Down Rally - (Sat) 23 Jul 22

John Stone takes slender Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship lead to County Down

Posted: July 22, 2022 1:32 PM

John Stone takes a two-point Protyre Motorsport UK Asphalt Rally Championship lead into the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally (Saturday 23 July) – and extending that slender advantage at the top of the drivers’ standings is his number one target.

The Blackburn driver arrives in fine form having just taken the lead of the sealed-surface series in Argyll, and is quietly confident having scored maximum Protyre Asphalt points on the Down Rally in 2019.

He returns to the magnificent closed country roads of County Down not in the same Ford Fiesta WRC that he drove there three years ago, but in his stunning Legend Fires Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 – and with a different co-driver, Laura Connell.

Neil Roskell didn’t start the 2022 season as well as he’d have hoped, but that changed last time out in Scotland when he picked up second place points in his ND Civils/Burdens Ford Fiesta R5+.

He had to overcome adversity, having lost over 10 seconds on the opening stage when a combination of cold Michelin tyres and a greasy Dunoon town centre surface saw him skid off the road. Together with co-driver Andrew Roughead, Neil then picked up a double puncture, which caused a brake line to burst and a rose joint to fail. Despite steering problems, he managed to get the car to service and completed the afternoon loop to score his best result of the season – and move up to second in the drivers’ standings after three rounds.

Steve Wood is very much in contention for this year’s Protyre Asphalt title, despite going off the road in Argyll. The Welshman has a huge amount of Irish closed road stage rallying experience and could be the one to catch this weekend. He’ll be co-driven by Dale Bowen in the mighty City East Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

Stephen Simpson will have his third different co-driver in as many events when Will Atkins joins him in his CA1 Sport-run Tudor Glass Ford Fiesta Rally2. A different voice over the intercom won’t bother the experienced Manchester driver, who is consistently quick and will be after another Protyre Asphalt podium result.

Mark Kelly’s Michelin-shod Roccia/Tile Master-backed Ford Fiesta R5+ is still being repaired after a big accident in Argyll. Having already effectively dropped a score, he has hired a Škoda Fabia R5+ to maintain his title challenge. He’ll be united with his usual co-driver Neil Colman in Northern Ireland.

There is a considerable amount of experience on the start list, and none has more rally miles under his belt than Roger Moran. He started rallying in the mid-1980s and remains as fast and committed as ever – as Roger and co-driver Den Golding will prove in their Škoda Fabia R5+.

Mark Holmes/Mark Perryman made a great start in Argyll and were unlucky to slide their Ford Fiesta S2000 off the road. They hope to get back to their class B14 winning ways this time out.

Keep an eye out too for Steven Ormond-Smith in his rapid Manx Rally Sport Mitsubishi Evo 9, who arrives straight off the back on a fine class B14 win in Argyll, and class B14 Tour of Epynt winner Richard Clews in his ITG Subaru Impreza STi. They’ll be co-driven by Dafydd Evans and Carl Williamson respectively.

Brad Cole is the top-placed two-wheel drive pilot and leads both the Ford Escort Challenge and class B13 in his 2.5-litre Smith & Jones powered Hydroline Solutions Escort Mk2. Co-driven by Jamie Vaughan, an extraordinary performance last time out saw the Somerton driver pick up fourth place overall Protyre Asphalt points which puts him up sixth in the overall drivers’ standings.

Darren Atkinson/Phil Sandham enjoyed a good run on the 2019 Down Rally, which was their maiden outing in Northern Ireland. They are always quick and spectacular in their red Atkinsons Sandblasting/DP Trucks/S&W Fabrication-backed Escort Mk2 – and like Cole will be out for both class B13 and Ford Escort Challenge points.

The stunning livery of Olly Hunter’s Vauxhall-engined Ford Escort Mk2 is a slight to behold. The Preston ace doesn’t worry too much about the paint job when his right foot is on the gas, so expect some fireworks from the class B11 leader.

As a teenager, Jonathan Stepney represented Wales at Olympic Skeet shooting at the mini Commonwealth Games in Gibraltar, before turning his sights on rallying. His rapid-fire performances in his 1.9-litre engined Griffiths/Gavin Griffiths Group-backed Peugeot 205 GTi has seen him win the class B12 category twice in two starts this year and, together with his co-driving stepfather Aled Davies, will be targeting a hat-trick of wins.

