2015 Northern Ireland Rally Championship

REGISTRATIONS OPEN FOR EXCITING PRIZE DRIVE

Posted: February 12, 2015 12:11 PM

Registrations are now being accepted for one of the biggest prize drives in the history of the MSA ANICC McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship. One lucky R2 competitor will receive a free entry and fully-funded drive on the closing round of the World Rally Championship in Wales. The overall winner will get the chance to take on the very best in a David Greer Motorsport-prepared Citroen DS3 R3 come November. They can also look forward to a full day’s testing at the wheel of the hugely successful car in readiness for the forest event.

There is no sign-up fee for the new Carryduff Forklift R2 Wales competition, which is open to any driver aged twenty eight and under. R2 cars – including the Peugeot 208, Citroen C2 and Ford Fiesta – are all eligible, as is the Ford Fiesta ST and Honda Civic Type R. Competition co-ordinator Raymond Moore has confirmed that drivers will not be limited to the fuel they use or the tyres they run. Drivers must enter at least one forest rally in the Northern Ireland series, with their six best scores counting towards their points’ total. Considerable interest has already been expressed towards the exciting new series by people from across Ireland, with a line-up of top drivers expected to be announced by Moore before March’s Bishopscourt Stages.

He said: “With the British Rally Championship not running in 2015 both myself and David Greer wanted to do something for young drivers. We both believe that R2 cars are a good starting point. They are great cars and if a driver can go fast in one of them they can go fast in any car.”

Drivers who would like to register for the prize drive should send their details, by email, to Raymond@rr-ni.com. Alternatively, Raymond can be contacted on 07736553966. Further up-dates will be released over the coming weeks prior to the Bishopscourt Stages. In the meantime, keep up-to-date with all the latest Carryduff Forklift R2 Wales news by searching and following @CFR2Wales on Twitter.

Exciting times ahead for the 2015 MSA ANICC McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship!

Posted: February 7, 2015 7:13 PM

The 2015 MSA ANICC McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship was launched at the ANICC Awards dinner at the weekend by Fintan McGrady (McGrady Insurance) and David Greer (Carryduff Forklift), and it promises to be an exciting season ahead, not least with the new Carryduff Forklift R2 Wheels award kicking off at Bishopscourt in March. In this series for driver’s under 28, competing in R2 specification front wheel drive cars, there is a big prize to go for, with a drive on the WRC Rally GB in a DGM Sport R3 car. With the award just announced already there is serious interest. Former Junior 1000 Rally Challenge runner up Kyle White from Dunmurry, in his Citroen C2 R2 Max could be one of the young contenders to watch out for as they gun for this dream prize.

For championship co-ordinator, Bob McKeown the season ahead is looking different once again, with the first round back at Kirkistown, for the Eurocables Stages. Then it’s Bishopscourt, before the closed road stages of the Circuit of Ireland, the Tour of the Sperrins, the new Tyrone Stages Rally run by the Cookstown Motor Club in July, and the Ulster Rally. Then it’s a final flurry in the forests, for the Lakeland Rally in Enniskillen and the Bushwhacker in Omagh, which is now going to be held in its familiar format this season. With the Mourne Rally and Down Rally as reserve rounds, it’s very much a tarmac orientated calendar.
“I think it will be interesting and a two wheel drive car could do very well. There is no doubt that the new R2 Wheels contenders could figure in the top ten” commented Bob.

Favourite for the overall title once again however must be five times champion Derek McGarrity, who is planning another year’s effort.
“I’ll have another go at it, yes” says Derek. “At the moment I’ve entered Kirkistown in an S14 Subaru, but I would like to take the Mini, and put the full European suspension on it, and try and beat Kenny this time, after the New Year Stages race. It’s a good series and it’s relatively easy for me to do compared to other championships which take a lot more time and budget.” Strabane’s Martin Cairns, last year’s Bushwhacker rally winner is bringing his S14 Subaru.
“I’m 95% sure I’m going to do the series. I haven’t that much experience on tarmac, so it may take me a few rallies to get onto that, but we will give it a go. Certainly the first round looks to have good competition.” Four times champion Kenny McKinstry, fresh from a New Year Stages win at Kirkistown will also field an S14 next weekend, with daughter Emma out in her S8 Impreza. ”If I can get another sponsor on board I’d love to contest the championship, especially as I did virtually nothing last year” says Emma. “Dad too wants to do as many rounds as possible, but it all depends whether the car is on hire or not, but certainly we want to be there.” Ballymoney’s Alan Carmichael, third in the series in 2014 is also entered in the Mini WRC, with 2010 champion Stuart Biggerstaff making a return at Kirkistown in his Impreza WRC.

In Group N, 2013 champion Kieron Graffin is bringing an ex Ralliart Italia Evo 10, and intends to have a crack at the series. “Hopefully the competition is good in Group N, as we are no sure who all is going yet, and if it’s good we will stick at it” commented the Toomebridge man. The two wheel drive modified runners include series sponsor Fintan McGrady and David Armstrong in their 2.5 litre MK2 Escort’s and Dessie McCartney in his Darrian T90GTR. All classes of car are equally welcome in the series from the modified cars of all capacities to the Historic category, with last year’s champion Malcolm Pedlow in his BMW 2002, Philip McDowell in his MK1 Escort and former NI Champion Stephen Mawhinnney in his Talbot Sunbeam amongst the favourites.

Championship Rounds

Posted: February 7, 2015 7:13 PM

1. Kirkistown Stages - (Sat) 14 Feb 15
2. Bishopscourt Stages - (Sat) 14 Mar 15
3. Circuit of Ireland Rally (J) - 2-4 Apr 15
4. Tour of the Sperrins - (Sat) 9 May 15
   Reserve: Mourne Rally - (Sat) 6 Jun 15
5. Tyrone Stages Rally - (Sat) 18 Jul 15
6. Ulster Rally - 14-15 Aug 15
7. Lakeland Stages - (Sat) 5 Sep 15
8. Bushwhacker Rally - (Sat) 26 Sep 15
   Reserve: Down Rally – 18 Oct 15