Archive for February, 2010

Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity is Kirkistown King!

Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity, the reigning Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Champion, opened his 2010 account with victory at the opening round of this year’s series.

Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, the Pedro Pet Foods Rally featured six stages, all held within the confines of County Down’s Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 27 February.

And it was McGarrity, together with navigator James McKee, who immediately made his intentions clear. Fastest time over the opening stage by an impressive 16.9 seconds left the crew’s rivals trailing in their dust.

That set the scene for the day as the Glengormley driver went on to secure a full complement of fastest stage times, winning the opening Hankook N.I. Championship round by almost 90 seconds.

While McGarrity raced ahead towards the overall rally spoils, a number of crews tussled for the runner-up positions. Unfortunately for number two seeds, Gary White and Dominic Carson, their challenge failed to materialise. Wheel studs sheered on their rally car at the start-line of stage one, causing a wheel to fall off!

Instead, Gary and Keith McEvoy were the surprised early second placed holders with their older specification Mitsubishi Lancer. The crew finished the opening stage 2.1 seconds clear of George Robinson and Tommy Speers, while Raymond Johnston and Fabian McAleer topped the Group N category and held fourth.

The McEvoy brothers lost some time on stage two, dropping behind both Robinson and Johnston, while a sleep deprived 21-year-old Stuart Biggerstaff also moved in front. The young Dromara man, who claimed second overall on his debut stage rally at the same venue just a few weeks earlier, was second only to event leader McGarrity over stage two.

“I didn’t get much sleep the night before the rally,” Biggerstaff admitted. “I was up late getting the car ready for the event but that’s all part of the fun!”

Second placed George Robinson was back up to speed on stage three, and he attempted to consolidate his second placed position over the ensuing tests. While young Biggerstaff moved ahead of Raymond Johnston to take third, it looked as though Robinson held a near certain second overall.

But in rallying, nothing is ever certain. Going into the final stage, Robinson was almost 24 seconds clear of Biggerstaff when mechanical problems hit the building contractor’s Subaru. He limped through the final miles but Biggerstaff pounced at the last gasp, snatching second overall from Robinson by less than five seconds!

While Robinson completed a top three of Subaru drivers, fourth overall for the Mitsubishi Lancer belonging to Raymond Johnston and Fabian McAleer was enough to seal the Sunoco Fuels Group N spoils.

Johnston fended off a challenge from Kieron Graffin and Neil Doherty, forcing the chasing crew to settle for fifth overall and second in Group N. Meanwhile, Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont completed the top six and finished third in Group N.

Unfortunately, none of these drivers registered for the Hankook Group N prize drive, which gives an opportunity for crews to win an expenses paid drive on an Intercontinental Rally Challenge event in 2011. The highest placed registered driver was Mark Donnelly, with Martin Collins second ahead of Stephen Wright.

In the Hankook two-wheel-drive category, Drew Stewart and Steven Park clung on to the top spot to seal the win, as well as seventh overall.

In the Montgomery Motorsport historic category, Philip Hunter and Michael Faloon sealed maximum points as well as 24th overall. They finished ahead of Andy Johnston and Philip Mills, while Harry Brown and Martin McGrath were third.

The Superdrive MSA N.I. Junior Rally Championship sees Stuart Biggerstaff take an early lead from Stephen Wright. Wright also finished the event as the leading Fiesta driver, taking the M-Sport Bonus Parts scheme prize.

Gary McEvoy heads the Autofashion.ie Group A Cup, and finally, Samantha Thom heads the Ladies Championship from Amanda Gaffney and Roisin Boyd.

Round two of the Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship will take competitors to Bishopscourt on 13 March. Based a few miles outside Downpatrick, the McGrady Insurance Stages Rally will feature six stages and more than 40 stage miles. More details can be found online at www.nirally.com.

ENDS.

