rally.ie - Stories - New Year Stages Rally

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Posted: January 19, 2010 2:47 PM

Stuart Biggerstaff claims second overall on rally debut!

Posted: January 18, 2010 3:04 PM

Dromara has a new rising rally star in its midst! Stuart Biggerstaff, 21-year-old son of former British Rallycross and two-time Northern Ireland Rally champion, Denis Biggerstaff, astounded onlookers on Saturday when he finished second overall on his rally debut!

Kirkistown's New Year Stages Rally is the traditional season opener for rallying in Northern Ireland, and there was plenty of competition for the new kid on the block, including two former N.I. champions. But Stuart was seemingly unfazed by the opposition, as he and navigator Damien McCann held second overall from start to finish!

"I can't believe it!" a beaming Stuart said afterwards. "I didn't look at the times all day and nobody told me where we were lying. It was only after the final stage that I realised we were in the top three!"

Young Biggerstaff encountered a few dramas along the way, and probably as a result of pre-event nerves, he stalled his father's Impreza WRC before the start of the opening stage.

"I was really nervous after that happened," Stuart admitted. "We were doing a practice start and the car stalled. I don't think I was aggressive enough, so I knew what to do when we were on the start line!"

With the first stage completed, those pre-event nerves settled and Stuart was on a high. He entered the second test with renewed confidence and managed to set equal fastest time!

Some gearbox gremlins hindered his progress during the closing miles but Stuart held on to the runner-up spot. It was a superb debut drive for the County Down man, and hopefully, it will be the first of many!

"It's an excellent result," Stuart's father, Denis, proudly admitted. "He was equal fastest on stage two so I had to try to push his horns back in after that. He did very well - I don't think I could have done any better myself!"

Posted: January 18, 2010 11:02 AM

James and Heather Kennedy - 2WD Winners
Photo: William Neill

Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge - Kennedy's Kirkistown Kick Off!

Posted: January 18, 2010 10:59 AM

James and Heather Kennedy kicked started the New Year with a bang taking maximum points at the opening round of the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge. Roy Haslett placed himself second but is unregistered for the series. Local crew Stephen Smith and Richard Nelson behind the wheel of a Honda Civic managed third. Derek Gurney and Keith McEvoy finished fourth in the 2WD series despite an off into the tyres ahead of Michael Conlon and Hugh McKeown.
Challenge Coordinator Andy Gilmore commented,
" It's been a great start to the second year of the Series with 70 registered competitors so far and we look forward to welcoming more crews to the second round"

In the overall standings Derek McGeehan led from start to finish, to take the rally win by twenty three seconds. Derek had Barney Mitchell on the notes driving Tim McNulty's Subaru WRC. Stuart Biggerstaff, despite a scare early on the opening stage when he slid of the road, claimed second overall in his father's Subaru WRC. On the notes was Denis Biggerstaff's regular navigator Damien McCann.

Third went to Gary White despite taking the escape route at the first junction placing himself in front of the Group N runners, Mark Massey and Dermot Fahy

Results

Posted: January 18, 2010 10:53 AM

1 Derek McGeehan/Barney Mitchell (Subaru Imoreza WRC) 1465s
2 Stuart Biggerstaff/Damian McCann (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1488s
3 Gary White/Dominic Carson (Subaru Impreza 555) 1496s
4 Mark Massey/Dermot Fahy (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9) 1499s (Gp N)
5 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1502s
6 Dominic McNeill/Martin Carey (Ford Escort WRC) 1509s
7 Gary McEvoy/Joe Gallagher (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO) 1509s
8 Trevor Ferguson/David McIlroy (Subaru Impreza) 1525s
9 James Kennedy/Heather Kennedy (Ford Escort Mk II) 1531s (2wd)
10 Brendan O’Hagan/Paul Hone (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1539s

Top 5 2WD results:
1 James Kennedy and Heather Kennedy
2 Roy Haslett and Gavin Larmour
3 Stephen Smith and Richard Nelson
4 Derek Gurney and Keith McEvoy
5 Michael Conlon and Hugh McKeown

Class results:

Class 1
Desi Henry and John Rowan 28

Class 2
Mark Massey and Dermot Fahey 9

Class 3
Niall Donnelly and Connor Donnelly 65

Class 4
Paddy Quinn and Arthur Loughran 40

Class 5
Stephen Smith and Richard Nelson 24

Class 6
Michael McColgan and Conal Doherty 83

Class 7
James Kennedy and Heather Kennedy 84

Class 8
Geoffrey Nevin and Jonathan Nevin 12

Class 9
Derek McGeehan and Barney Mitchell 79

Full Results to Follow

Entry List

Posted: January 14, 2010 5:00 PM

Download Entry List

2WD Rally Challenge Preview

Posted: January 11, 2010 11:24 PM

Kirkistown Race Circuit will kick start the 2010 season with the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge this Saturday.
Amongst the leading entries are George Robinson, Stuart Biggerstaff (Son of Rallycross legend Denis Biggerstaff) and Gary White, all behind the wheel of Subarus. In the Group N race, the battle will include Mark Donnelly, Trevor Ferguson Connor McCloskey and Mark Massey.

For those still to register for the Pacenotes ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge, free registration will be available at the rally office on the morning of the event.

Full seeded list to follow before the event.

Action takes place from 9am with the entire event within the confines of the race circuit. For information on getting to the Circuit visit

500 Motor Racing Club (Kirkistown)

List of Entries as of 9th of January

Posted: January 11, 2010 11:22 PM

List of Entries

New Year Stages goes National B

Posted: January 8, 2010 12:17 PM

The New Year Stages, opening round of the ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge has been granted a National B permit.

The event, formerly run as a 'Clubmans' stage rally, will run at Kirkistown circuit on January 16 and is now open to members of any ANICC afilliated motor club.

Regulations / Details

Posted: December 14, 2009 12:42 PM

Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs - www.motorsportni.org