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Capacity entry for PRM & RPM Motorsport Loughgall Stages Rally

Aaron McLaughlin will start as favourite at the PRM & RPM Motorsport Loughgall Stages Rally on Saturday July 6, with both the spectator-friendly Loughgall Country Park and nearby closed road test on the agenda, writes William Neill.
 
The number one seed will be looking for his third Loughgall win in a row following a switch to a Volkswagen Polo Rally2. Victory, with Darren Curran, has come this year already at St Angelo Stages back in May and the pair arrive in County Armagh following their three-day home rally – the Donegal International. Seat time has been a plenty and will stand the crew well.

Regular visitors to North Armagh Motor Club events will recall a fourth place finish at the Echlinville Distillery Stages Rally that got the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship underway – a series in which McLaughlin remains in contention of for a podium finish.

Aidan Wray was close to winning last year despite only one fastest stage mid-event. Returning in an IN Sport Volkswagen Polo Rally2, the Strabane driver is joined, on this occasion, by Niall Burns.

In car three, a Skoda Fabia Rally2, Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy cemented their place as front-running contenders with second at this year’s Circuit of Munster – Callum Devine the only man ahead – after the eight-stage event and now lead the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

Damian Toner first won Loughgall in 2015 and quickly became the man to beat within the technical but fast park stages. After a taste of a Ford Fiesta R5 last year, the Armagh driver is weighing up options of either the same again or returning to his trusty Ford Escort Mk2 that would see him as top two-wheel-drive runner in car four.

Jason Black, on his local rally, starts at five with Karl Egan alongside in a Toyota Starlet, ahead of Marty Toner and Ben Teggart with a Proton Millington adding to the variety.

Camillus and John Bradley will keep the Escort fans happy before Ben McFall, who leads the Junior category in the Northern Ireland championship, in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9.

Other entries include former winner Norman Armstrong, while Adrian Hetherington debuts a Rallysport Development Ltd Fiat 131 and Graeme Nesbitt, son of two-time Irish champion Andrew Nesbitt, continues his opening year at the wheel. 

Action starts with the first of seven stages at 10am within the park where there will also be a static show, service area for the 80 competitors and the champagne finish at 4.45pm, followed by prize giving.
Admission is £10 per adult with under 16 free and includes a free programme at the entrance. Car parking within the park is also included.

ENTRY LIST:
Full list will be available at www.rallyscore.net

1 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Volkswagen Polo Rally2);
2 Aidan Wray/Niall Burns (Volkswagen Polo Rally2);
3 Eddie Doherty/Tom murphy (Skoda Fabia Rally2);
4 Damian Toner/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2);
5 Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet);
6 Marty Toner/Ben Teggart (Proton Millington);
7 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2);
8 John Bradley/Ryan Crozier (Ford Escort Mk2);
9 Ben McFall/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer E9);
10 Gareth Black/Conor Dunlop (Toyota Starlet).

PRM Group & RPM Motorsports Loughgall Stages Rally 2024 – Regulations and Online Entry Submission!

[Loughgall Country Park stages and Kinnegoe closed public road special stages]

Regulations and Online Entry Submission are now available for the North Armagh Motor Club Ltd PRM Group & RPM Motorsports Loughgall Stages Rally.

The event, which takes place on Saturday 6th of July, is sponsored by PRM Group & RPM Motorsports, and will feature seven stages, four within the confines of Loughgall Country Park. and three on nearby closed Public Roads.

DOWNLOAD REGULATIONS

Entries for the event should be completed online (including Online payment) at www.rallyscore.net

All correspondence will be posted on Digital Notice Board (DNB): Sportity App (Sign in – LGSR)

Online link: https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/LGSR

Entries Secretary;

Barry Taggart
Telephone +44 (0)7771 892423
e-mail: barry27@sky.com

Note: Enquires only between 6.00pm and 9.00pm weekdays

Jonny Greer tops the times at McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship opener

Jonny Greer and Niall Burns were fastest from start-to-finish at what was the first opportunity to score points in the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship at Kirkistown Race Circuit – winning by 15.3 seconds in a Citroen C3 Rally2, writes William Neill.

