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Kirkistown (North Armagh MC) - 18 Feb 06

Posted: February 20, 2006 10:54 PM - 10741 Hits

euroCABLES Rally

Round 1 - 2006 Northern Ireland Rally Championship

  • Dungiven’s Kevin Lynch avoids disaster to take Eurocables rally win!
  • Full Results and Times
  • Video Clip
  • Photos

Posted: February 20, 2006 10:54 PM

Dungiven’s Kevin Lynch avoids disaster to take Eurocables rally win!
Dungiven’s Kevin Lynch emerged victorious from Saturday’s Eurocables Stages Rally, the opening round of the 2006 MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Based at County Down’s Kirkistown Race Circuit, the S9 Subaru pilot immediately set the circuit alight with fastest times on the opening three stages. Consistently a few seconds faster than his rivals, Lynch was simply dominating the event but the tide was set to turn over the final three tests.

A couple of mistakes during the closing miles dropped Lynch and navigator Martin McNicholl into the clutches of the chasing pack. A spin at the first corner of the fifth stage saw the KPL backed Subaru lose some of his advantage but with 13 seconds still in hand, Lynch looked like an almost certain bet for victory.

Meanwhile, Bangor’s Michael Curran was keeping a close eye on his rear view mirror. The Skoda Octavia WRC pilot, who sealed a deal to drive the Feckin’ Irish Whiskey backed car just two days before the start, was fighting for the runner-up spot with Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnston.

Slowed by another competitor through stages three and four, Curran had a clean run through the fifth test to set fastest time. He had the bit between his teeth and with one second in hand over Johnston, he pushed hard over the closing miles.

Curran and co-driver Fabian McShane set a blistering pace, setting fastest time on the sixth and final stage to seal the runner-up position. As they arrived at the final time control, it was only then that they realised how close they came to snatching a last gasp victory.

Unknown to Curran, rally leader Kevin Lynch had skated off the road at the hairpin during the final test, swiping his pristine Subaru against a wall of tyres. Facing the opposite direction, the defending champion had a gathering up session on his hands. Almost certain victory suddenly disappeared and Lynch was forced to go into ‘max attack’ mode!

The Harper Rally prepared Subaru eventually recovered and reached the finish with just four seconds to spare over Curran! A missing front bumper was testament to how close Lynch came to disaster but he survived to tell the tale. For the second year in succession, it was the KPL Subaru pilot who sprayed the champagne at the Eurocables Stages finish!

With Michael Curran finishing second in the hired Skoda ahead of Raymond Johnston and Richard Bell, Cookstown's Glenn Allen brought his Toyota Corolla WRC home ahead of Strabane's Sean Devine’s S9 specification Subaru. The construction company owner lost time on the opening test with gearbox troubles but recovered to take a top five result. Completing the top six, Ballymena's Nigel Hicklin just pipped Dromara's Denis Biggerstaff on the final stage by 0.4 seconds to take sixth.

Production category
Greyabbey’s Dickie Curran had a tremendous battle with last year’s production category winner, Martin Elliott. After Curran grabbed the lead on the opening stage and extended it on the third by another three seconds, Elliott started a charge that would see a nail biting finish to the event.

Bit by bit, the Antrim man cut Curran’s advantage and with 1.2 seconds separating the two men, a final stage shoot-out was on the cards! Curran unleashed the power of his new Lancer but again it was Elliott who was fastest. However, it wasn’t enough to grab victory and Curran did enough to secure the win - by one tenth of a second!

Limavady’s Richard Hogg and Mark Hanna returned to the sport after a year’s absence and secured the final podium position ahead of Kircubbin’s Stephen Kelly and Sam Paul. Drumaness’ Gary Rodgers and Geoff Patterson finished fifth with Draperstown’s Paul McKenna and Charlie Beatty completing the top six.

Two wheel drive
Portadown’s Superdrive Motorsport Centre is sponsoring the two wheel drive category of this year’s MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship, with prizes up for grabs for the top three two wheel drive competitors at each rally. This year’s Eurocables Stages Rally saw Lisburn’s Wesley Patterson bring his Mark 2 Escort home in 13th position, with Crumlin’s Rodney White taking his Sunbeam to 19th overall and Draperstown’s Camillus Bradley 23rd overall in his Mark 2 Escort.

Results
1 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Subaru Impreza WRC) 30.56.2
2 Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Skoda Octavia WRC) 31:00.2
3 Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 31:04.0
4 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 31:07.9
5 Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 31:14.9
6 Nigel Hicklin/Charlie Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 31:37.8
7 Denis Biggerstaff/Jonathan McDonald (Subaru Impreza WRC) 31:38.2
8 Seamus Heron/Billy McCullins (Toyota Corolla WRC) 31:55.3
9 Dick Curran/Chris Curran (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8.5 MR) GpN 32:03.1
10 Martin Elliott/Brian Crawford (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6) GpN 32:03.2

Leaders after:
SS1-6 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners:
SS1 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS2 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS3 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS5 Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Skoda Octavia WRC)
SS6 Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Skoda Octavia WRC) Club Website:
PRE EVENT NEWS
  • Bangor’s Michael Curran seals a deal to drive Octavia WRC!
  • Competitors gear up for Pacenotes N.I. Rally series!
  • Entry list available
  • Regulations available
17/02/06
Bangor’s Michael Curran seals a deal to drive Octavia WRC!
Bangor’s Michael Curran has sealed a deal to drive Shane Braniff’s Skoda Octavia World Rally Car at this Saturday’s Eurocables Stages Rally!

