Dogleap Stages Rally - 02 Aug 08

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:45 PM - 14274 Hits

Round 6 - 2008 Northern Ireland Rally Championship

Photo: Roy Dempster

Video Clips

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:46 PM

EMMA’S RETURN TO GRAVEL SUCCESSFUL

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:45 PM

Saturday’s Dogleap Rally in Limavady saw Banbridge driver Emma Mckinstry and co-driver Kenny Hull return to gravel rallying again in their Mckinstry Motorsport Subaru Impreza WRC, as the N.I. Championship headed to the woods.

A poor run of luck saw Emma and Kenny abandon their attempt at the Southern Irish forestry series assault earlier in the year, but after a good run on their last three outings on Tarmac the team had regained some of their confidence.

Emma quickly settled back into gravel again, setting a very competitive time on the events opening stage, despite finding the stages very slippery after a week of rain.

However as the day progressed the stages dried up and Emma and Kenny continued their steady run, finding themselves just outside the top ten at first service.

Emma and Kenny went out to the second loop of stages determined to improve on their position, and so they did, keeping out of trouble and setting consistent times saw Emma and Kenny push their way up to ninth overall and third in class. Another fine top ten result for the pair.

Emma and Kenny now look forward to the Ulster Rally, the same event that saw Emma make her debut in the world rally car.

Thanks to Hankook Tyres, Triton Showers, Sunoco Race Fuels, McGaffin Contracts and ID Graphics NI for their continued support

Record breaker Lynch wins Dogleap Rally while McCloskey tops series standings!

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:42 PM

Dungiven driver Kevin Lynch dominated Saturday's North West Motor Factors Dogleap Stages Rally where he claimed a record sixth consecutive win at his home event. With Martin McNicholl calling the notes, the crew crossed the finish in their Ford Focus WRC more than one minute ahead of Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly, with Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan third.

The rally marked round six of this year's Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship, but Lynch's victory had little effect on the overall series standings. The multiple champion decided not to contest this year's series, and the Dogleap Rally was in fact his maiden Pacenotes championship victory of the year.

It was Sean Devine and Damien Duffin who entered the Limavady based event heading the championship tables by eight points from Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan. Devine was widely expected to be one of the front runners but a nasty accident on stage five resulted in a premature end to his day.

Devine overturned his Subaru Impreza WRC after clipping the same tree stump which Limavady's Richard Hogg also hit in 2002. On that occasion, Hogg's navigator, Michael Gibson, injured his back, but thankfully there were no injuries for Devine or Duffin on this occasion.

Devine's retirement allowed Connor McCloskey and Francis Regan return to the top of the Pacenotes championship standings, despite finishing behind rivals Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly. Allen also moved ahead of Devine in championship terms, and is only one point behind McCloskey after a trouble-free run.

Third-placed McCloskey switched his tarmac specification Subaru Impreza WRC for an Impreza hired from the McKinstry Motorsport stable, and gelled well with the new mount. He was swapping seconds with Glenn Allen's Toyota Corolla WRC throughout the day, and only for a problem during the eighth stage, the result between the pair may have been even closer.

"My wipers stopped working midway through stage eight," the new championship leader said afterwards. "We had to cruise through the stage and I think we lost about 16 seconds. There are always 'ifs' in rallying but I'm pleased to get third. Kenny (McKinstry) is first class to work with so hopefully we can strike a deal to hire the car for the remaining gravel rounds."

In fourth position, Cathal and Eoighan Rogers also claimed the Sunoco Fuels production category spoils by three seconds from Tristan Pye and Kirsty Riddick, with Johnny McKenna and Paul Garry sixth overall and third among the Group N crews. It was McKenna's first event since his accident during last year's Tour of the Sperrins, and he managed to get back into the groove very quickly.

As for Richard Hogg and Mark Hanna, seventh overall was a disappointing result by their high standards. Driving a Skoda Octavia WRC, turbo problems and then power-steering problems saw them drop behind Johnny McKenna on the final stage.

Hogg was lucky to hold on to seventh position, as Seamus Devine and Tony McHugh finished with exactly the same time but lost out on the tie-break. They claimed eighth ahead of Emma McKinstry and Kenny Hull, while Frank Kelly and Aidan Friel claimed 10th overall, as well as the Superdrive two-wheel-drive spoils, in their Mark 2 Escort.

Seamus O'Connell and Sean Magee finished nine seconds adrift in 11th overall and second among the two-wheel-drive runners, but Adrian Hetherington and Graham Henderson deserve a special mention. Despite rolling their Mark 2 Escort, the crew managed to get back on the road and finish the event inside the top 50 overall!

There were countless intense battles throughout the field, but nobody can take away Lynch and McNicholl's dominance at their home event. Since Lynch grabbed his maiden rally victory at the Dogleap in 2003, he has topped the timesheets on his home event every year. This year's success is a record sixth consecutive win, and the Dungiven pilot did it in style. He claimed rally victory by almost one minute 30 seconds, leaving his rivals trailing in his wake.

