Online Entry Submission!

2020 Winners Stephen Wright & Gary McKenna / Gary Craig Motorsport Photography

Regulations and Online Entry Submission are now available for round one of the 2022 McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the North Armagh Motor Club Ltd Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages.

The event, which takes place on Saturday 19th February, is sponsored by Orchard Motorsport, and will feature six stages based within the confines of Co.Down’s Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit.

DOWNLOAD REGULATIONS

Entries for the event should be completed online (including Online payment) at www.rallyscore.net

Please submit your competed online entry form, including the appropriate fees and seeding information promptly in order to allow us as organisers to be able to confirm the running of the event and the availability of all the necessary services and equipment at the earliest date possible.

***YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNTIL YOUR ONLINE ENTRY FEE PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED***

Entries Secretary;

Charlie Deering
Telephone +44 (0)7519 828407
e-mail: kirkistownstagesrally@gmail.com
Enquires only between 6.00pm and 10.00pm weekdays, 1.00pm and 6.00pm weekends

Jan 23, 2022 | View Post

ORCHARD MOTORSPORT SPONSORS N.I. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 OPENER!

North Armagh Motor Club is pleased to announce that ORCHARD MOTORSPORT will sponsor the opening round of this year’s McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship.

Based at Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 19 February, the Orchard Motorsport Kirkistown Stages, which is organised and promoted by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, will attract the crème de la crème of local rally talent as they battle for the spoils at the popular County Down venue.

Barry Taggart, Clerk of the Course for the event, said: “We are delighted to have secured the support of Orchard Motorsport. We are privileged to be associated with Brian Stinson, a long-standing supporter of North Armagh Motor Club, motorsport in general and rallying in particular.”

Orchard Motorsport was established in 1986 and has become the leading Motorsport & Agri-models and clothing merchandise supplier throughout Ireland from their shop in Armagh, online via www.orchardmotorsport.co.uk and their display stand at major events.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support North Armagh Motor Club and the opening round of the N. I. Rally Championship 2022,” commented Orchard Motorsport Managing Director, Brian Stinson. “There’s always a lot of buzz surrounding the opening round of the championship and Kirkistown is always a well-supported event so it’s great to be a part of it and meet the rally fans at the event.”

Competitors will tackle six stages within the confines of Kirkistown Race Circuit, which will include changes from the 2020 stages (last time ran) to maximise the mileage. In an effort satisfy all competitors’ needs, vehicle scrutiny will be on Saturday morning only, before the rally, with the opening stage set to start around 9.30am. The finish will be around 4.30pm. The stages will be minimum 90% sealed surface.

The rally will comply with current COVID 19 rules and Regulations. Entries can only be made via www.rallyscore.net Regulations and future rally information will be available from the rally virtual noticeboard at www.namcc.com Entries open on RallyScore on Sunday 23 January 2022 at 7.00pm.

If anyone would be available to marshal, contact Caroline McGuinness on 07792 037441 .

Jan 23, 2022 | View Post

Jan 20, 2022 | View Post

Kirkistown Stages Rally – Saturday 19th February 2022…

***Regulations and online Entries open for this year’s ‘Kirkistown Stages Rally’ the first round of ‘The McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship’ on Sunday 23rd of January 2022 @ 19:00hrs***

Jan 13, 2022 | View Post

Ballylisk Car Sales Orchard Country Targa Rally – Entries open!

Entries are now open for our Ballylisk Car Sales Orchard Country Targa Rally. The event takes place on Saturday 9th October 2021 and will be based within Loughgall Country Park and a number of nearby private locations. Entries open on the Rallyscore online system only, at 19.00hrs on Sunday 19th September 2021. Entries close at 20.00hrs on Saturday 2nd October 2021, or earlier if numbers reached.

Entries Secretary:

Barry Taggart, mob: 07771 892423 (between 16.00hrs and 22.00hrs please), email:
barryt27@sky.com

ENTER HERE

Entry List

DOWNLOAD REGULATIONS

Sep 17, 2021 | View Post

Carryduff’s Jonny Greer Claims Loughgall Win to Extend N.I. Rally Championship Lead!

Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick secured victory at today’s PRM Group/RPM Motorsport-backed Loughgall Stages Rally, round three of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship!

