Benbradagh Hilllclimb - 3 May 03

Posted: May 11, 2003 8:55 PM

The first of the Downtown Radio backed NI Championship Hillclimb events, began early on Saturday, with fine sunshine and dry conditions in a battle between Leister and Robert Morgan, but Leinster had the time well in hand at this stage, both men inside the 60 second barrier over the 1.2mile Championship course.

After lunch for the first timed run, the rain began, and it was downhill from that point on, with a battle of wills between the many drivers in the various classes. This was Leinster's finest hour, and was to be unbeaten after this run, as the rain simply got heavier, and washed away any hopes of any of the drivers catching the quick Derry driver. However, danger man on the event was another Maiden City Driver, and local man, Kevin Lynch, in one of the most advanced Subaru's in Ireland, who was the only other driver to break the sub-60 second time up the Benbradagh climb.

Lynch's car really suited the conditions, and with slip control and just about every auto gizmo working on board, the Dungiven man stormed up the hill in a quickest time 59.43 seconds on the first timed run. However, the difficult conditions on the start line prevented the WRC car from beating the Leinster time, but retained the Best Local driver award as well as the winner of class 18B.

With the conditions deteriorating, to such an extent that the wind caused the start pavilion to be blown into a field, many drivers did not attempt the final timed run. However, Robert Morgan did run up the hill in an attempt to catch the Leinster charges, but spray and water simply slowed the Belfast driver and made the run one that would be better gained by driving through a car wash!

Benbradagh Round 1, was good for Leinster and the Philbeam at the start of the season, and adds to his success in the ANICC Sprint Championship as well.

Class    Driver    Car    Best Time
1  171  Keith Scott  Maguire Imp  01:11.25
2  917  Jimmy Dougan  Locost  01:07.90
3  120  Seamus Morris  Darrian T90  01:04.38
4  38  Rudi Gage  Mini Copper  01:10.14
5  15  Conor Lavery  Bmw M3  01:08.01
6  42  Robert Gage  Nova Sport  01:09.49
7  54  Robin Titterington  Porsche 911  01:13.13
10  64  Bryan Pearson  Alfa Romeo  01:21.01
11  99  Ian Leinster  Crossle 32F  01:08.77
12  81  Gavin Millington  Aubain Rove  01:00.86
13  30  Robert Morgan  Pilbeam  00:58.54
14  105  Paddy Heron  Talbot 105  01:59.44
18A  7  Norman Kerr  Escort Mki  01:08.93
18B  111  Kevin Lynch  Subaru  00:59.43
17  33  Michael Carlin  Escort Mki  01:15.43