Round seven of the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship takes crews to Enniskillen for the Fisher Engineering Stages Rally. Enniskillen Motor Club is still accepting entries for their Saturday 13 September event, and more details can be found online at www.nirally.com

Video Clips

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:39 PM

RESULTS / PHOTOS

Posted: August 7, 2008 1:34 PM

1 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Ford Focus WRC) 54m19s
2 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) 55m47s
3 Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 56m03s
4 Cathal Rogers/Eoighan Rogers (Mit. Lancer Evo 9) 57m05s
5 Tristan Pye/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza N12) 57m08s
6 Johnny McKenna/Paul Garry (Mit. Lancer Evo 8) 57m21s
7 Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Skoda Octavia WRC) 57m28s
8 Seamus Devine/Tony McHugh (Subaru Impreza WRC) 57m28s
9 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC) 57m57s
10 Frank Kelly/Aidan Friel (Ford Escort MkII) 58m08s

Download Overall Results

Download Class Results

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Roy Dempster Photos

Rally series returns to the woods with Limavady's Dogleap Stages!

Posted: July 30, 2008 3:32 PM

After a two month summer break, the Pacenotes MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship moves back into gear this Saturday for round six of the hotly contested championship, the Limavady based Dogleap Stages Rally!

Maiden City Motor Club, who were pivotal in organising the recent Shackleton Charity Festival which raised thousands of pounds for charity, has again attracted a superb entry for their 10 stage forestry event.

Local man and multiple winner Kevin Lynch heads the list in his Ford Focus WRC, with reigning champions Glenn Allen and Damien Connolly returning to the woods in their Toyota Corolla WRC.

Current championship leader Sean Devine starts at number three in his Impreza WRC, with young Connor McCloskey at number four ahead of Limavady's Richard Hogg (Octavia WRC). Enniskillen's Raymond Johnston completes the top six seeds in his Impreza WRC ahead of Mitsubishi Lancer belonging to English visitor, Tony Armsby.

The Sunoco Fuels Group N category has also received a healthy entry with Cathal Rodgers, Alan Carmichael, Johnny McKenna and Brian McFall among the notable names.

Meanwhile, the Superdrive two-wheel-drive category is headed by Newtownabbey's Trevor Moore, with Seamus O'Connell, James Kennedy, Frank Kelly and Alistair Cochrane also among the notable entrants.

Rally headquarters is based at Limavady Recreation Club, and competitors will leave the start ramp at approximately 10am on Saturday morning. They will tackle 10 stages, interspersed by service at Roemill Playing Fields after stages four and eight, before arriving at the finish at approximately 5.30pm. More information, including a full entry list, can be found online at www.nirally.com.

Updated Entry List - 26/07/08

Posted: July 27, 2008 3:00 PM

Late Entries:
83 Martin Cairns TBA Subaru Impreza 555
84 Raymond Donnelly Alan Keena Ford Escort MkII
85 Seamus Devine Marius Coll Subaru Impreza WRC
86 Brendan O'Hagan Paul Hone Subaru Impreza

Entry List & Final Instructions

Posted: July 24, 2008 3:27 PM

Number Driver /Navigator (Car ) [Class]
201 Oran Donnelly/Paul Hughes (Ford Fiesta) [3]
202 Dermot O'Hagan/TBA (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
203 Shane Timony/Niall Timony (Ford Ka) [3]
204 Niall Donnelly/Eamon Gallagher (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
205 Shane McGirr/Niall Connelly (Toyota Scarlett) [3]
206 Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta ST) [1]
207 Liam Regan/TBA (Ford Fiesta ST) [1]
208 Peter O'Kane/Mark O'Connor (Honda Civic) [1]
209 David Young/Robert Fyffe (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
210 Glen Irwin/Derek Torrens (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
211 Jonny Leonard/Jackie Donaldson (Nissan Micra) [3]
212 Nigel Mills/TBA (Vauxhall Corsa) [3]
213 Mark Donnelly/Rodney Hicks (Ford Fiesta) [3]
214 Mark McCaffrey/David Maxwell (Lada Riva) [3]
215 Declan Cullen/Patrick Brides (Honda Civic) [1]
216 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
217 John Devlin/Gavin Devlin (Chrysler Sunbeam) [4]
218 Mervyn Wilson/Richard Gamble (Ford Escort MkII) [4]
219 Gregory Shaw/Stephen Tierney (Vauxhall Nova) [4]
220 John Woolsey/Ronan Magee (Peugeot 205) [4]
221 Darragh Kelly/TBA (Peugeot 205) [4]
222 Dermot McGroary/Eamon Doherty (Talbot Sunbeam) [4]
223 Donna Carlin /Kiera Carlin (Ford Escort MkI) [4]