Based within the beautiful confines of County Armagh’s Loughgall Country Park, a capacity entry of 100 crews tackled six tree-lined stages. Championship leader Greer started the North Armagh Motor Club event as the number one seed in his potent Citroen C3 and was determined to make amends after his round two disappointment at Shackleton.

On that occasion, Greer looked set to win the event until a final stage puncture dropped him down the leaderboard, handing victory to Desi and Mark Henry. And it was Henry who started Loughgall as he finished the previous event – at the top of the timesheets.

The Portglenone driver powered through the opening stage 2.4 seconds faster than reigning champion Stephen Wright and Liam Moynihan, while Greer was a cautious third. However, the tables turned on stage two when Henry lost time with fuel pump troubles.

Greer capitalised on Henry’s woes and powered to the top of the leaderboard, moving in front of both Henry and Stephen Wright. Then, when stage three started, Henry was nowhere to be seen as his mechanics were busy beavering away on his Hyundai, trying to replace the broken pump.

It looked as though the struggling Hyundai pilot was either out of the rally or, if the car was fixed in time, would potentially incur some ‘late arrival’ penalties. But in a twist of fate, stage three was subsequently cancelled as a result of an issue outside of the organising motor club’s control.

A handful of crews had already completed the stage while those competitors who didn’t complete the stage – including Henry – were awarded a notional stage time. According to motorsport rules, this was the time set by the last competitor who successfully completed the cancelled test. That left Henry some 14 seconds adrift of the leaders with little chance of clawing back that time.

Then, in another twist of fate, organisers opted to scrap everyone’s stage three times. Suddenly, the battle between Greer and Henry was back on and by the end of stage five, it appeared as though one-tenth of a second separated the two drivers.

However, after consultation of the motorsport rulebook, organisers opted to reinstate those stage three times before the start of the final stage. That meant rally leader Greer had an advantage of more than nine seconds over Stephen Wright, with Desi Henry in third.

All Greer needed to do was to keep his Citroen neat and tidy through the final miles to claim victory and bolster his N.I. Championship lead. But that was easier said than done. The heavens opened before the test and organisers were forced to postpone the start on safety grounds.

Eventually, crews were allowed to tackle the rain-soaked stage with Greer taking a measured approach to secure the Loughgall spoils!

“The final stage was really difficult,” Greer said. “We were nearly caught out on some standing water. We just had to wait for the car to straighten itself.”

Desi and Mark Henry pulled out all the stops over stage six to reclaim second position from Stephen Wright. In the end, they finished 6.4 seconds behind the rally winners and were left rueing their earlier mechanical troubles.

“I think it’s safe to say we lost the rally on a technicality,” Henry said. “I think we were the fastest here today but it is what it is.”

In third position, Stephen Wright and Liam Moynihan lost time with a couple of minor mistakes throughout the day that may have cost them second position.

“I made a mistake at a square-left on the final stage and the car had a bit of a tank slapper,” Wright revealed. “That was probably the difference between second and third.”

Aidan Wray and Kieran McGrath claimed fourth overall in their Fiesta R5. It was Wray’s first visit to Loughgall and only his second event in the car. A half-spin cost them some time earlier in the day but it made little difference to the result.

In fifth overall, an excellent drive by Damian Toner and Denver Rafferty in their two-wheel-drive Ford Escort MkII saw them net the 2WD category victory. Toner is a five-times consecutive winner of the Loughgall Rally but this was the first time the event hosted a round of the N.I. Championship, which is dominated by powerful 4WD crews.

Toner failed to let the added competition faze him as made his intentions clear from the outset. The Escort pilot led the 2WD category from start to finish and was never outside the top five overall.

It is unusual for a 2WD crew to place so high, especially in the damp conditions experienced at Loughgall. Had it been dry, who knows where he might have finished!

Barry Morris and Dylan Doonan were equally impressive as they secured second in the 2WD class as well as sixth overall in their lightweight Darrian T90. Morris had been embroiled in a battle with Jason Black and Karl Egan until the Starlet crew lost time with multiple punctures. Black even managed to set some fastest 2WD times but was forced to settle for third 2WD and eighth overall.

Sandwiched between the Darrian and the Starlet in seventh were Derek McGarrity and Paddy Robinson. The Fiesta WRC crew were unable to find a rally-winning pace but still picked up some vital championship points.

Peadar Hurson and Damien Connolly recovered from an early spin to finish ninth with their Fiesta WRC, while John Bradley and Ryan Crozier completed the top 10 in their Escort MkII.

