Lurgan Park Rally - (Sat) 10 Aug 13

In Car

Posted: February 6, 2014 12:30 PM

Kevin Kelleher & Martin Brady (Subaru Impreza WRC) SS7


Ronan Campbell & Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort BDA) SS8

Photos

Posted: February 6, 2014 12:27 PM

Mark Breen Photography

Emma McKinstry returns to Lurgan Park

Posted: February 6, 2014 12:24 PM

Banbridge driver Emma McKinstry made a return to the driving seat on Saturdays Lurgan Park rally organised by North Armagh Motor Club. Co-driven by Kenny Hull and with backing from local businesses William Bell & Co. funeral directors and The Bridge Bar Banbridge.

Despite not having driven competitively since February Emma settled in from the word go in the McKinstry Motorsport subaru impreza wrc.

After 5 stages Emma and Kenny were lying 8th overall only 0.3 seconds ahead of Wesley Patterson and with less than 10 seconds covering 5th to 8th place.

The final 3 stages would see the route reversed, which seemed to suit Emma. While the battle for overall honours continued between Kenny McKinstry and Garry Jennings, Emma was the best of the rest setting 3rd fastest time on all three remaining stages, coming as close as 3 seconds to Kenny in the S14, and climbing the leaderboard to finish the day 5th overall and first in class.

Emma and Kenny would like to thank all at McKinstry Motorsport for a faultless car and also sponsors William Bell & Co. and The Bridge Bar.

JENNINGS/MORAN CUT LOOSE IN LURGAN

Posted: February 6, 2014 12:20 PM

Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings took a convincing win on last Saturday’s Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally. Co-driven by Michael Moran in his Subaru, Jennings finished 12s up on Banbridge man Kenny McKinstry and his co-driver Claire Gamble. Kevin Kelleher took the final podium place and made it a Subaru top three. West Cork man Kelleher had Martin Brady on the notes for the day. Craigavon Borough Council once again supported the rally and the thousands of spectators who attended were able to enjoy the beautiful park in some decent weather.

The special stages are short and sharp. The pattern over the years has been that the rally is won and lost by just the odd second or two. Over the first three stages last weekend Jennings and McKinstry were indeed swapping tenths of seconds. Stages 4 & 5 however included a gravel section. Current Irish Forestry Champion Garry Jennings really cut loose on these two. He was fastest over both by three seconds.

The final three stages were almost a formality for Jennings and he won by 12 seconds, a lifetime in Lurgan Park terms. Garry has won GpN many times in Lurgan, generally finishing in the overall top six. This was his first time in Lurgan in a WRC car, and his first outright win in the Park. McKinstry has taken victory in Lurgan 11 times over the years. He will have to wait at least another 12 months to make that a dozen on this unique North Armagh Motor Club event.

Eugene Donnelly and Derek McGarrity did not make the start, Donnelly because of a close family bereavement and McGarrity because his Focus WRC wasn’t ready. This may have made Jenning’s job simpler, but this was still a very emphatic win for the Kesh based oil distribution man.

Kevin Kelleher’s third place was also very impressive. It was his first time competing in the Park. He worked his way up from 6th initially to take the final podium place. Ballinamallard’s Jonny Leonard, who had his mum Geraldine co-driving in his GpA Lancer, made a conservative start, then scythed through to take 4th. Kenny McKinstry’s daughter Emma also had a fine drive to 5th and got ahead of Derek McGeehan in his Mini WRC on the final stage.

Lisburn’s Wesley Patterson also impressed by taking ‘Best Escort’ accolade and 7th o/a, just 3s ahead of Frank Kelly in a similar Mk2.The latter had been in front, but a high speed spin over the grass left him playing ‘catch-up’ on Patterson.

