Above
pic: Derek McGarrity & James McKee - Subaru Impreza S12B
WRC
Photographer: Martin McCorriston/RALLYPICS.ORG
For immediate release: 01 March 2010
Glengormley's
Derek McGarrity is Kirkistown King!
Glengormley's
Derek McGarrity, the reigning Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage
Rally Champion, opened his 2010 account with victory at the
opening round of this year's series.
Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, the Pedro Pet Foods
Rally featured six stages, all held within the confines of County
Down's Kirkistown Race Circuit on Saturday 27 February.
And it was McGarrity, together with navigator James McKee, who
immediately made his intentions clear. Fastest time over the
opening stage by an impressive 16.9 seconds left the crew's
rivals trailing in their dust.
That set the scene for the day as the Glengormley driver went
on to secure a full complement of fastest stage times, winning
the opening Hankook N.I. Championship round by almost 90 seconds.
While McGarrity raced ahead towards the overall rally spoils,
a number of crews tussled for the runner-up positions. Unfortunately
for number two seeds, Gary White and Dominic Carson, their challenge
failed to materialise. Wheel studs sheered on their rally car
at the start-line of stage one, causing a wheel to fall off!
Instead, Gary and Keith McEvoy were the surprised early second
placed holders with their older specification Mitsubishi Lancer.
The crew finished the opening stage 2.1 seconds clear of George
Robinson and Tommy Speers, while Raymond Johnston and Fabian
McAleer topped the Group N category and held fourth.
The McEvoy brothers lost some time on stage two, dropping behind
both Robinson and Johnston, while a sleep deprived 21-year-old
Stuart Biggerstaff also moved in front. The young Dromara man,
who claimed second overall on his debut stage rally at the same
venue just a few weeks earlier, was second only to event leader
McGarrity over stage two.
"I didn't get much sleep the night before the rally,"
Biggerstaff admitted. "I was up late getting the car ready
for the event but that's all part of the fun!"
Second placed George Robinson was back up to speed on stage
three, and he attempted to consolidate his second placed position
over the ensuing tests. While young Biggerstaff moved ahead
of Raymond Johnston to take third, it looked as though Robinson
held a near certain second overall.
But in rallying, nothing is ever certain. Going into the final
stage, Robinson was almost 24 seconds clear of Biggerstaff when
mechanical problems hit the building contractor's Subaru. He
limped through the final miles but Biggerstaff pounced at the
last gasp, snatching second overall from Robinson by less than
five seconds!
While Robinson completed a top three of Subaru drivers, fourth
overall for the Mitsubishi Lancer belonging to Raymond Johnston
and Fabian McAleer was enough to seal the Sunoco Fuels Group
N spoils.
Johnston fended off a challenge from Kieron Graffin and Neil
Doherty, forcing the chasing crew to settle for fifth overall
and second in Group N. Meanwhile, Alan Carmichael and Ivor Lamont
completed the top six and finished third in Group N.
Unfortunately, none of these drivers registered for the Hankook
Group N prize drive, which gives an opportunity for crews to
win an expenses paid drive on an Intercontinental Rally Challenge
event in 2011. The highest placed registered driver was Mark
Donnelly, with Martin Collins second ahead of Stephen Wright.
In the Hankook two-wheel-drive category, Drew Stewart and Steven
Park clung on to the top spot after a late charge from Terry
McGonigle and Damian Caldwell. Stewart sealed the win, as well
as seventh overall, by less than five seconds after McGonigle
set a string of top 10 stage times - including fourth fastest
overall on the final stage - in his Honda Civic.
In the Montgomery Motorsport historic category, Philip Hunter
and Michael Faloon sealed maximum points as well as 24th overall.
They finished ahead of Andy Johnston and Philip Mills, while
Harry Brown and Martin McGrath were third.
The Superdrive MSA N.I. Junior Rally Championship sees Stuart
Biggerstaff take an early lead from Stephen Wright. Wright also
finished the event as the leading Fiesta driver, taking the
M-Sport Bonus Parts scheme prize.
Gary McEvoy heads the Autofashion.ie Group A Cup, and finally,
Samantha Thom heads the Ladies Championship from Amanda Gaffney
and Roisin Boyd.
Round two of the Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship
will take competitors to Bishopscourt on 13 March. Based a few
miles outside Downpatrick, the McGrady Insurance Stages Rally
will feature six stages and more than 40 stage miles. More details
can be found online at www.nirally.com.
ENDS.
Pedro Pet Foods Rally top 10 results
1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 27m32.5s
2 Stuart Biggerstaff/Kenny Hull (Impreza WRC) 28m55.8s
3 George Robinson/Tommy Speers (Impreza WRC) 29m00.6s
4 Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer (Lancer Evo 9) 29m07.0s
5 Kieron Graffin/Neil Doherty (Lancer Evo) 29m16.1s
6 Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont (Lancer Evo 9) 29m21.0s
7 Drew Stewart/Steven Park (Escort Mk2) 29m21.1s
8 Terry McGonigle/Damian Caldwell (Lancer Evo 9) 29m25.9s
9 Gary McEvoy/Keith McEvoy (Lancer Evo) 29m35.1s
10 Alan Burrows/Gavin Burrows (Lancer Evo 9) 29m35.4s
Photograph: Attached photograph depicts Derek McGarrity
and James McKee in their Subaru Impreza WRC during the 2010
Pedro Pet Foods Stage Rally. Image may be used free of charge
for editorial use with credit to the photographer, Martin McCorriston/RALLYPICS.ORG.
Image may not be sold, resold or used for commercial purposes.
Copyright remains with the photographer.
Regards,
Jonathan MacDonald
MediaJAM Communications