Outside the top 10, Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran were left rueing a jump-start on stage three. They incurred a one-minute penalty which ultimately dropped them out of a potential fifth-placed finish to 13th overall.

Peter Bennett and Joe Comerford retired their Skoda Fabia S2000 after clipping a tree with a rear-wheel on stage one. Nicky Caughey and Graeme Stewart retired their Evo with mechanical trouble after stage three while Arnie Lutton and Safron Thomas, who made her return to navigating for the first time in more than 10 years, were forced out with driveshaft trouble on stage four.

Next Event

Competitors can now enjoy a two-month break before they are back in action at October’s Tour of the Sperrins Rally. The penultimate round of the N.I. Championship is due to take place on 16 October. Visit nirallychampionship.com for more information.

ENDS.

Results (Top 10)

1 Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen C3) 24m29.8s
2 Desi Henry/Mark Henry (Hyundai i20 R5) +6.4s
3 Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta) +9.1s
4 Aidan Wray/Kieran McGrath (Ford Fiesta) +33.0s
5 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII) +39.2s
6 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Darrian T90) +50.1s
7 Derek McGarrity/Paddy Robinson (Ford Fiesta WRC) +1m00.3s
8 Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet) +1m06.4s
9 Peadar Hurson/Damian Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC) +1m11.4s
10 John Bradley/Ryan Crozier (Ford Escort MkII) +1m13.4s

Full results are available from rallyscore.net.

Sep 03, 2021 | View Post

N.I. Rally Championship Battle Heats Up in Loughgall Country Park on Saturday!

Motorsport returns to Loughgall Country Park this Saturday for round three of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship – and for the first time since March last year, spectators will be permitted to attend!

The PRM GROUP and RPM MOTORSPORT backed Loughgall Stages Rally has received a capacity entry of 100 crews that will battle for the spoils within the beautiful confines of the County Armagh park. They will tackle a total of six stages, all based in the park, providing an exciting and adrenaline-fuelled day out for spectators at the North Armagh Motor Club organised event.

It will be the first time that the rally has hosted a round of the Championship and for many of the title contenders, it will be their first visit to the potentially tricky venue. The tree-lined stages can be slippery in places and will favour those brave drivers who are fast and precise.

The Contenders

The battle for the 2021 Championship title is really beginning to heat up with just four points separating the top four crews. All of the contenders have entered Loughgall with former champions, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick, starting the event with the coveted ‘number one’ on the doors of their Citroen C3.

Greer won the opening round of this year’s series at Bishopscourt and was on course to take another win at round two until a final stage puncture dropped him down the order at Shackleton. That disappointment has left him with a two-point championship lead.

Desi and Mark Henry claimed that last gasp win at Shackleton, making up for their opening round retirement in their Hyundai i20 R5. They start Loughgall at number two and can’t afford another non-finish as they bid to get their title campaign back on track.

Reigning champion, Stephen Wright, holds second in the championship battle, only two points adrift of Greer. Navigated by Liam Moynihan in his Fiesta R5, the County Monaghan driver starts at number three ahead of Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes who should be match fit in their Hyundai R5 after their fifth-placed finish at last weekend’s British Championship Grampian Stages.

Derek McGarrity is the most successful driver ever to contest the Northern Ireland series. With eight championship titles to his credit, he is in the hunt for number nine but has had a challenging start to the year. Navigated by Paddy Robinson, misfiring issues with his Fiesta WRC set him back at the second event of the season but he still holds fourth in the series standings, four points adrift of the leaders.

Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran have perhaps been the surprise of this year’s series. Two top-five finishes, including second at Shackleton, have left them third in the championship battle with their Fiesta R5. The Redcastle driver starts the Loughgall event at number seven, behind former event winners, Damian Toner and Denver Rafferty.

The Loughgall event has predominantly been a two-wheel-drive-only rally for many years and Toner is the driver who has dominated in recent times. With five consecutive victories to his name, he has intimate knowledge of the venue. He could spring a surprise in his Ford Escort MkII as he fights to stop the dominance of Barry Morris’ Darrian who heads the championship’s two-wheel-drive category standings after very convincing victories at the opening two rounds.

Other leading lights include Peadar Hurson (Fiesta WRC), Niall Henry (Fiesta R5) and Ian Millar (Fiesta R5) while the two-wheel-drive category includes John Bradley (Escort MkII), Adrian Hetherington (Escort MkII), James Kennedy (Escort MkII) and Marty Toner (BMW).