Johnnie Mackay leads in the Protyre Asphalt N3 class – the reigning Scottish junior champion enjoying a great season in his ISS/Kewtech Ford Fiesta ST. Co-driven this time by Martin Forrest, the Down Rally was one of the main events on the 20-year-old driver’s 2022 bucket list, and he’s not shy of pushing hard on stages he doesn’t know either.

Protyre Motorsport will take a large number of tyres to the Down Rally, including Pirelli, Michelin and Hoosier, and operate an on-event fitting service for all registered Championship contenders.

Special Stage TV will be live streaming the action from the event, which will be broadcast on its Facebook page. Commentary will come from Mark James and Alistair Fisher.

Three years after it was last run, the 2022 Carryduff Forklift Down Rally, which is jointly organised by Rathfriland Motor Club and Ballynahinch and District Motor Club, returns with an exciting eight stages. Based at the Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn, the event starts at 09.30 and will contain two runs over Bucks Head (a new addition to the Down Rally and at almost nine miles the longest stage of the event), Lough Erne (5.4 miles of technical and twisty lanes with one mile of open and flowing roads), Drumaknocken (first used in 2018 with a changeable surface with a billiard table smooth section heading towards the stage finish) and Hamilton’s Folly (mountain road stage containing the famous jump), before the finish at 16.30.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: July 10, 2022 3:00 PM

