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Bishopscourt (Ballynahinch) - (Sat) 17 Mar 07

Posted: March 20, 2007 6:39 PM - 14683 Hits

Round 2 - 2007 Northern Ireland Rally Championship

  • Eventful Rally for Sonya Mac at McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages
  • Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly seals McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt victory to lead Pacenotes Rally championship!
  • Full Results and Times
  • More Photos

Photo: Roy Dempster

Posted: March 20, 2007 6:39 PM

Eventful Rally for Sonya Mac at McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages
Sonya Mac steered the bright Orange Philip White Tyres Ka to finish 7th in class 3 at the McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages on Saturday 17th March.

The team lost a valuable 20 seconds after a clutch problem on Stage 2 and another 15 seconds after being held up by two other cars on Stage 5.

Sonya said,
‘At times it felt more like racing than rallying on Saturday! On Stage 5 we were bumper to bumper with two other cars going over the jump in the middle of the stage, it was quite a hairy moment and we were glad to come out in one piece.’

The all-female team built more confidence with each stage and finished the day with vital championship points.

Class challengers Oran Donnelly and Andrew Gamble both failed to finish the rally while Andy Straney took class 3 honours in his Vauxhall Nova with the Suzuki Swift of Spiers in 2nd and Lutton in his Nissan Micra in 3rd.

Sonya said,
‘I know that in rallying the focus is usually on the WRC and Group N cars up at the front of the field, but I can tell you its shaping up to be a good battle for class three honours this year and I know all the guys and girls competing in our class are really enjoying the competition!’

The next round of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship is the Easter Stages on the 7th and 8th of April.

Sonya and co-driver Superdrive’s Safron Thomas have registered for both the 2007 Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship and the PHP Clubman’s Championship.

Sonya and Safron are sponsored by Philip White Tyres, Pirelli and 974 Cool FM.
Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly seals McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt victory to lead Pacenotes Rally championship!
Cookstown's Glenn Allen has finally broken his duck in the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship, as he secured victory at Saturday's McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally!

With Damien Connolly calling the notes, Allen steered his Toyota Corolla WRC to the top of the podium and emerged victorious by just 9.7 seconds. In a day long battle, it was a closely fought affair which went down to the wire between the Cookstown crew and Dromara father and son team, Denis and Stuart Biggerstaff.

A bright sunny morning greeted competitors as they arrived at County Down's Bishopscourt Race Circuit, but dark clouds quickly descended when Kieran Shaw and Crawford Henderson had an incident during the opening stage. Their Subaru left the road after a jump, hitting a row of tyres. While little damage was inflicted to their car, one of the tyres hit a member of the media. An ambulance was summoned and the injured party was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

The times for the opening stage were scrapped so it was stage two before the event was underway, and current champion, Kevin Lynch, set the pace in his Ford Focus WRC. Navigated by Francis Regan, the Dungiven driver emerged from the test 2.2 seconds clear of both Denis Biggerstaff and Glenn Allen, who tied for second.

Lynch has not registered for this year's championship, and he merely entered the event to get some test miles under his belt with his new car. The past three seasons have seen the normally unflappable driver secure countless victories, but that was behind the wheel of a Subaru. His relative lack of experience with the Blue Oval is proving to be a challenge, and it showed in his driving as he made a small mistake during stage three.

That allowed Dromara's Biggerstaff crew set fastest time, halving Lynch's lead. Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly were just two tenths slower, while fourth placed Stephen Moore and fifth placed Raymond Johnston were just a few seconds adrift.

All was set to change though, as stage four proved unlucky for the leading KPL Focus. A fuel pressure problem forced Lynch to return to service after just one lap of the stage, automatically handing him a maximum time. Fastest over the test, Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly snatched two tenths of a second from Biggerstaff, allowing both crews to share the lead with two stages remaining.

While Lynch decided to head home, another thrilling N.I Championship battle had developed at the top of the leaderboard. Round one of the Pacenotes backed series saw one of the closest fought affairs in recent years, and round two was proving to be every bit as exciting!

In one corner, Denis and Stuart Biggerstaff were in their 1998 specification FeckinWhiskey.com Subaru Impreza WRC. It was only recently that Biggerstaff, who is a former N.I. Rally champion and British Rallycross champion, realised that his car had been hiding a fault since he purchased it almost three years ago. It had caused some difficult handling characteristics, but now that it was back on song, so was the former champion!

In the other corner, Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly were equally as hungry for victory in their BA Components Toyota Corolla WRC. The crew have played second fiddle on so many occasions during the last three years, and had yet to score a maiden championship victory. When Kevin Lynch announced he was moving on from the series, Allen had hoped victory would swing his direction!

