For immediate release
Kirkistown
Race Circuit plays host to the opening round
of the Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship!
It's time to blow off those winter cobwebs for Northern Ireland's
leading rally talent as round one of the 2010 Hankook MSA Northern
Ireland Rally Championship, Kirkistown's Pedro Pet Foods Stages,
kicks into action this Saturday!
Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, the County Down venue
has attracted more than 100 crews to this weekend's event. The
popular season opener, which is held on a mixture of loose and
sealed surfaces, will feature six stages within the confines
of the Kirkistown Race Circuit.
"We're very pleased to have secured support from Alan Atcheson
of Pedro Pet Foods," said Clerk of the Course, Eric McCombe.
"The event would simply not be possible without his support
and assistance."
Reigning champions, Derek McGarrity and James McKee, are at
the top of the entry list in their S12B specification Subaru
Impreza WRC. McGarrity has a busy weekend ahead, as he intends
to contest the opening round of the Irish National Championship
which takes place on Sunday.
Gary White and Dominic Carson start the event at number two
in their Subaru Impreza, with George Robinson and Tommy Speers
also in a Subaru at number three. Young Dromara driver Stuart
Biggerstaff completes a quartet of Subarus at number four with
Kenny Hull calling the notes.
Biggerstaff was the sensation of the New Year Stages Rally,
which was held at the same venue. He finished second overall
at what was his first stage rally, enjoying a dream debut behind
the wheel. Biggerstaff starts ahead of the Escort WRC belonging
to Dominic McNeill and Martin Carey.
In the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, Raymond Johnston and Fabian
McAleer start the event as the top seeds. They will be joined
by Mark Massey and former Northern Ireland Rally Champion, Connor
McCloskey.
"I'm going to start the season in a (Mitsubishi Lancer)
Evo," McCloskey said, "but I may switch to a world
rally car for one or two events. There are some fantastic prizes
up for grabs this year thanks to Hankook so I'm really looking
forward to it!"
The two-wheel-drive category has also received a strong entry
which is headed by Gareth and Jonathan Nevin. They start the
event at number 20, with the likes of David Armstrong, Ricky
McAlonen, Terrence Teggart, Drew Stewart and Fintan McGrady
all chasing the laurels.
There are a number of fantastic prizes on offer during the 2010
season. The highest placed Group N driver at the end of the
year will have their entry fee, tyres and ferry costs paid to
give them an opportunity to take part in a European round of
the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
There is also a Junior Prize Drive on offer which is open to
competitors who are under 26 years old. An all expenses paid
drive in an overseas International event with a works specification
car is up for grabs. Junior competitors will be assessed by
a panel of judges who will monitor all competitors on a variety
of aspects during the season.
Superdrive Motorsports Centre is also supporting the Junior
category with dedicated training and cash vouchers, while Sunoco
Fuels is also supporting the Group N category with a drum of
fuel up for grabs after each event.
Montgomery Motorsport has again pledged support for the Historic
category, while Autofashion.ie is sponsoring a new Group A cup.
M-Sport, the company behind the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally
Team, is also supporting the series through the launch of a
new bonus parts scheme.
The Pedro Pet Foods Stages will get underway at approximately
9am this Saturday 27 February. Competitors will tackle six stages
before the winning is crowned as the champagne finish in Kirkistown
Race Circuit. More details, including a full entry list, can
be found online at www.nirally.com.
ENDS.
Pedro Pet Foods Stages - top 10 entries
1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza S12B)
2 Gary White/Dominic Carson (Impreza)
3 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC)
4 Stuart Biggerstaff/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC)
5 Dominic McNeill/Martin Carey (Escort WRC)
6 Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer (Lancer Evo 9)
7 Mark Massey/TBA (Lancer Evo)
8 Connor McCloskey/Francis Regan (Lancer Evo 9)
9 Brendan O'Hagan/Paul Hone (Impreza WRC)
10 Gary McEvoy/Keith McEvoy (Lancer Evo)