Pedro Pet Foods Rally top 10 results

1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 27m32.5s
2 Stuart Biggerstaff/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 28m55.8s
3 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC) 29m00.6s
4 Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer (Lancer Evo 9) 29m07.0s
5 Kieron Graffin/Neil Doherty (Lancer Evo) 29m16.1s
6 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer Evo 9) 29m21.0s
7 Drew Stewart/Steven Park (Escort Mk2) 29m21.1s
8 Terry McGonigle/Damian Caldwell (Lancer Evo 9) 29m25.9s
9 Gary McEvoy/Keith McEvoy (Lancer Evo) 29m35.1s
10 Alan Burrows/Gavin Burrows (Lancer Evo 9) 29m35.4s

Feb 27, 2010 | View Post

North Armagh Motor Club hosts round one of N.I. rally series

It’s time to blow off those winter cobwebs for Northern Ireland’s leading rally talent as round one of the 2010 Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship, Kirkistown’s Pedro Pet Foods Stages, kicks into action this Saturday!

Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, the County Down venue has attracted more than 100 crews to this weekend’s event. The popular season opener, which is held on a mixture of loose and sealed surfaces, will feature six stages within the confines of the Kirkistown Race Circuit.

“We’re very pleased to have secured support from Alan Atcheson of Pedro Pet Foods,” said Clerk of the Course, Eric McCombe. “The event would simply not be possible without his support and assistance.”

Reigning champions, Derek McGarrity and James McKee, are at the top of the entry list in their S12B specification Subaru Impreza WRC. McGarrity has a busy weekend ahead, as he intends to contest the opening round of the Irish National Championship which takes place on Sunday.

Gary White and Dominic Carson start the event at number two in their Subaru Impreza, with George Robinson and Tommy Speers also in a Subaru at number three. Young Dromara driver Stuart Biggerstaff completes a quartet of Subarus at number four with Kenny Hull calling the notes.

Biggerstaff was the sensation of the New Year Stages Rally, which was held at the same venue. He finished second overall at what was his first stage rally, enjoying a dream debut behind the wheel. Biggerstaff starts ahead of the Escort WRC belonging to Dominic McNeill and Martin Carey.

In the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, Raymond Johnston and Fabian McAleer start the event as the top seeds. They will be joined by Mark Massey and former Northern Ireland Rally Champion, Connor McCloskey.

“I’m going to start the season in a (Mitsubishi Lancer) Evo,” McCloskey said, “but I may switch to a world rally car for one or two events. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs this year thanks to Hankook so I’m really looking forward to it!”

The two-wheel-drive category has also received a strong entry which is headed by Gareth and Jonathan Nevin. They start the event at number 20, with the likes of David Armstrong, Ricky McAlonen, Terrence Teggart, Drew Stewart and Fintan McGrady all chasing the laurels.

There are a number of fantastic prizes on offer during the 2010 season. The highest placed Group N driver at the end of the year will have their entry fee, tyres and ferry costs paid to give them an opportunity to take part in a European round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

There is also a Junior Prize Drive on offer which is open to competitors who are under 26 years old. An all expenses paid drive in an overseas International event with a works specification car is up for grabs. Junior competitors will be assessed by a panel of judges who will monitor all competitors on a variety of aspects during the season.

Superdrive Motorsports Centre is also supporting the Junior category with dedicated training and cash vouchers, while Sunoco Fuels is also supporting the Group N category with a drum of fuel up for grabs after each event.

Montgomery Motorsport has again pledged support for the Historic category, while Autofashion.ie is sponsoring a new Group A cup. M-Sport, the company behind the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, is also supporting the series through the launch of a new bonus parts scheme.

The Pedro Pet Foods Stages will get underway at approximately 9am this Saturday 27 February. Competitors will tackle six stages before the winning is crowned as the champagne finish in Kirkistown Race Circuit. More details, including a full entry list, can be found online at www.nirally.com.

ENDS.

Pedro Pet Foods Stages – top 10 entries

1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza S12B)
2 Gary White/Dominic Carson (Impreza)
3 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC)
4 Stuart Biggerstaff/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC)
5 Dominic McNeill/Martin Carey (Escort WRC)
6 Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer (Lancer Evo 9)
7 Mark Massey/TBA (Lancer Evo)
8 Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan (Lancer Evo 9)
9 Brendan O’Hagan/Paul Hone (Impreza WRC)
10 Gary McEvoy/Keith McEvoy (Lancer Evo)

Feb 23, 2010 | View Post