With both men on equal times, they entered the penultimate stage of the McGrady Insurance sponsored event with a renewed determination. After Allen accelerated out of the blocks, midway through the stage it looked like disaster was about to strike the Cookstown man. He left his braking too late for a chicane, and realising he had no option, he accelerated across the grass! As it turned out, the incident worked in his favour, and he emerged from the stage 8.9 seconds clear of the Biggerstaff team!

Biggerstaff knew he could not take so much time out of the leader in one deft swoop, and had to hope that Allen would encounter some sort of problem during the final stage. Allen hit no so such troubles, and equal fastest time with Raymond Johnston was enough to secure his maiden championship win by 9.7 seconds. On this occasion, the car in front was definitely a Toyota!

Denis and Stuart Biggerstaff were forced to settle for second, and it may be the last we see of the popular team in this year's series. Denis has entered the UAC Easter International Rally, so will miss the third round of the championship. Combined with retirement at the opening round, he is really on the back foot if he does decide to contest the remaining championship rounds after Easter.

Meanwhile, the battle for third between Stephen Moore and Raymond Johnston also went down to the wire. Round one winner Moore and Tony McHugh consistently had the edge over Johnston all day. Entering the final stage, they were 5.4 seconds ahead but a spin saw them lose 20 seconds, handing Johnston and Fabian McAleer the final podium position. Moore and McHugh finished fourth, while Gary White and John Patterson completed the top five in their Escort Cosworth.

Sunoco Fuels Production Category
The battle for production category honours, also known as Group N, was just as intense. The spectacular Richard Cathcart had returned in his Subaru, and he fought tooth and nail with category sponsor, Jim Crozier, throughout the day. Fastest on the opening stage, Cathcart and navigator William Mavitty grabbed the advantage ahead of Kieron Graffin and Liam Reid, while Crozier and Laura Marley were a close third.

Graffin dropped some time over the following test but Cathcart was fastest once again. He started edging away from Crozier, and despite a few tyre hopping and 'two wheeling' moments, it was Cathcart who came through to secure the victory. Eight seconds adrift, Crozier and Marley had to settle for second, while Kieron Graffin and Liam Reid secured third ahead of current champion, Stanley Ballantine, who had Richard Hyland in the passenger seat.

Superdrive two wheel drive
Another sponsor was in the thick of the action in this category as Fintan and Cormac McGrady gave Camillus Bradley and Danny O'Neill a run for their money. Both crews were piloting Mark 2 Escorts, and when Bradley had a slow start, it was McGrady who headed the two wheel drive category.

Mervyn Williamson and George Hamilton were also among the leaders, and held second ahead of Roy Haslett and Jim McSherry. Then it was Haslett who moved to the top in his ex-Simmonite sisters F2 Escort, while Bradley set fastest time in his Escort. Another quickest stage time saw the Draperstown preparation man move into the lead, while Fintan McGrady moved in front of Haslett.

Less than four seconds separated the two leading crews but now Camillus Bradley and Danny O'Neill were really on a charge. Fastest again through the final two stages, they sealed two wheel drive victory ahead of Fintan and Cormac McGrady. William and Gloria Smith came through the ranks to snatch third on the final stage in their Mini from Robert Erwin and Chris Ragg.

Group N Winners - Richard Cathcart/William Mavitty
Photo: ni-motorsport.co.uk
PRE EVENT NEWS
  • LYNCH AND McGARRITY FOR McGRADY INSURANCE BISHOPSCOURT STAGES RALLY!
  • Plethora of World Rally Cars head McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally entry
  • Entry List Available
  • TOP CONTENDERS GEAR UP FOR THE MCGRADY INSURANCE BISHOPSCOURT STAGES RALLY
  • Regulations available
  • McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally 2007
  • LYNCH AND McGARRITY FOR McGRADY INSURANCE BISHOPSCOURT STAGES RALLY!
  • Plethora of World Rally Cars head McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally entry
12/03/07
Irish rally stars Kevin Lynch and Derek McGarrity have entered for this weekend’s McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally, but both will play differing roles. Kevin, a three times Northern Ireland Rally Champion, will be bringing his latest Ford Focus WRC to Bishopscourt, the car which he debuted several weeks ago on the Galway International Rally. It is likely to be a test session for the reigning Northern Ireland Rally Champion, but Kevin dominated this event last year, winning every one of the six stages, and few would bet against the Dungiven businessman despite his lack of experience of the new Ford. A man with much experience of top level Irish rallying is 2003 Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, Derek McGarrity. He has entered in the co-drivers seat alongside Donegal’s Martin Doherty in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Derek was also in the co-drivers seat last year, and it is great to see the Glengormley man competing again after his huge accident on the Manx Rally last August which left him with severe arm injuries. His driver Martin Doherty is becoming increasingly more competitive and took the outright honours on this years New Year Stages Rally, at Kirkistown so he could be one to watch.
But he will have to fight an influx of WRC cars as illustrated by the entry list just released.
Plethora of World Rally Cars head McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally entry
The huge popularity of Irish rallying is reflected by the high quality entry for this Saturday's McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally, round two of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship. The Ballynahinch and District Motor Club event has attracted no less than 127 crews to the race circuit, which is based just outside Downpatrick, and it sees the return of current champion, Kevin Lynch.

