Battle for McGrady Insurance N.I. Rally Championship Title Goes to the Wire This Weekend!
Posted: October 14, 2021 4:43 AM
The battle for the 2021 McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK N.I. Rally Championship crown is going down to the wire this weekend when the contenders lock horns for the final time this Saturday (16 October) at the Go Power Tour of the Sperrins Rally!
The event was originally scheduled to host the penultimate round of the hotly contested series but November’s Tyrone Stages has been cancelled, ensuring that the 2021 champions will be crowned at the finish of the Magherafelt & District Motor Club spectacular.
A total of seven drivers have a chance to secure the Championship spoils but it is the 2017 champions, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick, who are in the strongest position. They lead the series by five points from 2017 champion, Stephen Wright, while 2018 winner Derek McGarrity is 11 points adrift.
Wright has the best chance of snatching success from his rival’s grasp but even if he wins the rally, Greer only needs to finish fifth or higher to secure his second N.I. title. All other crews - including Derek McGarrity, Aaron McLaughlin, Barry Morris, Peadar Hurson and Desi Henry – have a mathematical chance of becoming champions but the odds are not in their favour.
The Event & Top 5 Contenders
The Go-Power Tour of the Sperrins Rally has attracted a full capacity entry of 100 crews who will tackle six closed road stages in the Swatragh and Draperstown areas. Desi Henry and Niall Burns will lead the field away from the start ramp at approximately 10.30am in their Hyundai, followed by a plethora of high-powered machinery.
Henry had hoped to take the fight for the championship title down to the wire but the cancellation of the final round of the series - combined with his opening round retirement - has made it a near-impossible task. Instead, he will be aiming for rally victory at what the Portglenone driver can consider to be his home event.
Hot on his heels into the first stage will be the Citroen C3 belonging to 2017 champions, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick. They don’t need to win the event to become champions for the second time but sometimes it is easier to maintain concentration when going on an attack, rather than opting for a measured approach. What option will Greer choose?
At number three, 2019 champion Stephen Wright and Liam Moynihan must put as much pressure on Greer as possible. Targeting a rally win in their Fiesta R5 is their only option! A victory for Wright would mean that Greer has to finish fifth (or higher) to secure the title. Otherwise, it would be Wright who lifts the spoils.
Derek McGarrity and Paddy Robinson start the event a number four in their Skoda Fabia R5. McGarrity is an eight-time champion and last won the series in 2018. He knows what it takes to win a championship but with 11 points between himself and Greer, the crews in front must falter if he is to have any chance of a ninth title success.
At number five, Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran have perhaps been the surprise of this year’s series. A top five finish at round one was followed with second overall at round two. They dropped back after some troubles at round three but another strong result at the Sperrins in their Ford Fiesta WRC will see them end their year on a high.
Seeded Entry List
Posted: October 5, 2021 1:40 PM
1 Desi Henry/Nial Burns (Hyundai i20 R5) [11]
2 Jonathan Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen C3 R5) [10]
3 Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
4 Derek McGarrity/Paddy Robinson (Skoda Fabia R5+) [10]
5 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta WRC) [11]
6 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
7 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC) [10]
8 Philip Allen/Tbn Tbn (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
9 Seamus Leonard/John McCaffrey (Ford Focus WRC) [10]
10 Sean Devine/Tba Tba (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
11 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [9]
12 David Bogie/John Rowan (TBA) [TBA]
14 Martin McCormack/Barney Mitchell (Ford Escort) [5]
15 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Darrien T90 GTR) [7]
16 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort) [7]
17 Niall Henry/Damien Duffin (ford Fiesta R5) [11]
18 Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet) [6]
19 George Robinson/Adrian Murdoch (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
20 Ross Brusby/Dave Robson (Ford Escort) [7]
21 John Bradley/Ryan Crozier (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
22 John Devlin/John McCarthy (Ford Escort) [6]
23 Alastair Cochrane/Ian Kidd (Ford Escort) [6]
24 Gareth Black/Connor Dunlop (Toyota Starlet) [6]
25 Simon Michael/Ivor Lamont (Citroen DS3 R5) [10]