Number Driver /Navigator (Car ) [Class]
1 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Ford Focus WRC) [9]
2 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC) [8]
3 Sean Devine/Damien Mullan (Subaru Impreza) [9]
4 Conor McCloskey/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza) [9]
5 Richard Hogg/Mark Hanna (Skoda Octavia) [9]
6 Raymond Johnston/TBA (Subaru Impreza) [9]
7 Tony Armsby/Phil Cook (Mitsubishi Evo VIIIMR) [9]
8 Steven Harron/Jason Harron (Subaru Legacy) [9]
9 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza) [9]
10 Brendan Connor/Alan Redstone (Subaru Impreza) [9]
11 John McKeown/Tommy Speers (Ford Escort WRC) [9]
12 Brian Dowey/Ricky Cochrane (Ford Escort Cosworth) [9]
14 Cathal Rogers/Eoighan Rogers (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
15 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Mitsubishi Evo IX) [2]
16 Johnny McKenna/Paul Garry (Mitsubishi Evo VIII) [2]
17 Brian McFall/Oonagh McFerran (Mitsubishi Evo VII) [2]
18 John Walker/Dessie Wilson (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
19 Martin McCormack/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
20 Trevor Ferguson/Patrick Gallagher (Subaru Impreza) [2]
21 Errol Clarke/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo IX) [2]
22 Tristan Pye/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Impreza N11) [2]
23 Johnny Morrow/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo VI) [2]
24 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
25 Paul Ward/Peter Ward (Subaru Impreza) [2]
26 Alan Burrows/Gavin Burrows (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
27 Trevor Moore/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort) [8]
28 Seamus O'Connell/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [8]
29 Paul Mackinnon/Andrew Falconer (Subaru Impreza) [8]
30 Martin McAteer/Ryan McDaid (Mitsubishi Evo IIII ) [8]
31 James Kennedy/John Rowan (Ford Escort ) [7]
32 Frank Kelly/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
33 Alastair Cochrane/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
34 Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (Ford Escort MKII) [7]
35 Adrian Hetherington/Graham Henderson (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
36 Aidan Toner/Frank Conville (Ford Escort ) [7]
37 Bob Riddles/TBA (Ford Escort MkII ) [7]
38 Aidan Cauldwell/Paul Vaughan (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
39 Ali Burrows/TBA (Subaru Impreza) [2]
40 Peter McCullagh/Alan Dolan (Mitsubishi Lancer) [2]
41 Eamon Mimnagh/John Johnson (Mitsubishi Evo V) [2]
42 Terry McGonigle/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo IX) [2]
43 Gregory Shaw/Fergal Shaw (Subaru Impreza) [2]
44 Emmett O'Hara/Joe McNulty (Mitsubishi Evo VIII) [2]
45 Ed Muldoon/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo VI ) [2]
46 Ruairi McCloskey/Ronan O'Neill (Mitsubishi Evo ) [2]
47 Ian Cochrane/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
48 Stephen McFerran/Ellen McFerran (Ford Escort ) [7]
49 Andrew Trotter/TBA (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
50 Niall Devine/Joe Gallagher (Ford Escort MkII) [7]
51 Willie McFadden/Johnathan Edwards (Talbot Sunbeam) [7]
52 Martin Collins/Stephen O'Neill (Mitsubishi Evo ) [2]
53 PJ Gillespie/Mary O'Kane (Mitsubisho Evo) [2]
54 Paul Cooke/Cathal Lagan (Mitsubishi Evo VI) [2]
55 Tom Muldoon/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo Lancer) [2]
56 Geoffrey Nevin /Paul Nevin (Ford Escort) [6]
57 Paul Mogey/Damian McCann (Ford Escort) [6]
58 Glenn Williamson/Keith McEvoy (Ford Escort MkII) [6]
59 Eamon Doherty/Eoin McGuckian (Ford Escort ) [6]
60 Mark Massey/Andrew McVeigh (Mitsubishi Evo VIII) [2]
61 Niall Henry/Oliver McErlean (Mitsubishi Evo) [2]
62 Greg McLaughlin/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo) [2]
63 Damien Hynds/John Magilton (Mitsubishi Evo VI) [2]
64 Andrew Ritchie/Garnet McFetridge (Mitsubishi Evo V) [2]
65 Barry Greer/John Lemon (Mitsubishi Evo VIIII) [2]
66 Vincent O'Kane/Michael McCloskey (Subaru Impreza) [2]
67 David Crossen/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo VI) [2]
68 Ian Millar/Davy McLean (Ford Escort) [5]
69 Conor Kelly/Noel Hall (Ford Escort ) [5]
70 Stephen Dickson/David Dickson (Vauxhall Corsa) [5]
71 Robert Irwin/Chris Hogg (Talbot Sunbeam) [5]
72 William Smith/TBA (Honda Civic) [5]
73 Nigel Simpson/Austtin Grimes (Peugeot 206) [5]
74 Ian Duff/Ian Hull (Proton Satria) [5]
75 Sarah Moynihan/Amy Moynihan (Peugeot 206) [5]
76 Paddy McGuckian/Brendan Ingram (Toyota Starlet) [5]
77 Adrian Donnelly/Donal Lennon (Ford Escort G4) [5]
78 John Warnock/Frank McMullan (Ford Escort MkII) [6]
79 Irwin Craig/David Hamilton (Ford Escort) [6]
80 Gary McElhinney/Jonathan Charlesson (Ford Escort) [6]
81 Drew Stewart/TBA (Ford Escort MKII) [6]
82 Patrick Carey/Dave Birt (Honda Civic) [5]