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LinksNew Year Stages - (Sat) 17 Jan 09
Posted: January 20, 2009 11:44 AM - 9828 Hits
Round 1 - 2009 Northern Ireland 2WD Rally Championship
- Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont win shortened event
- Stewing Up A Win…
- Photos
- Results
- New Year, New Challenge…
- Entry List
- Kirkistown Kick Off!
- Regulations and Details
Stewing Up A Win…
Posted: January 20, 2009 11:37 AM
Sunshine eased crews into the opening round of the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Tarmac Rally Challenge, but heavy rain and wind followed. During stage five the 500 MRC decided that the remaining stages should be cancelled, due to the treacherous conditions.
Paul Mogey kicked off with the early lead, one second ahead of James Kennedy. Drew Stewart was a further second down, but a blistering performance on the second test moved him into the lead. Paul Mogey moved to second while Andrew Bushe and Safron Thomas moved up the leader board. Over stage three and four Stewart increased his lead to take the maximum points. Andrew Bushe’s increasing pace through the final runs was enough to keep him ahead of Paul Mogey, by two seconds. J.P McSorley took the next the position, ahead of James Kennedy and Gary Price.
Class 1:
Eamon McLaughlin took the maximum points in class one, despite the removal of his front bumper. Losing out by only one second was the Nissan Micra of Arnold Lutton.
Wesley Johnston with Sam Magill on the notes took third.
Class 2:
A good start to the season for John Devlin, with the opening round win from Mark Robinson. Michael McAllister finished third from Cathal Nugent by eight seconds.
Class 3:
An increase on pace through the final stages had Andrew Bushe as the class winner. Kieran Graffin’s new purchase brought him to second ahead of John McKay.
Class 4:
Twenty Seven entries took to class four, but a trouble free day for Paul Mogey helped him to the class win. Mervyn Williamson’s performance gave him second. Alan Simms with son Christopher Simms grabbing eleven points at the finish.
Class 5:
Drew Stewart’s overall win also kept him ahead of the class runners, JP McSorley and James Kennedy.
The second round of the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Tarmac Rally Challenge will bring crews to Antrim, for the Ballypatrick Stages held on the 2nd May. Details of the event will be released closer to the event.
New Year, New Challenge…
Posted: January 12, 2009 11:18 AM
The New Year Stages held at Kirkistown Race Circuit will get the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge under way on the 17th January at 9.00 am. The new challenge format has already proven popular with competitors, so the 500 Motor Racing Club has decided to extend the entry to 100 crews.
While George Robinson is expected to be the first to tackle the event, James and Heather Kennedy will be the first eligible crew for the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge. Lisburn’s Andrew Bushe takes the next starting position, ahead of Mervyn Williamson. Paul Mogey, Drew Stuart and Roy Haslet will also take to the 2WD category. First of the class runners will be Aaron McQuid (class 4), Eamon McLaughlin (class 3) and Omagh’s Mark Donnelly (class 1).
Kirkistown Kick Off!
Posted: December 19, 2008 11:31 AM
The countdown has already begun for the 2009 rally season with the publication of the regulations for the first round of the Pacenotes ANICC 2wd Rally Challenge. The 500 Motor Racing Club Ireland’s New Year Stages will host the series opener.
The Kirkistown based event is the traditional warm up for crews heading into the new season and the action will begin on Saturday 17th January when crews will tackle 6 stages within the confines of the County Down Racing circuit, with central servicing in the paddock area between each competitive test.
The 2009 event will again be limited to 65 places and entries will be accepted up to 3rd January. Initial reports from the 500 Club suggest that a strong entry has already been received, with the vast majority being from the 2wd brigade. Competitors are being urged to have their entries in the post before the Christmas holidays to avoid disappointment. Entry details, regulations and entry forms can be downloaded from the 500 Motor Racing Club’s website, www.kirkistown.com or from the Stage Rally section of www.anicc.org.uk.
The Pacenotes 2wd series is aimed primarily at the Clubman competitor and includes seven of the best ‘sealed surface’ Clubman Rallies spread throughout the province, utilising events in Counties Down, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh.
The Challenge includes a free registration scheme and competitors in 2wd cars up to 2100 cc multi valve will be eligible to battle for cash prizes. The top 3 overall finishers and each class winner will receive their prize at a ceremony at the end of the season.
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