26 Andrew Bustard/Kenny Bustard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [8]
27 Michael McGarrity/Damien Garvey (Skoda Fabia R5+) [10]
28 Ian Graham/Liam McIntyre (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
29 Joe Hegarty/David Turkington (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
30 Michael McCollum/Michael Pearson (ford Fiesta R5) [11]
31 Paul Britton/Graham Henderson (Subaru Impreza N16) [8]
32 David Porter/Declan Boyle (Subaru Impreza) [8]
33 Terry Donnelly/Gareth Donnelly (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [9]
34 Arthur Kierans/Conor Maguire (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
35 Paul McKenna/Niall McKenna (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [9]
36 John Bonner/Tba Tba (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
37 Chris McGurk/Cathal McGurk (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
38 Kevin Wilson/Martin Farren (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [9]
39 Conor Curley/Nigel Frazer (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
40 Michael Conlon/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
41 William Carey/Jimmy Graham (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
42 Cathal Mulgrew/John McCabe (Ford Escort) [6]
43 Bob Riddles/Harry Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
44 William McClurkin/Tba Tba (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
45 Andrew White/Paul Hughes (Ford Escort Mk1) [7]
46 Niall Carey/Ciaran Carey (BMW Compact) [7]
47 Jonny Morrow/Adam Semple (Toyota Corolla) [6]
48 Jamie Grant/Ben Teggart (Toyota Starlet) [6]
49 Alexander Cochrane/Chris Johnston (Ford Escort) [6]
50 Lee McLaughlin/Aaron McCarron (Honda civic) [6]
51 Jonny Cargo/David McElroy (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
52 Gareth Irwin/Justin McVauley (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
53 Eamon Doherty/Damian McAuley (Ford Escort) [7]
54 Sam Adams/Michael Johnston (Ford Escort) [5]
55 Geoffrey Nevin/Gareth Nevin (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
56 Eamonn McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort) [5]
57 Fergal McGuigan/Mark McGeehan (Ford Escort) [6]
58 Anthony McCann/Damian McCann (Ford Escort) [5]
59 Mark McGrath/Ryan Girvan (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
60 Steven Cleary/Sean Devlin (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
61 Adrian Grant/Olivia Coulter (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
62 Drew Wylie/Stephen McAuley (Ford Escort RS 1800) [1]
63 Richard Hall/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort RS 1800) [1]
64 Philip Wylie/Lewis Dunlop (Ford Escort Mk2) [1]
65 John Keatley/Chris McSherry (Porsche 911) [10]
66 John Adams/Noel Watt (Ford Escort Mk2) [1]
67 Steve Benton/John Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2) [1]
68 Stephen Peoples/Kieran Burke (Ford Escort) [6]
69 Darren Hamill/Martin Harte (Ford Escort) [7]
70 Shane Murray/Conor Lavery (Ford Escort) [6]
71 Colum Tennyson/Owen Magee (Ford Escort) [6]
72 Robert Erwin/Andrew Wislon (Toyota Corolla) [6]
73 Andrew McGaffin/Jane Collins (Ford Escort Mk1) [5]
74 Matthew McGaffin/Mo Downey (Ford Escort) [5]
75 Alex McNaughton/Tba Tba (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
76 Philip White/Brian Rowan (Nissan Micra) [3]
77 Joel Eakin/Sean Doherty (Honda Civic EP3 - R) [2]
78 Ronnie McConnell/Rachel McConnell (Honda civic) [2]
79 Marshall Kennedy/Davy Young (Peugeot 306 GTi6) [2]
80 Seamus Goodfellow/Joel McFarland (Honda civic) [2]
81 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Blackledge (Peugeot 306 S16) [6]
82 James Convery/Joey Walls (Subaru Impreza) [8]
83 Gareth Deazley/Ashley Boulton (Honda civic) [4]
84 Jody McManus/TBA (Ford Fiesta R2) [4]
85 Dermot O'Hagan/Pierce Jnr. Doheny (Honda civic) [4]
86 Kevin Duggan/Keith Bovaird (Peugeot 206) [4]
87 Shane Quinn/Patrick Brides (Ford Fiesta R2t) [4]
88 Richard O'Lone/Aidan Campbell (Ford Fiesta R2) [4]
89 Conor Wilson/Emmett Kelly (Ford Fiesta R2) [4]
90 Gavin Russell/Daniel Callaghan (Honda civic) [4]
91 Keith Hall/Graham Patterson (Toyota Corolla) [4]
92 John Macleod/Orrin McDonnell (Talbot Sunbeam) [TBA]
93 Niall Inglis/Kevin Macintosh (Vauxhall Nova RWD) [4]
94 Gerard Neeson/Michael Murray (Peugeot 106) [4]
95 John Duff/Ian Hull (Proton Compact) [4]
96 Sam Stewart/Alan Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
97 Angus Johnson/George McMillen (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
98 Eamon McLaughlin/Steven Boyle (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
99 Mark Moore/Jonathan Dinsmore (Nissan Micra) [3]
100 Bill Arbuthnot/Jason McGuckin (Subaru Impreza) [9]
101 Malcolm Pedlow/Billy Regan (BMW 2002tii) [1]
Entries Received / On Line Entry
Posted: September 20, 2021 5:07 PM
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