Timetable

The rally starts at 9.30am with all six stages held on tarmac roads within Loughgall Country Park. Admission to the event is £10 for adults (which includes a programme) while accompanied children under the age of 16 will be admitted free of charge.

Competitors please note: North Armagh Motor Club has arranged security at the event service park giving competitors the opportunity to leave their trailers and vehicles overnight.

Regular event updates will be posted throughout the day at nirallychampionship.com while live results will be available from rallyscore.net.

Top 20 Seeds

1 Jonny Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen C3)
2 Desi Henry/Mark Henry (Hyundai i20 R5)
3 Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta R5)
4 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5)
5 Derek McGarrity/Paddy Robinson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
6 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
7 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta)
8 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC)
9 Niall Henry/Barney Mitchell (Ford Fiesta)
10 Ian Millar/David Burns (Ford Fiesta R5)
11 John Bradley/Ryan Crozier (Ford Escort MkII)
12 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Darrian T90)
14 Adrian Hetherington/Ronan O’Neill (Ford Escort MkII)
15 James Kennedy/Heather Kennedy (Ford Escort MkII)
16 Marty Toner/Kyle Diffin (BMW)
17 Gareth Irwin/Justin McCauley (Ford Escort)
18 Michael McGarrity/Damian Garvey (Ford Fiesta R5)
19 Sean Devine/Niall Devine (Ford Fiesta R5)
20 Peter Bennett/Joe Comerford (Skoda Fabia S2000)

Drivers’ Championship Standings (After Round 2)

1 Jonny Greer 56pts
2 Stephen Wright 54pts
3 Aaron McLaughlin 53pts
4 Derek McGarrity 52pts
5 Peadar Hurson 45pts
6 Barry Morris 44pts

ENDS.

Aug 16, 2021 | View Post

PRM Group & RPM Motorsports Loughgall Stages Rally – Final Instructions No 1, Roadbook, Stage Maps, Competitor’s Signing-on and self-scrutineering declaration and Road Section Driver Declaration Form (If required) are now all available…

ATTENTION all competitor’s; Final Instructions No 1, Roadbook, Stage Maps, Competitor’s Signing-on and self-scrutineering declaration and Road Section Driver Declaration Form (If required) are now all available on our website ‘Virtual Notice Board’. ***NOTE; ALL COMPETITORS MUST HAVE THEIR DECLARATIONS COMPLETED BY 8.00pm on Monday 16TH AUGUST 2021 otherwise your place will be given to a competitor on the reserve list (complete and submit one form for driver and one form for navigator)***

Aug 15, 2021 | View Post

PRM Group & RPM Motorsport Loughgall Country Park Rally Saturday 21st of August 2021…

Aug 07, 2021 | View Post

PRM Group & RPM Motorsports Loughgall Stages 2021 – Regulations and Online Entry Submission!

Current McGrady Insurance N.I. Championship leaders, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick. (Image: Jonathan MacDonald)

Regulations and Online Entry Submission are now available for round 3 of the 2021 McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the North Armagh Motor Club Ltd PRM Group & RPM Motorsports Loughgall Stages.

The event, which takes place on Saturday 21st of August, is sponsored by PRM Group & RPM Motorsports, and will feature six stages based within the confines of Loughgall Country Park.

DOWNLOAD REGULATIONS

NAMC COVID Protocol

Entries for the event should be completed online (including Online payment) at www.rallyscore.net

Entries Secretary;

Charlie Deering
Telephone +44 (0)7801 670100
e-mail: c_deering@sky.com

Aug 01, 2021 | View Post

Loughgall Stages Rally to Host N.I. Championship Event!

This year’s PRM Group and RPM Motor Sports backed Loughgall Stages Rally will host a round of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship for the first time!

Taking place on Saturday 21 August, the North Armagh Motor Club Ltd organised event will host round three of the Championship and will be held within the beautiful confines of County Armagh’s Loughgall Country Park.

PRM Group and RPM Motor Sports have agreed to sponsor the event for the first time. Managing Director, Philip Morrow, said:

“I am delighted to be associated with such a high-profile motorsport event in Northern Ireland. It provides the perfect fit for our business interests and as a keen car enthusiast, I am looking forward to seeing some of the fastest drivers in the country compete for the spoils in what is a stunning location.”