Stuart Biggerstaff, supported by rally sponsor Echlinville Distillery, was on form when wet conditions worsened mid-event. A champion himself, the Kinallen man moved his Ford Fiesta R5 into second after the 4.4-mile SS3 – a reverse test from the opening loop with an extra gravel section. Anthony Nestor was alongside to see over the team’s secured place by over 19 seconds.

Back to Greer and after SS2 the Carryduff driver reported a clean line was appearing on the stage but conditions remained greasy and noted the bottom section was particularly difficult before half-time.

SS4 and the leader slid off the road at the flying finish, showing how difficult it was to maintain the correct pace. The final stage format for SS5 and SS6 was the longest of the day, and Greer was cautious of the desired final result.

Derek McGarrity’s long association with the North Armagh Motor Club event stood the Skoda Fabia R5 driver in good stead with an early second, 2.4 seconds behind the lead time on SS1. The distance from both Greer and Biggerstaff increased throughout the day however, to have to settle for the final podium place with Paddy Robinson.

Donegal’s Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran were down in eighth after SS1 but bounced back with a second fastest time on SS2 only to overshoot and go off the road again on the next test. It got worse – poor visibility from the recently purchased Volkswagen Polo R5’s windscreen on SS4 made for a difficult fight back. Third fastest on both the penultimate and final stage made all the difference, moving from seventh to fourth.

Despite a first corner spin Jason Dickson and Martin Brady recovered to finish fifth, 6.6 seconds back but place secured by 7.4 seconds.

Peadar Hurson, in a ROK Motorsport converted right-hand-drive Volkswagen Polo, moved from an early tenth to sixth with a fourth fastest stage time the Newry driver’s highest placing of the day.

In a Proton S2500 debut Marty Toner was seventh and top of the open class finishers.

Niall Henry came across a tyre marking the course on SS1 in eighth, successful track racing driver Michael Cullen was ninth and top lady points scorer Emma McKinstry rounded off the top ten.

Philip Allen was among the front runners but a slick tyre choice and confusion on where to go on another stage, he ended up at the back end of the top 20. As high as third after two stages, we can expect the McGeehan Motorsport-run driver to remain a contender for rally wins.

TWO-WHEEL-DRIVE

Colin Price hadn’t competed since May but was fit enough to win the two-wheel-drive race with Billy Regan. The Toyota Starlet was out in front by 16.5 seconds.

Barry Morris’ Darrian T90 GTR+ update was fastest on the first stage with Price finding his feet. A gear shift failure for Morris ruled the early pacesetter out for Price to take control while three others fought it out for second, namely Jaye Nevin, Jonny Cargo and eventual runner up James Kennedy. Peugeot 205 mounted Nevin ended third, but fastest in class.

Top FIA two-wheel-drive points went to Se Og Martin, from Marshall Kennedy.

JUNIORS

Leaving Kirkistown Ben McFall leads the junior race from Darragh Kelly. The Mitsubishi Lancer E9 driver from Bushmills jumped from his car 64 seeding to 13th overall, almost a minute ahead of his nearest rival.

With the junior category eligibility based on age, Kelly was fastest in his class by over two minutes using a Peugeot 208 R2. Rally school instructor Joshua Baird sits third.

HISTORIC

Current historic champion Jimmy Mills, guided by Michael Johnston, has started the year off well with full points as the sole finishers at round one. More competition is expected throughout the season.

IN OTHER NEWS

Christopher Murphy, son of event organising committee member, Eddie, had his Ford Escort Mk2 on stage for the first time. From Armagh, but travelling from America to compete was Andrew Frizzle and both Kyle White and Alan Carmichael retired on what was a British Rally Championship test.

