RALLY NEWS NO.7 Lurgan Park/Saturday/5pm
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 8 (last stage)
1st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 14.52.4
2nd (2) Mark Higgins/Michael Gibson (Lancer WRC) 15.03.4
3rd (3) Kenny & Susan McKinstry (Impreza WRC) 15.11.1
4th (10) Darren Gass/Sam Cross (Impreza WRC) 15.14.4
5th (5) Charlie Donnelly/Noel Downey (Corolla WRC) 15.25.2
6th (7) Glenn Allen/Brian McCracken (Corolla WRC) 15.28.9
7th (4) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connelly (Impreza WRC) 15.29.3
8th (8) James Gillen/PJ Gillespie (Impreza) 15.50.8
9th (6) Denis Biggerstaff/Stuart Biggerstaff (Impreza WRC) 15.57.2
10th (18) Mark & Rory Doyle (Celica) 16.16.8

Kevin Lynch and his co driver Francis Regan put up a very impressive display here today to win this Turkington Lurgan Park Rally by 11s from Mark Higgins with Kenny McKinstry 3rd a further 8s back. Those are the bald facts behind a day of drama and excitement. For Kevin Lynch today’s win is a unique achievement of 5 back to back victories on the Lurgan Park event. When Kevin and co driver Francis Regan brought their Subaru Impreza WRC S12B to a halt after that final stage Kevin took time to say. “I’m very happy. It was a good result on a unique event. The rally is all about commitment, its very easy to make a mistake and although I had a couple of misdemeanours we got away with it. Well done to the North Armagh Club for organising such a good rally particularly with the bad weather this morning”.

Mark Higgins, who had Michael Gibson back in the co driver seat today, said. “Fair play to Kevin Lynch, he drove brilliantly. I think if I had picked different tyres it could have been closer but I don’t think I could have beaten him”. Kenny McKinstry, who had his daughter Susan co driving in his Subaru Impreza, said. “I enjoyed the day, it’s a pity I hadn’t had these tyres on, Pirelli intermediates, earlier, it would have made a difference”. Kenny has won the rally 10 times of course but he still gives it as much enthusiasm and commitment as he did over 20 years ago. Darren Gass was driving an Impreza WRC for the first time in the Park and put up an impressive performance, although perhaps he was a little disappointed to finish 4th. He gave it a real good go right to the finish but reckons he lost 3s at the final chicane. Charlie Donnelly in 5th said. “It was one of those days, a few small problems. I even knocked the fuel pump off on the gravel section over the final stage. But a powerful good day all the same”. Glenn Allen in his Corolla rounded off the top 6, the NI Rally Champion had a great battle with Peadar Hurson for 6th place, with Glenn just edging it at the end. Hurson joked “I’m only getting going can I come tomorrow!”

Mark & Rory Doyle pulled out all the stops towards the end to win class 3 in their Celica and take 10th overall. Wesley Patterson was just a couple of seconds back in 11th and won class 2, best of the Mk2 Escorts. Brian Dowey was 2nd in cl.3 while in cl.2 Phil Collins was 2nd, Rodney White 3rd, Camillus Bradley 4th and Kris Meeke 5th. Finally for now well done to all the North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club for staging another great event, overcoming atrocious weather conditions early on. Many thanks to Turkington Holdings and to Craigavon Borough Council for their support along with many other bodies and individuals. Our thanks as well to Michael Patterson and everyone else who helped with the Rally News service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

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