Kirkistown Stages - (Sat) 13 Feb 16

Kenny Wins Epic Battle on Round One of the 2016 MSA ANICC McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship!

Posted: February 15, 2016 4:07 PM

Kenny McKinstry and Aaron Faulkner stormed the final stage to take a superb victory on the Pacenotes Stages Rally, round one of the MSA ANICC McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship. It turned out to be a frantic race, between the two multiple N.I Champions- Kenny in his S14 WRC Impreza, and Derek McGarrity in a 1600cc WRC Fiesta. Amazingly they were tied on time entering the final stage, but McGarrity's car was in obvious trouble on the first lap, running on three cylinders. Kenny was unaware of this and was visibly on the limit. "I thought I wasn't going to make it around the corners near the pits, we were really trying. It was a great race with Derek all day and I'm very happy." As for Derek, he was the first to congratulate his long-time rival. "I'm not sure the cause of the misfire. It cleared on the second lap, so I don't know why it happened. I must say that I really enjoyed driving this car though, it's very good."

Not too far back in third was Peader Hurson in his S10 Impreza WRC, the former Irish National Champion's only drama was touching a bale in a half spin, in what were sometimes slippery conditions. Two wheel driver winner Wesley Patterson's 2.5 MK2 Escort was showing signs from a small excursion, running wide whilst trying to overtake a slower Mitsubishi, but the Lisburn driver charged up to fourth overall overtaking Alastair Cochrane who had led the two wheel race for much of the day in his 2 litre MK2. The Bushmills farmer won class 6 ending up eighth overall. Emma McKinstry completed the family success with a fine fifth, whilst Matthew McGaffin powered his Group N Mitsubishi Evo 7 into an impressive sixth, ahead of former N.I champion- George Robinson in his Group A Evo 9. Jonny Morrow brought his Evo 6 into ninth ahead of Clive Kilpatrick's Group N Evo 9.

In eleventh was championship sponsor Fintan McGrady, having a fine run in his 2.5 MK2 Escort, just 0.4 of a second ahead of Rodney White's 2 litre Vauxhall engined Sunbeam. Significant retirements included former NI Champion Stuart Biggerstaff in his S9 Impreza, the similar car of Mark Massey with engine problems, Jonny Leonard's Evo 6 with a damaged intercooler and Historic leader Richard Hall's Sierra Cosworth with an oil pipe failure.

Other class winners were: Ian Dickson- class 1 (Ford Fiesta), Colin Price- class 3 (Vauxhall Corsa), Kyle White- class 4- (Citroen C2), Johnny Cargo- class 5 (MK2 Escort), Sam Ewart- class 11-Historic (MK2 Escort), Drew Wylie- class 12- FIA Historic (MK2 Escort).

Round two of the McGrady series is on the closed road stages of the Circuit of Ireland, which takes place after Easter this year on the weekend of the 7th to 9th April.

McErlean Masters Junior 1000 Round Two!

Posted: February 14, 2016 1:56 PM

The second round of the 2016 McGrady Insurance ANICC Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland, in association with Rallysales.eu took place at Kirkistown, for North Armagh Motor Club's Pacenotes Stages event. Just four Junior 1000 crews lined up for the six stage event, in cold but generally dry conditions, as the 14-17 year rally stars of the future took to the mixed surfaced special stages.

Round one winner was 2015 champion- Josh McErlean, and the 16 year old with co-driver Tommy McErlean in his familiar Peugeot 107 was to assume the lead position again. Indeed the Kilrea teenager would set fastest time on each of the six stages, and was delighted as he crossed the finish line.
"It was a very enjoyable day, great stages, and great fun out there. We kept on pushing and it went well" said Josh. Indeed the event was ideal preparation also for an assault on the English Junior 1000 series and with the first round next month the MacSport team are well warmed up.

Expected to be second were 15 year old Peter Bennett with co-driver Arthur Kierans, the reigning Scottish Champions debuting their sleek black Skoda Citigo. Teething problems had prevented the debut on round one and just before stage one the car went into safe mode, clocking up the team two stage maximums. However the Loughgall teenager started to learn his new car by stages three and four.
"It's different to the C1" said Peter. "It definitely is going to need more time to set up, and to get used to the engine and gear-box, but it's good to get it here." Indeed fourth place was the result, but by the final stage, Peter was within four second of Josh's time, showing rapid improvements with the new machine.

16 year old Ruari Bell once again made the trip from London to contest a round of the series, with his Peugeot 107. He had the experienced Damien Connolly in the co-driver's seat, and once again closed the stage gaps to the flying Josh McErlean. Ruari's drama of the day came on stage two, breaking a drive-shaft and taking a maximum time, but he recovered to score his best Junior 1000 result in second place.

Scottish visitors 14 year old Peter Beaton and co-driver Kenny Foggo, came all the way from Inverness once again, as Peter and his family have made a commitment to contest the series. Another commitment they made the night before the rally was to purchase the ex-Michael McGarrity Citroen C1, with Peter having his first proper drive in the car on stage one. It was an improvement from his Nissan Micra, and the Scottish teenager once again loved the challenge of the Kirkistown circuit, bringing his times down significantly through-out the day.

The series heads for round three, which now be at St.Angelo, Enniskillen on May Day-2nd May, for the Enniskillen Motor Clubs popular event.