1 Jonathan Greer/Dai Roberts (Citroen C3 Rally2) [10]
2 Stephen Wright/Ger Conway (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
3 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (VW Polo GTI R5) [10]
4 Freddie Milne/Patrick Walsh (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
5 Derek McGarrity/Graham Henderson (VW Polo GTI R5) [11]
6 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC) [10]
7 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [10]
8 Neil Roskell/Andrew Roughead (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
9 Darren Gass/Barry McNulty (Citroen C3 Rally2) [10]
10 John Stone/Laura Connell (VW Polo GTI R5) [11]
11 Stephen Simpson/Will Atkins (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [10]
12 Steve Wood/Dale Bowen (Ford Fiesta WRC) [10]
14 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [10]
15 William Creighton/TBC (Ford Fiesta Rally3) [9]
16 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
17 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
18 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
19 Martin Cairns/Peter Ward (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
20 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
21 Ian Dickson/John McCafferty (Ford Fiesta R5) [10]
22 Cal McCarthy/TBC (Citroen DS3R5) [10]
23 Terry Donnelly/Gareth Donnelly (Skoda Fabia S2000) [9]
24 Chris McGurk/Laim McEntyne (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]
25 Michael McGarrity/Damian Garvey (Hyundai i20 R5) [10]
26 Alan Smyth/Gary McCrudden (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
27 Roger Moran/Den Golding (Skoda Fabia R5) [11]
28 Brian McFall/Ivor Lamont (Ford Fiesta) [9]
29 Gary Cairns/Mark Preston (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [9]
30 Conor McCrossan/David Burns (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [10]
31 Darren Atkinson/Philip Sandham (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
32 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
33 Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
34 John Devlin/John McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
35 Huw James/Dafydd Evans (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
36 Richard Clews/Carl Williamson (Subaru Impreza STI) [9]
37 Alastair Cochrane/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
38 Steven Ormond-Smith/TBC (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) [9]
39 Paul Killen/Enda Kennedy (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
40 Alan Atcheson/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
41 In memory of Ryan Bradley
42 Shane Cullen/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
43 Kyle White/Sean Topping (Peugeot 208) [4]
44 Jack Newman/Andrew Browne (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
45 Andrew White/Paul Hughes (Ford Escort Mk1) [7]
46 Jonny Cargo/David McElroy (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
47 Gareth Deazley/Ashley Boulton (Ford Fiesta R200) [4]
48 Tim Pearcey/Mark Glennerster (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [9]
49 Shane Murray/Gary Hade (Ford Fiesta) [10]
50 Jim Feenan/Barry McParland (Ford Fiesta S2000) [9]
51 Nicky Caughey/Graeme Stewart (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [8]
52 David Porter/Jordan Murphy (Subaru Impreza) [8]
53 Kevin Wilson/Martin Farren (Mitsubishi Lancer) [8]
54 John Gordon/James McEneaney (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
55 Kevin Quinn/Chris Corr (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
56 Derek Gurney/Alan Conor (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) [6]
57 Niall Carey/Ciaran Carey (BMW Compact) [7]
58 Seamus Morris/Jarlath Kelly (Darrian GTR) [7]
59 Eamon Doherty/Damian McAuley (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
60 William Carey/Jimmy Graham (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
61 Oliver Hunter/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
62 Harry Johnston/Chris Johnston (BMW E30) [7]
63 Matthew McGaffin/Mo Downey (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
64 Philip Hamilton/Damian Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
65 James Wylie/Tommy Speers (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
66 Lewis Gatt/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
67 Sam Adams/Michael Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
68 Quentin Park/Shane Farrell (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
69 Conor Lavery/Johnny Baird (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
70 Christian Cochrane/Martin Lynch (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
71 Stanley Orr/Michael Gibson (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [1]
72 Jimmy Mills/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [1]
73 Fintan McGrady/Stephen Jess (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [1]
74 Grant Shand/Rosa Shand (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [1]
75 Drew Wylie/Stephen McAuley (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [1]
76 Andrew Bushe/Domnhall Lennon (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) [1]
77 Stewart Morrison/K M (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
78 JT Warnock/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
79 Marshall Kennedy/Davy Young (Peugeot 306 GTi) [2]
80 Paul Creamer/TBC (Honda Civic) [4]
81 Roger Kennedy/Wendy Bleckledge (Peugeot 306 S16) [6]
82 Shaun Murphy/Damien McKenna (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
83 Darragh Kelly/Eoin Kelly (Peugeot 208 R2) [4]
84 Colm McFall/Margo Christie (Honda Civic) [4]
85 Jack Cairns/Darragh Mullen (Ford Fiesta R2) [4]
86 Johnnie Mackay/Martin Forrest (Ford Fiesta ST) [2]
87 Jonathan Stepney/Aled Davies (Peugeot 205) [5]
88 James McCarville/TBC (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
89 Philip White/Brian Rowan (Nissan Micra) [3]
90 Ronan Greene/Mark McAleer (Vauxhall Nova) [3]
91 Mervyn Tate/Sarah Tate (Talbot Sunbeam) [3]
92 Phillip Morrow/Simon Morrow (Nissan Micra Kit Car) [3]
93 Simon Gordon/John Henderson (Vauxhall Astra) [6]
94 John Adams/Noel Watt (Ford Escort RS1800) [1]
95 Tommy Maxwell/Samuel McMullan (Ford Focus RWD) [7]
96 Allan Mackay/TBC (Ford Anglia) [6]
97 Stephen Benton/Oliver Benton (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
98 Mickeal Magee/John Magilton (Subaru Impreza) [8]
99 David Craine/Janet Craine (Ford Escort Cosworth) [8]
100 Scott Singleton/Kyle Diffin (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
101 Craig Alcorn/Damian Sheridan (Honda Civic) [3]
102 Eamonn McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
103 Alex McNaughton/Kevin Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
104 Colm Browne/Michael Browne (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
105 Conor Wilson/Sean Marsh (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [4]
106 Christy McLaughlin/Garth Neill (Honda Civic Ek4) [4]
107 Seamus Goodfellow/Joel McFarland (Honda Civic) [2]
108 Gareth Dick/Jane Colins (Honda Civic) [2]
109 Brian (Beefy) Fraser/Iain Thorburn (Hillman Avenger Tiger) [1]
110 Drew Struthers/Fiona Moir (Hillman Avenger) [1]
111 Paddy McToal/Connor O'Loan (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
112 Paddy Milligan/Dermot Murray (Opel Manta) [6]
113 Mark Stewart/Chris Hobson (Mazda MX5) [4]
114 Ian Duff/Ian Hull (Proton Compact) [4]
115 Sean Foy/TBC (Nissan Micra) [3]
116 Liam Regan/Ian Regan (Skoda Estelle) [1]
117 Niall Creighton/Gregory Roberts (Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1) [1]
118 Malcolm Pedlow/Billy Regan (BMW 2002tii) [1]
119 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Ford Fiesta R5) [11]

Regulations Available - Entries Open Tue 7 Jun @ 8pm

Posted: June 5, 2022 9:28 AM

Regulations at:

Down Rally

On Line Entry System by RallyScore

Ballynahinch & District Motor Club
Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs - www.motorsportni.org