Easy Enniskillen Junior 1000 Victory for Josh & Tommy!
Posted: May 18, 2016 8:48 AM
The third round of the 2016 McGrady Insurance ANICC Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland, in association with Rallysales.eu took place at St. Angelo airfield near Enniskillen, for the Enniskillen Motor Club’s May Day Stages event. Just four Junior 1000 crews lined up for the six stage event, in changeable conditions, as the 14-17 year rally stars of the future took to the tarmac and concrete surfaced special stages.
Winner of the first two rounds was 2015 champion- Josh McErlean, and the 16 year old with co-driver Tommy McErlean in his familiar Peugeot 107 was to assume the lead position again. Indeed the Kilrea teenager would set fastest time on each of the six stages, and was delighted as he crossed the finish line.
His pace was eye-opening at times, with stage times in the little 1000cc 107 that would have shamed many in the main field. Indeed on stage one the crew would have been 42nd in the main field out of 97 stage finishers. It is no surprise that they are leading the English Junior 1000 series at their first attempt also.
“It was a good day” said Josh. ”The stages were enjoyable, and we just kept pushing ourselves for practice. It was just a shame Peter retired so early.”
Expected to be second were 15 year old Peter Bennett with co-driver Mac Kierans. Peter, the reigning Scottish Junior 1000 Champion was in the mean looking Boost and Boom Skoda Citigo. They had teething problems on the N.I debut of the car in Kirkistown, and St.Angelo was to prove incredibly unlucky. The car went into safe mode before the start, but the fault was traced to a broken wire and cured by the mechanics before the start. However just a half a mile into stage one the car cut out completely. This time it was a broken battery terminal, as the car was pushed into service. Cruelly despite the problem being cured rapidly the 15 year old was unable to re-start in the Trophy Rally, as there was no provision for the Juniors to enter this, so it was an early trip home for the crew.
Scottish visitor 14 year old Peter Beaton and co-driver Andrew Bushe in their Citroen C1 got off to a steady start, but nevertheless slotted into second place, a position they went to lose all day. It was a long trip for the Aberdeenshire lad, but he is enjoying immensely the McGrady Junior series.
“This is a great venue. So far the venues have been excellent, really good driving in them. I think more Scottish crews should be doing these events also.” said Peter. There were no major dramas, the only minor one, an altercation with a chicane on the penultimate test, which luckily resulted in no real time loss and a damaged front wing. Whilst Josh McErlean was in a different league, Peter improved his pace all day and was delighted to claim his best Junior result.
It was the first rally for 16 year old Ryan McIvor in his Toyota Aygo, with co-driver Conor Murphy on board to help guide the newcomer. On stage one they had a spin, dropping twenty seconds. However the newcomer showed great promise with second fastest times on stages two, four and five, just a fraction ahead of Peter Beaton on those tests stages. A spin at the top corner on stage three also cost time, but worse was to follow on the final test as the car stopped in the farm-yard section. When the car eventually re-started they just made it round to the finish, claiming third place.
Photos
Posted: May 18, 2016 8:43 AM
Results
Posted: May 18, 2016 8:33 AM
1 Derek McGeehan/Laurence Smith (BMW Mini WRC) 27:21.9
2 Kenny McKinstry/Derek Crossan (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC) 27:33.6
3 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII) 27:37.9
4 William Armstrong /William Black (Ford Escort MkII) 27:55.5
5 Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV) 28:00.2
6 Chris Armstrong/David Jamison (Ford Escort MkII) 28:03.2
7 Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort MkII) 28:09.4
8 Alan Smyth/Andrea Sproule (Suzuki Swift S1600) 28:11.1
9 Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) 28:20.7
10 Declan McCrory/Paddy McCrudden (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) 28:21.2
Class Winners
Class 1: Martin Collins/Jason Rea (Honda Civic)
Class 2: Gerry Farmer/Mark Britton (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI)
Class 3: Ruairi Maguire /Mairead McBride (Vauxhall Corsa)
Class 4: Travis Humphrey/Damien Conlin (Peugeot 205)
Class 5: Alan Smyth/Andrea Sproule (Suzuki Swift S1600)
Class 6: William McClurkin /Paul Morrison (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 7: Barry Morris/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 8: Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 9: Derek McGeehan/Laurence Smith (BMW Mini WRC)
Leaders After:
SS1 Kenny McKinstry/Derek Crossan (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC)
SS2-4 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4-6 Derek McGeehan/Laurence Smith (BMW Mini WRC)
Stage Winners:
SS1 Kenny McKinstry/Derek Crossan (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC)
SS2 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
SS3 Barry Morris / Declan Campbell (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
SS5 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort MkII)
SS6 Derek McGeehan/Laurence Smith (BMW Mini WRC)
Seeded Entry List
Posted: April 27, 2016 8:56 AM
Entries Received / On Line Entry
Posted: April 15, 2016 10:22 AM
Erne Skip Hire & Recycling Mayday Stages Rally 2016
Posted: March 31, 2016 6:22 AM
Enniskillen Motor Club are pleased to announce local Enniskillen business Erne Skip Hire & Recycling are continuing their sponsorship of the May Day Stages Rally.
Erne Skip Hire & Recycling Director, Declan Magee, announced that the company is delighted to continue its sponsorship of the annual event based at St Angelo taking place as usual on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May.
CoC Mr Brian D'arcy and deputy CoC Martin McGarritty welcomed the great news and said that they were very pleased to be working with such professional and dedicated rally entusiasts as Declan and Benny.
The rally will be called 'The Erne Skip Hire & Recycling May Day Stages Rally 2016' and will see over 120 rally cars blast round St Angelo Airfield on Bank Holiday Monday with the first car away at 9.00am. This year, stage design consultant Ron Neely is currently working on a new and revised route and as usual will provide a very exciting and entertaining event for both competitors and spectators.
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