2016 McGrady Insurance Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland- Rnd 2 Positions?

1st Josh McErlean / Thomas McErlean Peugeot 107 33m34.3s
2nd Ruari Bell/ Damien Connolly Peugeot 107 + 3m30.2s
3rd Peter Beaton/ Kenny Foggo Citroen C1 + 4m42.4s
4th Peter Bennett / Arthur Kierans Skoda Citigo + 5m 08.5s

Results

Posted: February 14, 2016 1:24 PM

1 Kenny McKinstry/Aaron Faulkner (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC) 27:24.6
2 Derek McGarrity/Nigel Magee (Ford Fiesta WRC) 27:37.8
3 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza WRC) 28:02.8
4 Wesley Patterson/Adam Carson (Ford Escort MkII) 29:03.1
5 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC) 29:10.1
6 Matthew McGaffin/Andrew McGaffin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) 29:21.4
7 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) 29:25.8
8 Alastair Cochrane/David Turkington (Ford Escort MkII) 29:27.9
9 Jonny Morrow/Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI) 29:38.4
10 Clive Kilpatrick/Jay Colville (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) 29:39.4

Class Winners
Class 1: Ian Dickson/Stephen Monaghan (Ford Fiesta ST)
Class 2: Matthew McGaffin/Andrew McGaffin (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Class 3: Colin Price/James Stevenson (Vauxhall Corsa)
Class 4: Kyle White/Sean Topping (Citroen C2 R2)
Class 5: Johnny Cargo/Andrew Stranney (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 6: Alastair Cochrane/David Turkington (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 7: Wesley Patterson/Adam Carson (Ford Escort MkII)
Class 8: George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX)
Class 9: Kenny McKinstry/Aaron Faulkner (Subaru Impreza S14 WRC)

Kirkistown Stages - (Sat) 13 Feb 16 - RESULTS

Results by: RallyScore.Net

Derek McGarrity Heads Entry for Pacenotes Rally Magazine Stages!

Posted: February 10, 2016 4:30 PM

The cream of Northern Ireland's rally talent are revving up for this weekend's Pacenotes Rally Magazine Stages Rally, round one of the 2016 McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship!

'Pacenotes', which is the UK and Ireland's only dedicated rally magazine, didn't hesitate to step in as title sponsor of the Kirkistown Race circuit based event. Regarded as the clubman's rally bible, each edition of the monthly publication is packed full of rally news, reports, photographs and features from the world of rallying, right from club level to the World Rally Championship.

Pacenotes' roving reporters and photographers will also be at Kirkistown on Saturday, and more than 80 entries have been received for the North Armagh Motor Club Ltd rally spectacular, including three former champions - Derek McGarrity, Kenny McKinstry and George Robinson.

In fact, it is six-times champion McGarrity who heads the entry list in his Ford Fiesta WRC. And he must be the hot favourite, having secured victory at the same venue just last month at the non-championship New Year Stages Rally.

However, hot competition will come in the form of number two seed, Kenny McKinstry. He had led the New Year Stages event until mechanical troubles with his Subaru Impreza WRC put him out of the rally. The Banbridge driver, who last won the title in 2011, is out to make amends this weekend.

Peadar Hurson completes the top three seeds in his Impreza WRC and is another driver who is no stranger to the top step of the podium, having won last year's Tyrone Stages Rally in July.

Other World Rally Car pilots include Emma McKinstry (Impreza WRC) and Mark Massey (Fiesta WRC), while a host of Group A, Group N and two-wheel-drive machinery will provide plenty of entertainment for the spectators that are expected to descend on County Down's Kirkistown venue.

Among the leading two-wheel-drive entrants are Wesley Patterson (Escort Mk2), championship sponsor Fintan McGrady (Escort Mk2) and Dessie McCartney (Darrian T90 GTR), whose late brother Ronnie was the first ever Northern Ireland Rally Champion back in 1977 - a feat he later repeated in 1980.

The event gets underway at 9.30am on Saturday, while the winners will spray the champagne shortly after 4pm.

Seeded Entry Lists

Posted: February 10, 2016 4:26 PM

Kirkistown Stages - (Sat) 13 Feb 16 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST (Main Field)
Kirkistown Stages - (Sat) 13 Feb 16 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST (Juniors)

Drivers Gear Up For Pacenotes Backed N.I. Rally Championship Kirkistown Opener!

Posted: January 12, 2016 6:29 AM

Based at Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 13 February, the Pacenotes Rally Magazine Stages, which is organised and promoted by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, will attract the creme de la creme of local rally talent as they battle for the spoils at the popular County Down venue.

William Fullerton, Clerk of the Course for the event, said:
"We are delighted to have secured the support of the Mooney Media Group and its Pacenotes Rally Magazine, www.rallymagazine.com. We are privileged to be associated with Simon Mooney, a long-standing supporter of motorsport in general and rallying in particular."

Pacenotes Rally Magazine was first published in 2003 and is the only dedicated rally publication in the UK and Ireland. Available from all good newsagents as well as by subscription, it is regarded as the 'clubman's bible', with reports, photographs, features and interviews covering rallying around the country every month.

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to support North Armagh Motor Club and the opening round of the Northern Ireland Championship," commented Mooney Media Managing Director, Simon Mooney. "There's always a lot of buzz surrounding the opening round of the championship and Kirkistown is always a well-supported event so it's great to be a part of it."

Competitors will tackle six stages within the confines of Kirkistown Race Circuit, which will include changes from last year's tests to maximise the mileage. In an effort satisfy all competitors' needs, vehicle scrutiny will be available on both the Friday evening and Saturday morning before the rally, with the opening stage set to start around 9.30am, and Patterson safety notes will be available.

Regulations and entry forms are now available and can be downloaded from www.namcc.com or www.anicc.org.uk. If anyone would like to marshal, contact Chief Marshal on 07727 960594 / +44 7727 960594

Regulations / Details

Posted: January 12, 2016 6:29 AM

North Armagh Car Club
Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs - www.motorsportni.org