After winning the N.I. championship three years on the trot, Dungiven's Lynch decided to take a break from this year's series. He had originally planned to enter the West Cork Rally, which also takes place over St. Patrick's weekend, but work commitments have forced him to re-evaluate his plans, and Lynch will bring his Ford Focus World Rally Car to Bishopscourt instead.

After dominating the series for so long, it's no surprise that Lynch and navigator Francis Regan will start the event as the number one seeds. The crew will be aiming to give their new Focus its maiden success, and a repeat of last year's victory could be on the cards.

Aiming to stop the KPL man in his tracks, Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly return in their Toyota Corolla WRC with number two on their doors. That elusive victory still escapes the Cookstown driver, although the crew almost nabbed a win at round one. They were pipped at the post by Stephen Moore, who will start at number three. He and navigator Tony McHugh are riding on the crest of a wave, having secured victory at round one of both the Pacenotes series and the Southern Forestry championship.

Also in the hunt, Sean Devine and Damien Duffin head a plethora of Subaru Impreza WRCs, with Martin Doherty and Derek McGarrity next on the list. McGarrity, a former Irish Tarmac Champion, is more familiar with the driving seat but Bishopscourt marks his return to action after a mammoth accident during last year's Rally Isle of Man.

Dromara father and son, Denis and Stuart Biggerstaff, make another appearance together in their Feckin' Irish Whiskey Subaru Impreza WRC. They briefly led the opening round of the series before studs sheared causing a wheel to fall off their car. Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston and Richard Bell also wheel out their Impreza ahead of Kieran Shaw and Crawford Henderson, while Ballymena's George Robinson and Tommy Speers will pilot their Ford Escort WRC. Completing the top ten seeds, brothers Craig and Rodger Bennett are set to wheel out their Metro 6R4.

Sunoco Fuels production category
Comber's Neil McCance, with Sean Ferris on the notes, start the event as top seeds among the production category crews. The spectacular Richard Cathcart also returns in his Impreza while Eoin McErlean and Donard McCann are looking for maximum points and the drum of Sunoco Fuel that goes with it. John Walker, Gareth Logan and current champion Stanley Ballantine will also be out to make an attack on the Group N crown.

Superdrive two wheel drive category
Camillus Bradley starts the event as the top two wheel drive seed, just ahead of event sponsor, Fintan McGrady. The insurance broker purchased a new Mark 2 Escort at the start of the year and is determined to entertain the crowds at his home event. James Kennedy and Andy Hawthorne also enter the fray, while Roy Haslett brings his F2 Escort to the circuit ahead of championship co-ordinator, Kieran O'Neill.

Summary
Scrutiny for the McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally takes place at Modern Tyres Service, Boucher Crescent (Belfast) on Friday 16 March. The event kicks off at 9am on Saturday 17 March. All six stages will be based within the confines of Bishopscourt Race Circuit. Full entry list is available online from

Top 30 entries
1 Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Ford Focus WRC)
2 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
3 Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
4 Sean Devine/Damien Duffin (Subaru Impreza WRC)
5 Martin Doherty/Derek McGarrity (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 Denis Biggerstaff/Stuart Biggerstaff (Subaru Impreza WRC)
7 Raymond Johnston/Richard Bell (Subaru Impreza WRC)
8 Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Subaru Impreza WRC)
9 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Ford Escort WRC)
10 Craig Bennett/Rodger Bennett (Metro 6R4)
11 Gary White/TBC (Escort RS Cosworth)
12 Seamus Devine/Terry McGonigle (Subaru Impreza WRC)
14 Neil McCance/Sean Ferris Mit. Lancer Evo 9)
15 Richard Cathcart/TBC (Subaru Impreza)
16 Eoin McErlean/Donard McCann Mit. Lancer Evo 8.5)
17 Sean McArdle/TBC (Toyota Corolla WRC)
18 Brian Dowey/Ricky Cochrane (Escort RS Cosworth)
19 John McGaffin/Norman Russell (Subaru Impreza)
20 John Walker/Des Wilson Mit. Lancer Evo 9)
21 Gareth Logan/Alan Purdy Mit. Lancer Evo 8)
22 Stanley Ballantine/TBC (Mit. Lancer Evo 9)
23 Michael McColgan/Donal McElehey (Subaru Impreza)
24 Sean Haveron/Vincent Fergus (Ford Escort WRC)
25 Camillus Bradley/TBC (Escort Mark 2)
26 Fintan McGrady/Cormac McGrady (Escort Mark 2)
27 Ian Cochrane/Justin Dilworth (Mit. Lancer Evo)
28 Enda McNulty/Ronan O'Kane (Mit. Lancer Evo 6)
29 Trevor Ferguson/Barry Rutter (Subaru Impreza)
30 Jim Crozier/Laura Marley (Mit. Lancer Evo 8)

