Samsonas Fivemiletown Rally is first stop off for McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge
Posted: February 23, 2024 3:38 PM
The popular Samsonas Fivemiletown Rally this weekend will begin a four round McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge, thanks to the return of the Dogleap Rally’s gravel stages later this year, writes William Neill.
On Saturday Omagh Motor Club presents eight stages, covering around 31 competitive miles and over 50 entries headed by Vivian Hamill and Lorcan Moore. Last year the Volkswagen Polo R5 driver finished third, just 2.6 seconds from winner Mark Donnelly. The Ballygawely man’s aim, when setting off from the Fivemiletown High School ceremonial start at 9.21am, will be to not only outdo last year’s result but last weekend’s second in Killarney.
Ryan Caldwell and Shane Byrne are Skoda Fabia mounted in car two and last year’s runner up, Gareth Mimnagh and Isle of Man’s Barry McCarney start with three on the door of a Ford Fiesta R5, ahead of Andrew Purcell and Kaine Treanor.
Derek Mackarel, guided by Darren Curran, means business upgrading from the Mitsubishi Lancer E9 he took to eighth last year to another of the popular Fiesta R5s also used by Niall McGonigle and Caolan McKenna at six.
Donemana’s Paul Briton and Graham Henderson are first of the class eight entries with a Subaru Impreza before Shane McGirr and Denver Rafferty treat spectators to a Lada Riva – adding variety to the two-wheel-drive scene in Northern Ireland.
Historic-spec Ford Escort RS1800 of Adrian Hetherington rounds out the first ten starters but there will be overall competition from the likes of other nearby seeded Ford men Hugh McDaid (RS1800), Sam Stewart (Mk2) and James McCarville (Fiesta R5).
Action starts on the 6.3-mile Jenkin stage at 10.06am before a short distance to SS2, Crocknagrally. Following a regroup back at the school grounds from 10.53am, crews tackle 2.7-mile of Doon for the first time before repeating Jenkin and Crocknagrally. From there it is a 1pm service and back to Doon.
A revised layout for the final pass of both Jenkin and Crocknagrally will keep drivers on their toes right to the Tempo scheduled finish at 4pm in a rally that last year had just over 13 seconds split the first five finishers.
Seeded Entry List
Posted: February 21, 2024 4:28 AM
1 Vivian Hamill/Lorcan Moore (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) [11]
2 Ryan Caldwell/Shane Byrne (Skoda Fabia R5) [11]
3 Gareth Mimnagh/J Barry McCarney (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
4 Andrew Purcell/Kaine Treanor (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) [10]
5 Derek Mackarel/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
6 Niall McGonigle/Caolan McKenna (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
7 Paul Britton/Graham Henderson (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
8 Ashley Dickson/Martin Brady (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
9 Shane McGirr/Denver Rafferty (Lada Riva) [7]
10 Adrian Hetherington/Ronan O'Neill (Ford Escort MK2 RS1800) [1]
11 Hugh McQuaid/Martin Bryne (Ford Escort MK2 RS1800) [6]
12 Sam Stewart/Alan Johnston (Ford Escort) [6]
14 James McCarville/Conal McNulty (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
15 Shane Murray/Gary Hade (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
16 Dominic Leonard/Martin Baxter (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [8]
17 Owen Mallon/Shaun Scullion (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
18 Robert McKelvey/Declan Campbell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [8]
19 Paul McCann/Mark Murphy (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
20 Arthur Kierans/Shane Maguire (Subaru Impreza 555) [8]
21 Ruairi Maguire/Grace O'Brien (Vauxhall Corsa) [4]
22 Stewart McClean/Gerard Neeson (Vauxhall Nova) [4]
23 Darragh Kelly/Eamonn Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
24 Cathal Mulgrew/Kieran Mulgrew (Ford Escort) [6]
25 Tony McKenna/Karl Fallis (Ford Escort) [5]
26 Andy Magee/Michael Johnston (Ford Escort) [5]
27 Bob Riddles/Ian Kidd (Ford Escort MK2) [6]
28 Aaron Cunningham/Paul McGahon (Ford Escort) [6]
29 Ryan McCanney/Conor McGurren (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
30 Ciaran McCanney/Emmet Quinn (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
31 Niall Connolly/Matthew McMahon (Talbot sunbeam) [6]
32 Mervyn Wilson/Ricky Gamble (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) [8]
33 Travis Humphrey/Dion Coyle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
34 Joseph Kelly/Killian McArdle (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [2]
35 Bryan Jardine/Declan McKenna (Ford Escort) [1]
36 Simon Woodside/Terry Walkingshaw (Ford Escort) [1]
37 Paul Maguire/Ben Thompson (Subaru Impreza) [8]
38 Andrew McMahon/Gareth Henry (Ford Escort G3) [5]
39 Josh Douglas/Matthew Rooney (Ford Escort) [1]
40 Richard McCrea/David Kerr (Subaru Impreza) [8]
41 Andrew McCormick/Rudi Tate (Vauxhall Chevette) [6]
42 Drew Chambers/Wendy Blackledge (Peugeot 206 GTI) [2]
43 Ryan McKenna/Tony McGovern (Ford Escort) [4]
44 Adam Semple/Sean Doherty (Ford Escort G3) [4]
45 Ben Fallis/Louise McBarron (Suzuki Swift) [3]
46 John Okane/Niall Carey (Ford Escort) [5]
47 Chrisy Corry/Dwayne McPhillips (Ford Fiesta) [2]
48 James McGovern/Louise Boyle (Toyota Corolla) [2]
49 Derek Robinson/Darren Flanagan (Toyota Twincam) [4]
50 Gerard Harte/Timothy Harte (Ford G3 escort) [6]
51 Ronnie Boyd/Tristan Kelly (Volkswagen Polo) [3]
52 Anthony Quinn/Gerard Keyes (FORD FIESTA ST) [2]
53 Kalum Graffin/Richard Morton Crozier (Opel Corsa Rally4) [2]
54 Ryan MacHugh/Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta) [2]
55 David Dennison/Gareth Lewthwaite (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [8]
Sportity
Posted: February 9, 2024 5:33 PM
Rally Launched / Press Release
Posted: February 1, 2024 1:46 AM
Entries Received / On Line Entry / Regulations / Details
Posted: January 16, 2024 7:44 AM
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