Results

Posted: February 6, 2014 12:15 PM

1st Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15.13.8
2nd Kenny McKinstry/Claire Gamble (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15.25.3
3rd Kevin Kelleher/Martin Brady (Subaru Impreza WRC) 16.01.9
4th Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) 16.05.3
5th Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC) 16.06.2
6th Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (JCW Mini WRC) 16.06.4
7th Wesley Patterson/Russell Harrold (Ford Escort MkII) 16.13.1
8th Frank Kelly/Peter Dunlop (Ford Escort MkII) 16.16.4
9th Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (MG Metro 6R4) 16.19.3
10th Keith White/David Lyness (Ford Escort Mk1) 16.25.8

Class Winners: -
CL1 Mark Massey/Damian McDermott (Lancer N):
CL2A Alan Smyth/Peter Thompson (Citroen C2R2):
CL2B James & Rebecca Kennedy (Escort):
CL3 Wesley Patterson/Russell Harrold (Escort):
CL4 Jonny & Geraldine Leonard (Lancer):
CL5 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC):
CL6 Stephen Mawhinney/Jonny Magee (Sunbeam Lotus):
CL7 Ian Millar/Stephen Anderson (Escort RS1800).

Lurgan Park Rally - (Sat) 10 Aug 13 - RESULTS

Results by RallyScore.Net
Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)

Slowly Sideways Entries

Posted: August 8, 2013 9:10 AM

Seeded Entry List

Posted: August 5, 2013 11:30 PM

1 Kenny McKinstry/Claire Gamble (Subaru Impreza WRC) [5]
2 Eugene Donnelly/Adrian Frazer (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [5]
3 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Subaru Impreza WRC S12) [5]
4 Derek McGarrity/TBA (Ford Focus WRC) [5]
5 Derek McGeehan/Lawrie Smyth (Mini Countryman WRC) [5]
6 Alan Carmichael/Michael Dunlop (Mini Countryman WRC) [5]
7 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (MG Metro 6R4) [4]
8 James Gillen/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [5]
9 Denis Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [5]
10 Ray Brammer/Gary McElhinney (Subaru Impreza WRC S8) [5]
11 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC) [5]
12 Kevin Kelleher/Paddy Robinson (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [5]
14 Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6) [4]
15 Andrew Mullen/Elaine Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) [1]
16 Mark Massey/Damian McDermott (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) [1]
17 Pat  O’Connell/Mark   Wiley (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) [1]
18 Marc Johnston/Richard Bell (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) [1]
19 Keith White/David Lyness (Ford Escort Mk I) [3]
20 Rodney White/  (Talbot Sunbeam) [2B]
21 Joe McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Renault Clio R3 Maxi) [2B]
22 Trevor Wilson/Sarah Faloon (Ford Escort Mk I) [2B]
23 Cal McCarthy/Eamonn Dullea (Honda Civic R3) [2B]
24 Darren McKelvey/Elaine Maguire (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8.5) [1]
26 John Devlin/Gavin Devlin (Talbot Sunbeam) [2B]
27 Raymond Johnston/Jody McManus (Ford Escort RS1800) [7]
28 David Greer/Brian Crawford (Opel Ascona 400) [7]
29 Ian Millar/Stephen Anderson (Ford Escort RS1800) [7]
30 Mark McDonald/Robin Pitts (Ford Escort G3) [2B]
31 Simon Gordon/Billy Regan (Vauxhall Astra) [2B]
32 Andrew McCormick/Chris McSherry (Vauxhall Chevette) [2B]
33 Gary Owens/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort RS1800) [6]
34 Stephen Mawhinney/Jonny Magee (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus) [6]
35 Mervyn Hill/Mark Quinn (Talbot Sunbeam Lotus) [6]
36 Raymond Nelson/Chris Nelson (Ford Escort Mk I RS2000) [6]
37 Alan Smyth/Peter Thompson (Citroen C2 R2) [2A]
38 Alan Cassells/Gary Dean (Peugeot 106 S16) [2A]
39 Sean Agnew/Peter Deery (Citroen C2 R2) [2A]
40 Trevyn   Spiers/Gary   Toner (Peugeot   106 GTI) [2A]
41 Martin Teggart/Arnold Lutton (Ford Escort Mk II) [2B]
42 Frank Kelly/Peter Dunlop (Ford Escort Mk II RS) [3]
43 Wesley Patterson/Russell Harrold (Ford Escort Mk II RS) [3]
44 Mervyn Wedlock/Damien McCabe (Ford Escort Mk II) [2B]
45 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor (Ford Escort Mk II) [3]
46 Alastair Cochrane/Ryan Loughran (Ford Escort Mk II) [2B]
47 John Waring/Lorraine Reynolds (Ford Escort Mk II) [3]
48 Fintan McGrady/Mark Hanna (Ford Escort Mk II) [3]
49 James Kennedy/Rebecca Kennedy (Ford Escort Mk II) [2B]
50 Drew Stewart/Ronnie Gilchrist (Ford Escort Mk II) [2B]
51 Hugh Murdoch/Ewan Murdoch (Ford Escort Mk II) [3]
52 Tom Morris/Colin Harkness (Ford Escort Mk II) [3]
53 Bob Adamson/Ben Teggart (Ford Escort RS1800) [2B]