CLASS WINNERS

Class 1: Jimmy Mills/Michael Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2);  Class 2: Se Og Martin/Sean Walsh (Peugeot 208 R4); Class 3: Peter Dowds/Steven Dowds (Nissan Micra); Class 4: Darragh Kelly/Ashley Boulton (Peugeot 208 R2); Class 5: Jonathan Strain/Scott Strain (Peugeot 205 GTi); Class 6: Colin Price/Bill Regan (Toyota Starlet); Class 7: Jayne Nevin/Eoghan Moore (Peugeot 205); Class 8: Ben McFall/Damian McAuley (Mitsubishi Lancer E9); Class 9: Richard O’Lone/James Turkington (Ford Fiesta R3); Class 10: Jonny Greer/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2); Class 11: Marty Toner/Ben Teggart (Proton S2500).

NEXT UP

Next up in the five round series is the Race & Rally Stages at Bishopsourt on March 9 which will host a new single-lap stage format. Entries remain open at www.rallyscore.net.

There is more coverage from round one with an action photo gallery set to feature on the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship Facebook page and a highlights package on YouTube.

Results from the Echlinville Distillery Stage Rally 

Full results are available from www.rallyscore.net

McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship 2024 points

Full points are available from www.nirallychampionship.com

McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship 2024 Calendar remaining rounds

March 9 – Race & Rally Stages (Bishopscourt Race Circuit) – Ballynahinch & District Motor Club

April 27 – Maiden City Stages (closed road) – Maiden City Motor Club

May 18 – GO Tour of the Sperrins (closed road) – Magherafelt & District Motor Club

July 20 – Tyrone Stages (closed road) – Cookstown Motor Club

November 16 – Reserve date (may be used in the event of a cancelled round)

Follow YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/@NIRally

Follow Facebook page – www.facebook.com/nirallying and www.facebook.com/niforestrallychallenge

Bookmark website – www.nirallychampionship.com

EDITOR NOTE: Photography may be used for publication free of charge providing credit is given to the photographer.

THE ECHLINVILLE DISTILLERY, KIRCUBBIN, NEWTOWNARDS  SPONSORS N.I. RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 OPENER!

North Armagh Motor Club is pleased to welcome THE ECHLINVILLE DISTILLERY, KIRCUBBIN, NEWTOWNARDS, as new event title sponsor this year.

Shane Braniff is continuing his previous long-standing association with this event, and through his Echlinville Distillery business, is backing the opening round of this year’s McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Based at Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 17 February, The Echlinville Distillery Stage Rally, which is organised and promoted by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, will attract the crème de la crème of local rally talent as they battle for the spoils at the popular County Down venue. In fact, the entry is filling fast with many of these top -line competitors already committed and/or entered, bringing the total so far, to over 70 crews.

Barry Taggart, Clerk of the Course for the event, said: “We are delighted to be associated with local businessman Shane Braniff, a long-standing supporter of North Armagh Motor Club ltd., Northern Ireland motorsport in general and rallying in particular.”

The Echlinville Distillery which was founded in 2012, began distilling its famous four spirit brands in 2013 which are available worldwide. The Echlinville Distillery is now firmly established as a successful local producer of Irish Whiskey, Gin and Vodka at their Distillery based in Kircubbin, Newtownards.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support North Armagh Motor Club and the opening round of the N. I. Rally Championship 2024,” commented The Echlinville Distillery Managing Director, Shane Braniff. “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 and meet the rally fans at the event.”

Competitors will tackle six stages within the confines of Kirkistown Race Circuit, with a similar format (but with minor alterations to the stages) to last year. In an effort to satisfy all competitors’ needs, vehicle scrutiny will be on Saturday morning only, before the rally, with the opening stage set to start at 9.15am. The finish will be around 5.00pm. The stages will be minimum 95% sealed surface.

A limited number of entries can still be made via www.rallyscore.net up until 07 February at 10.00pm. Regulations and future rally information will be available from the club’s virtual noticeboard at www.namcc.com 

If anyone would be available to marshal, contact Chief Marshal:

Caroline McGuinness on 07792 037441.

ENDS…

02 January 2024

Further details from:

SIMON FULLERTON
Public Relations Officer
North Armagh Motor Club Ltd
Mob:  07745 891227
Email: sfullerton78@gmail.com