For immediate
release: 14 March 2010
Glengormley's
McGarrity takes two on the trot at
McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages!
Derek McGarrity
and James McKee claimed another emphatic victory on Saturday
at the McGrady Insurance Stages Rally, round two of the Hankook
MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship!
The Glengormley rally car and helicopter dealer dominated at
Bishopscourt Race Circuit, setting a full complement of fastest
stage times to win the rally by more than one minute in his
Subaru Impreza WRC S12B.
The venue, which is situated a few miles outside Downpatrick,
attracted almost 100 crews to the former airfield. But it was
reigning Hankook champion McGarrity who dominated once again,
sealing a second consecutive Northern Ireland Rally Championship
victory.
McGarrity and McKee were in a league of their own throughout
the event, leaving George Robinson and Stuart Biggerstaff to
again tussle for the runner-up position.
Robinson, a Ballymena building contractor, was determined to
make up for his round one disappointment. He had looked set
to seal second overall at the opening event of the season until
he was forced to complete the final stage in two-wheel-drive.
21-year-old Biggerstaff capitalised on that occasion, nipping
in front at the last gasp.
On Saturday, it was Robinson who held second overall after stage
one but Biggerstaff was just a few tenths of a second in arrears.
The second test saw Biggerstaff move in front, and he extended
his advantage on the following test.
Robinson was forced to up his game, and the fourth stage saw
him snatch almost two seconds back. With two stages remaining,
little more than two seconds separated the two pilots. It was
all to play for but a small mistake by Biggerstaff through stage
five handed his rival some breathing space.
"It was the first time the track was run in reverse,"
Biggerstaff recalled. "At the square right after the big
jump, I ran wide, caught the grass and spun. After that, I concentrated
on having a clean run to get the car to the finish."
The 21-year-old pilot lost 18 seconds with the incident, forcing
him to settle for third overall. A clear run through the final
test saw Robinson and navigator Tommy Speers claim the runner-up
spot, while third placed Biggerstaff sealed third, as well as
the top Superdrive and Hankook Junior positions.
Gary White and Dominic Carson also put their Kirkistown demons
behind them. The crew failed to complete a stage at round one
after a wheel fell off their Impreza. They enjoyed better luck
at the McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages, with fourth overall
a deserving result, as well as maximum points in the AutoFashion.ie
Group A Cup.
In the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, Kieron Graffin and Neil
Doherty claimed the top spot aboard their Mitsubishi Lancer
Evo 9. The crew also finished fifth overall in the process,
with rivals Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont taking second in
class and sixth overall.
The Hankook two-wheel-drive category victory was sealed by Drew
Stewart and Steven Park. They claimed the win by less than three
seconds after a late charge from James and Heather Kennedy.
Gary Price and Matthew McKenna were third among the two-wheel-drive
crews.
Philip Hunter and Tommy O'Connell claimed a narrow Montgomery
Motorsport Historic category victory after a huge tussle with
Andy Johnson and Jim Young. It was Johnson who headed the category
going into the final stage, but in a last gasp effort, Hunter
moved in front to take the win by little more than one second.
Meanwhile, in the historic class 10, Brian Carson and Lloyd
Cochrane were the sole entrants, so there were no surprises
when they claimed the award.
Finally, Jonny Leonard and Jackie Donaldson claimed the M-Sport
Bonus Parts Scheme prize as the leading Fiesta crew. They also
won class one and finished just outside the top 30 overall.
With two circuit based events now completed, the Hankook MSA
Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship now turns to the first
closed road event of the year. The UTV Drive Circuit of Ireland
National Rally, which takes place over 03/04 April, marks the
third round of the Championship. More details can be found online
at www.nirally.com.
ENDS.
McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages - top 10
1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 37m11.9s
2 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC) 38m26.0s
3 Stuart Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Impreza WRC) 38m43.7s
4 Gary White/Dominic Carson (Impreza) 39m22.7s
5 Kieron Graffin/Neil Doherty (Lancer Evo 9) 39m29.2s
6 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer Evo 9) 39m42.8s
7 Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer (Lancer Evo 9) 39m50.1s
8 Graham Ballantine/Donnacha O'Callaghan (Lancer Evo 9) 39m51.9s
9 Drew Stewart/Steven Park (Escort Mk2) 39m56.1s
10 James Kennedy/eather Kennedy (Escort Mk2) 39m59.0s
Hankook N.I. Rally Championship Standings after round two
1 Derek McGarrity 24pts
2= Stuart Biggerstaff 19pts
2=George Robinson 19pts
4 Raymond Johnston 13pts
5 Alan Carmichael 13pts
6 Drew Stewart 9pts
Photograph: Attached photograph depicts Derek McGarrity
and James McKee in their Subaru Impreza WRC during the 2010
McGrady Insurance Bishopscourt Stages Rally. Image may be used
free of charge for editorial use with credit to the photographer,
William Neill/NEILLPICS.CO.UK. Image may not be sold, resold
or used for commercial purposes. Copyright remains with the
photographer.
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