Competitors will tackle a total of six stages, all based within the confines of the park. The event’s Clerk of Course, William Fullerton, said:

“We are most grateful to PRM Group and RPM Motor Sports for their generous support, and also to Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, DAERA, AFBI Government Departments and the N.I. Forest Service for the use of Loughgall Country Park.

“We had originally planned to include a closed road stage but due to Covid restrictions imposed by the Northern Ireland Executive, unfortunately we couldn’t make it work. Instead, we will run two stages within the confines of the park that competitors will tackle three times, providing a stern challenge for all crews.

“We are also delighted to announce that spectators will be permitted into the venue but we must advise that all spectators follow the guidance issued by the Northern Ireland Executive with regards to Covid-19. The latest guidance can be found online at nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19.”

Formerly a two-wheel-drive only event, the Loughgall Stages has been won on the last five occasions by Damian Toner in his Ford Escort MkII. However, August’s event is expected to attract a host of powerful four-wheel-drive machinery that could dominate.

The likes of former champions, Jonny Greer and Derek McGarrity, as well as a number of other championship contenders, are expected to continue their battle for the McGrady Insurance crown in Loughgall.

Regulations and entry forms will be available from Sunday 1 August. Competitors will have the opportunity to walk or cycle the stage from 4-9pm on Friday 20 August and from 7-8.30am on Saturday 21 August.

The action will start at 9.30am with all six stages held on tarmac roads. Admission to the event is £10 for adults (which includes a programme) while accompanied children under the age of 16 are admitted free. For more information, visit namcc.com.

ENDS.

Notes for Competitors

– Regulations and entry forms will go live on rallyscore.net at 7pm on Sunday 1 August.

– Competitors will have the opportunity to walk or cycle the stage from 4-9pm on Friday 20 August and from 7-8.30am on Saturday 21 August.

Note for Editors

Photo caption: Current McGrady Insurance N.I. Championship leaders, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick. (Image: Jonathan MacDonald)

For more information, contact McGrady Insurance N.I. Rally Championship Press Officer, Jonathan MacDonald, on 07989 283055 or email news@irally.com.

Jul 30, 2021 | View Post

Champion Wright Takes First Blood at 2020 NI Championship Opener!

Reigning Northern Ireland Champion Stephen Wright has secured his second consecutive victory at the Pacenotes Rally Magazine Stages, round one of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK NI Rally Championship!

Navigated by Gary McKenna, Wright mastered the treacherously wet and windy conditions to secure the win at the North Armagh Motor Club event by 5.2 seconds from Derek and Mark McGeehan, with former champions Derek McGarrity and Paddy Robinson third.

It was the McGeehan father and son pairing who were fastest over the opening stage in their Mini WRC with Wright trailing close behind. Champion Wright was mindful of making a mistake early in the event after a couple of spins during his last visit to the Kirkistown venue made his bid for victory more difficult than it should have been.

However, with the first stage safely behind him, Wright started to mount a charge for the lead. He was fastest on stage two and moved into the rally lead with another fastest time over the third test.

The margins were tiny and with little room for error in the wet conditions, crews had to be inch-perfect around the venue. Wright continued to edge ahead and going into the final stage, he had 7.6 seconds in hand over his rivals.

In a final twist in the tale, the rally leaders were caught behind another competitor during the second lap of the final test. They started to panic and quickly looked at the stage times after they arrived at the finish. They still set third fastest time and it was enough to secure the Pacenotes Rally win by 5.2 seconds!

“It was hard work in there today!” Wright said after the finish. “I didn’t want to make a mistake this morning so I kept it tidy and safe on the first stage. It’s great to get the win and lead the championship again.”

While Wright sealed victory, Derek and Mark McGeehan were embroiled in a battle for the runner-up position with Derek McGarrity and Paddy Robinson. It was McGarrity’s first event in the wet with his Skoda Fabia R5 and he used the opening stages to settle in.

Initially trailing the McGeehans by seven seconds, he started eating into their advantage and was just two seconds adrift after stage four but then it all went wrong through a very wet fifth stage.

“Someone must have hit the (directional) arrows on part of the circuit as they’re pointing different directions,” McGarrity said. “I got a bit confused and ended up adding an extra 100 yards to our stage because we took a longer route!”