Full Entry list on:
07/03/07
TOP CONTENDERS GEAR UP FOR THE MCGRADY INSURANCE BISHOPSCOURT STAGES RALLY
Round two of the Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship takes off on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, at Bishopscourt Racing Circuit. The entries are flowing in for the McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally, with an incredible one hundred and thirty cars expected to start the first of six timed special stages, totalling forty stage miles.

Amongst the entries are the winners of the first Northern Ireland Championship round, and last weekends Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally, Stephen Moore and Tony McHugh in their fabulous Ford Focus WRC ‘05, Toshiba Rally winner Sean Devine in his Subaru S9 WRC, and 2006 championship runner up Glen Allen in his slightly older Toyota Corolla WRC. Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnston in his Impreza WRC and the similarly mounted Denis Biggerstaff from Kinallen, and Kilrea’s Kieran Shaw could also be dark horses for outright honours. It will be a World Rally Car extravaganza at Bishopscourt, but rallying of all classes is catered for, from WRC to clubmen, including a huge entry in the rear wheel drive modified class. Event sponsor, Downpatrick’s Fintan McGrady, will be “swinging the tail” of his pristine new MK2 Escort, with James Kennedy’ similar machine and the Escort Maxi Kit Car of Roy Haslett also set to provide fireworks in that class

In the Group N class for near standard Production cars, Evo Challenge front runner Neil McCance starts as favourite in his Mitsubishi Evo 9, with tough opposition from a healthy Group N field including Ballynahinch Club members Jim Crozier, Evo 8, John Walker, Evo 8, last years Group N champion Stanley Ballantine, Evo 9. The Group N boys will also be racing for a free fill up as Sunoco Race Fuels are awarding a free drum of racing fuel to the Group N winner on the day. Other interesting entries include Davy Francis in his lightweight 500 horse power Escort Cosworth acting as a course opening car and a couple of early entries in the new Historic class, including the MK1 Escort of Phillip McDowell, and the MK2 of Alan Jardine. Hugh Murdock is making his way from Scotland to compete and there is also a healthy entry from Donegal.

The Ballynahinch & District Motor Club have already started the busy job of assembling the course, with many artificial chicanes being erected to add to the challenge. It promises to be an action packed event,
15/02/07
Regulations and Entry form available from:
23/01/07
McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally 2007
Ballynahinch and District Motor Club are pleased to announce for the second year that McGrady Insurance are the title sponsors for the 2007 McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally, which takes place on St. Patrick’s Day- Saturday March 17th. Event sponsor Fintan McGrady was pleased to announce his continuing association with the Ballynahinch & District Motor Club event at Bishopscourt, near Downpatrick.
Fintan commented ” I really wish the club every success in running the rally, and as always they have the ideal venue in Bishopscourt Racing Circuit, with it’s many twists and turns and of course the famous jump. It’s also quite fitting that the Downpatrick based round of the Northern Ireland series is taking place on St Patrick’s Day! For competitors, marshals and spectators it will be a great way to celebrate the day.”It is McGrady Insurance’s second year of involvement in supporting the event, and its Managing Director Fintan McGrady will actually be taking part in his newly built Ford MK2 Escort.


Brian Crawford- Chairman Ballynahinch and District Motor Club
Fintan McGrady- MD McGrady Insurance
Gary Rodgers- Ballynahinch Motor Club competitor
Aidan Hughes- McGrady Insurance


The rally will compromise six special stages, totalling around forty stage miles around the confines of the Bishopscourt Race Circuit and its many side roads. The event is also round two of the prestigious Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship, and the chairman of the Ballynahinch Motor Club Brian Crawford is very much looking forward to the event. “We are very pleased once again to have McGrady Insurance on board with us and the team at the motor club are very enthusiastic about the rally. We have tried our best to keep entry fees to a minimum for competitors and also to ensure that the stages are safe and very much enjoyable for all.” Regulations for the event are to be released this week and with a maximum of 120 entries allowed, you are advised to get your entries in quick. For spectators the event promises to be a feast of top class rallying with the rally also having so many easily accessible vantage points throughout the day.

For further information on competing in the 2007 McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages contact the competition secretary, on 07884 386025 (+44 7884 386025) between 6pm-10pm weekdays,12 noon-5pm weekends.

Topics: Bishopscourt Stages 

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