The young 25-year-old looked set to miss the event after selling his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7 earlier this week, the car which he used to win the 2005 Irish National Group N trophy. But in a last minute twist of fate, Curran secured a deal and will pilot the Skoda at the opening round of the MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

“Thanks to Rich Sauces and Feckin’ Irish Whiskey for giving me this opportunity!” Curran said. “It looked like I was going to miss the event but I’m glad to say I’ll be there! I’m really looking forward to it!”

Curran, who took a Subaru Impreza WRC to third overall at last year’s Kirkistown event, will be on a massive charge come Saturday morning. The Skoda Octavia WRC is widely regarded to be extremely quick in a straight line and with a young hotshot behind the wheel, it could prove to be a very potent package!

Competitors gear up for Pacenotes N.I. Rally series!
Rally drivers are gearing up for the opening round of the 2006 MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship, due to kick off at Kirkistown Race Circuit this Saturday 18 February!

Defending champion, Kevin Lynch (Dungiven), heads the entry list in his Subaru Impreza WRC. The successful businessman virtually ran away with last year’s championship but his attendance at the opening round of the 2006 series is anything but certain. Business commitments have already interfered with his participation at two rallies this year, one of which was also based at Kirkistown, and Lynch cites the same reason for his uncertain attendance.

“We’re up to our two ears with work at the moment,” Lynch said two days before the event. “Will I be at Kirkistown? - that’s a million dollar question! To be honest, I really haven’t got the time. I put an entry in to make sure I had the option and the car is ready but I’m 95% certain I won’t be there. Saying that, it’s still at the back of my mind and if the time is there on Friday evening and Saturday morning, then I’ll be sitting on the start line!”

His dominance of last year’s series makes the Dungiven driver the hot favourite for victory. Glenn Allen (Cookstown), who is seeded second for this Saturday’s event, was last year’s championship bridesmaid. With Damian Connolly sitting beside him, the Corolla WRC pilot is hoping to go one better in 2006.

“I haven’t been out since Rally Ireland in October,” Allen said, “so it’ll be good to get back out and see what the craic is. The boys are finishing the car off today (Thursday) so hopefully I’ll get a run in her on Friday. We’re going to do the full championship and have a go at the Irish National series as well.”

Sean Devine (Strabane) has also entered the event in his S9 specification Impreza WRC. The Construction company owner used January’s Kirkistown based New Year Stages Rally to blow off the winter cobwebs. Unfortunately, a broken gearbox forced him to the sidelines during the closing stages while lying in second position.

The winner on that occasion was Denis Biggerstaff and the Dromara man will pilot his Subaru Impreza WRC at this weekend’s event. With a new co-driver on board, Bangor’s Jonathan MacDonald, the former British Rallycross and N.I. Rally Champion is hoping to take his Feckin’ Irish Whiskey sponsored Impreza to another podium finish.

Whiskey company owner and event sponsor, Shane Braniff (Portaferry), is also entered in a Skoda Octavia WRC while Nigel Hicklin, Raymond Johnston, George Robinson and Gary White complete the leading class 8 crews.

Production Category
In the Production category, Dickie Curran (Greyabbey) heads the entry with his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5. His son Michael (Bangor), the current Irish National Group N champion, was seeded behind his father but pulled his entry earlier this week after selling his car.

Curran Junior’s absence means Johnny McKenna (Draperstown) heads the challenge to Dickie Curran. McKenna, who sealed a deal with Hankook Tyres for this year’s championship, started his year on a high with victory at the GMW Stages Rally just two weeks ago.

Martin Elliott (Antrim) is next in line and the former circuit racer, who won Group N at Kirkistown 12 months ago, is hoping history will repeat itself. Kieron Graffin, Paul McKenna and 19-year-old Connor McCloskey will also be setting the stages alight while a late entry from former Production champion, Richard Hogg, throws the cat among the pigeons. Business commitments forced the Limavady man to take a temporary sabbatical from rallying but now he is looking forward to get back behind the wheel.

“I might be a little rusty but sure, who cares!” Hogg said. “I can’t wait to get back into the sport, I’ve definitely missed it over the past year. Tubs (Mark Hanna) and I are really looking forward to Kirkistown!”

Two wheel drive
Superdrive is sponsoring the two wheel drive category and such is the quality of entry, the first crew is listed outside the top 30. Crumlin’s Rodney White and Kara Bateson head the list in their Sunbeam but it won’t be an easy ride. Mark 2 preparation expert, Camillus Bradley (Draperstown), is next in line with a host of other drivers, such as Wesley Patterson, Barry McKenna and Bob Riddles, all capable of taking the honours.

Event Summary
The Eurocables Stages Rally sees competitors tackle six stages, all based within the confines of Kirkistown Race Circuit. The proceedings kick off at 9am with the champagne finish due to take place at dinner time.

Top 10:

1 K Lynch/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2 D Allen/D Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
3 S Devine/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 D Biggerstaff/J McDonald (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 R Johnston/R Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC)
7 G Robinson/T Speers (Ford Escort WRC)
8 G White/TBA (Ford Escort RS Cosworth)
9 D Curran/C Curran (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8.5 MR)
10 M Curran/F McShane (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7)

Full Entry List on:
10/01/06
North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club is running the first round of the MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship at Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 18 February 2006.

The Rally is sponsored by euroCABLES in association with FECKIN IRISH WHISKY.

Regulations on: Club Website:

Topics: KIRKISTOWN (North Armagh MC) 

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