The incident cost him some precious seconds and he was forced to settle for third behind the father and son McGeehan team.

“We hit a bad rut in the concrete section on the second stage,” McGeehan recalled. There was a vibration in the car after that so I thought we had a puncture and backed off.”

It cost the crew some time but not enough to make any difference in the end result with Wright emerging as the deserved winner.

3rd – 10th

Outside the top three, there was plenty of drama through the field. Gareth Sayers and Ash Boulton lost around 20 seconds when their engine spluttered to a halt midway through the event. It eventually fired up again, allowing them to accelerate home in fourth.

Jason Mitchell and Kenny Bustard acquitted themselves well on their first attempt at a round of the Northern Ireland Championship in their Fiesta R5. They came home in fifth with Scottish visitor Barry Groundwater, who had Neil Shanks calling the notes, claiming sixth after a tie-break with Emma McKinstry and Kenny Hull.

Both had their fair share of dramas with McKinstry losing time after a spin and a stall. Groundwater also lost time with a spin at the end of the gravel section but he just managed to nip into sixth at the last gasp in his Impreza WRC while McKinstry had to be content with seventh.

And breathing a sigh of relief at the finish were Alan and Lucy Carmichael in their Fiesta R5. They day featured a big spin, and overshoot and a failing centre differential, plus copious amounts of muddy water inside their car!

Rounding off the top 10 were the leading two-wheel-drive contenders. Keith White and Gavin Campbell enjoyed an intense battle with husband and wife team, James and Heather Kennedy. It was Escort MkI versus Escort MkII and in the end, the MkI belonging to White won the day.

The Kennedys had held an early advantage but White powered through to take the category win and well as ninth overall with James and Heather forced to settle for the runner-up position and 10th overall. However, both crews won their respective classes.

And the rest…

Some of the leading retirements during the day include former champion, Kenny McKinstry. He had a dreadful start to the event when his wipers failed to work on the opening stage and he also lost first gear. The problems were fixed for stage two but he later exited the event due to mechanical problems on the fifth stage.

Gary and Keith McEvoy returned to competition for the first time in a few years but unfortunately their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo was forced out with transfer box failure.

Others in the wars included Philip Allen and Mark Kane. They had a big spin on the grass during the early stages and then Allen’s gearstick detached itself midway through a stage! Undeterred though, Allen plans to contest this year’s championship.

Kieron Graffin and Clive Kilpatrick were also in a spot of bother when their powersteering failed. They ran wide on a few corners and arrived at the finish of a stage with a trackside tyre sticking out of their front bumper. Then they lost their bumper in its entirety on the final stage!

Wesley Patterson and Johnny Baird commented after stage two that they just wanted to finish the event without any dramas…and then proceeded to slide off the track on the following stage. Thankfully, no damage was done!

Dominic McNeill and Tommy Speers damaged something in their Fiesta’s drivetrain during the final stage which forced them to head home slightly earlier than expected and spare a thought for Matthew and Chloe McAllister who had a substantial impact with a bale in their Subaru.

Next Round

The next round of the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship will be held at Bishopscourt Race Circuit on 7 March. Visit nirallychampionship.com for more information.

Results (Top 10)

1 Stephen Wright/Gary McKenna (Ford Fiesta R5) 31m38.4s
2 Derek McGeehan/Mark McGeehan (Mini WRC) 31m43.6s
3 Derek McGarrity/Paddy Robinson (Skoda Fabia R5) 31m57.3s
4 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Ford Fiesta R5) 32m34.1s
5 Jason Mitchell/Kenny Bustard (Ford Fiesta R5) 33m12.4s
6 Barry Groundwater/Neil Shanks (Subaru Impreza WRC) 33m19.3s
7 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Ford Fiesta R5) 33m19.3
8 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Ford Fiesta R5) 33m25.3s
9 Keith White/Gavin Campbell (Ford Escort MkI) 33m29.1s
10 James Kennedy/Heather Kennedy (Ford Escort MkII) 33m37.3

Link to full results HERE

Feb 16, 2020 | View Post

Pacenotes Rally Magazine Stages Rally 2020 – Final Instructions No 1, Scrutiny Schedule and Seeded Entry List!

Final Instructions No 1, Scrutiny Schedule and Seeded Entry List now available to download below;

Final Instructions No 1

Scrutiny Schedule

Seeded Entry List

Feb 11, 2020 | View Post

Category: NAMC

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