Final Instructions

Posted: August 5, 2013 1:52 PM

Available at:

Lurgan Park Rally

DONNELLY`S LURGAN BID

Posted: August 1, 2013 1:35 AM

The buzz is building for the iconic Lurgan Park Rally on Saturday 10th August. The rally, supported by Orchard Motorsport and Craigavon Borough Council is once again attracting an exciting entry, with the latest addition being 5 times Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly.

Many times over the years Donnelly has come close to winning Lurgan Park, but the ultimate prize has so far eluded the Magherafelt man. Donnelly will drive the McKinstry Motorsport Impreza WRC S14. He did have an outing in the car a while ago at Enniskillen Motor Club’s St Angelo Rally, and won that, so maybe this will be the year that Eugene will fulfil his Lurgan Park ambition.

He commented from his current base at Lakeland Tyres in Enniskillen,
“I found the Impreza S14 a fabulous car to drive. It has very good traction. It won the Donegal International this year with Sam Moffett driving, so it is obviously a good car. Lurgan Park is always a great day out, a bit of fun. I’ve driven every sort of car there – the Mk2 and the Mk3 Escorts, the Celica, a Subaru, the Corolla WRC. I came close to winning in the Corolla, but Kevin Lynch outgunned me in his Subaru, which had that wee bit more grunt. You need loads of power in Lurgan Park.”

Eugene will be co-driven in the Park by Adrian Fraser, who sat with him in St Angelo. The car will be backed by Lakeland Tyres & Yokohama, as well as Protune Remapping.

As ever the rally is attracting lots of interest. Another driver who really wants to win is also a former multiple Tarmac Champion, Derek McGarrity. However it is going to be touch and go if McGarrity can make the line-up, as his Focus WRC blew its engine on the Donegal Rally and it will be close to the deadline before it is returned to his Glengormley base ready for fitting to his Focus.

Entries Open

Posted: July 12, 2013 2:47 PM

Entries are now starting to roll in and quite a number of the country's top drivers have committed to this event.
Regs and entry form have been posted on the club website so if you are interested in competing please get your entries in ASAP.

North Armagh Car Club
Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs - www.motorsportni.org

ORCHARD MOTORSPORT LURGAN PARK RALLY

Posted: June 30, 2013 7:46 PM

he ever-popular Lurgan Park Rally, which has been running in its present guise since 1980, will take place this year on Saturday 10th August. Orchard Motorsport will again be backing the event. As well as attracting top class World Rally Cars this high profile event will incorporate the Mk2 Escort Challenge. This should provide even more spectacular rally action. A wide variety of family orientated activities and lots of catering will also be provided within the confines of the beautiful Lurgan Park to make it a great day out for all. Full television coverage by RPM should also add to the atmosphere.

Regulations for the rally are now available on the website. Two previous winners, Kenny McKinstry and Darren Gass, both in Subaru WRCs, have pledged to take their place in the fifty invited rally crews. There will once again be a centralised service paddock. Eight special stages, four run twice, will provide the meat of the action. The final loop of two stages in the iconic natural amphitheatre of the park is to a new design. This should add extra interest for the drivers as well as the anticipated 10,000 spectators.

The rally is organised by North Armagh Motor Club. As well as sponsorship from Orchard Motorsport, Craigavon Borough Council also fully supports the rally. The Event Director is the vastly experienced William Fullerton. The Clerk of the Course is Barry Taggart and event secretary is Keith Somerville.

For further information tel 07745 959141 / +44 7745 959141 or by e-mail at ksomerville@namcc.com

Regulations / Club Website

Posted: June 30, 2013 7:45 PM

North Armagh Car Club
Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs - www.motorsportni.org