McGonigle pleased with new partnership and Lakeland Stages result!

Posted: September 21, 2004 8:51 PM

McGonigle, who finished runner-up in last year's Junior Driver category, has only entered a small selection of events this year. But with new sponsors on board in the form of Bob Mullan Motors, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 pilot has decided to climb back behind the wheel.

"Bob Mullan Motors is backing us so we decided to enter the Lakeland Stages and will also take part in the Bushwhacker Rally," he said. "If we do well then hopefully we can secure a deal with Bob for a full attack on the championship in 2005. He has three branches of his business, one in Ballykelly, Newtownstewart and Campsie. It's great to have Northern Ireland's number one car market as part of the team!"

Saturday's Lakeland Stages Rally marked the beginning of the partnership and McGonigle ensured that he and co-driver Anthony McHugh enjoyed a successful start. The crew secured eighth overall and fourth in the Production category after a tremendous battle with the series regulars.

"Two stages from the finish, four of us were separated by ten seconds. We had a chance to take sixth overall and second in the category so we decided to go for it over the last couple of stages. Unfortunately, something broke in the car and it was understeering wildly so we had to settle for eighth overall and fourth in class but it was still a real good result!"

McGonigle is now preparing for the penultimate round of the championship, Omagh's Bushwhacker Rally, which takes place on Saturday 25 September.

Side note:

World Rally Championship Production Cup driver, Niall McShea, won the event for the second successive time. Driving a Group A Mitsubishi Lancer, the Enniskillen man finished 29 seconds ahead of Kilrea's Kieran Shaw (Subaru) while two times champion, Dromara's Denis Biggerstaff (Subaru), finished third.