RALLY NEWS NO.8 Lurgan Park/Saturday/5.30

1^st (6) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 14.46.6

2^nd (2) Mark Higgins/Michael Gibson (Accent WRC) 14.52.6

3^rd (1) Jonny Milner/Shelley Rogerson (Octavia WRC) 15.03.2

4^th (20) James Gillen/Rodney Johnston (Impreza WRC) 15.12.9

5^th (14) Kevin Barrett/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 15.15.8

6^th (15) Daniel Doherty/Kevin McGowan (Impreza WRC) 15.17.7

7^th (8) Maurice Gass/Andrew Cullen (Impreza WRC) 15.26.7

8^th (11) Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Escort WRC) 15.28.6

9^th (22) Ollie O'Donovan/Ed Synan (Impreza WRC) 15.33.8

10^th (23) Keith White/David Lynas (Escort rwd) 15.37.8

This 25^th running of Lurgan Park Rally has been a magical memorable day for all involved. The Triton Showers backing and presence on the event made it even more special. The 2 men who will probably never forget it are Kevin Lynch and co driver Francis Regan, winners against the stiffest of opposition. Mark Higgins is a professional to his fingertips and kept trying to the end, having to be content with 2^nd place on his first visit, and on his first run in a Hyundai. Jonny Milner was right there throughout, but the Pirelli British Champion had to be content with 3^rd at the end.

When Lynch emerged from his KPL backed Subaru he had a fair grin on his face when he said "An exceptional day, it definitely was good. It was a great battle, I wasn’t able to lift my foot too often. At the start I wanted to see the pace, didn’t want to get too excited, but soon realised it would be hectic, unreal. I knew I could do it, could win, came with that intention!" Mark Higgins said. "We kept the pressure on right to the end, just in case, but it was a brilliant day, a great rally". Jonny Milner reported his Skoda down on power for most of the final stage when the exhaust blew, but otherwise Jonny said "It was a very good day, my best Lurgan event ever".

There was also a great battle for 4^th place with James Gillen surviving a last minute spin to just pip Triton Showers man Kevin Barrett. Daniel Doherty rounded off the top 6 with some fast times towards the end after a lacklustre start. Maurice Gass drove a very accomplished event to take 7^th, his performance tempered a little after having an accident last year. Glenn Allen had a few moments of dramas in his Escort WRC to take 8^th. Ollie O’Donovan’s Subaru was down on power throughout the day, and in fact went on fire just at the end of the last stage, but Ollie still managed 9^th. The London based Limerick man laughed when he recounted Kenny McKinstry’s face when the Subaru came over the finish line on fire. "Kenny was drinking a bottle of water. He nearly swallowed the bottle, and then he threw it all over the engine!" Keith White rounds off the top 10. Keith and co driver David Lynas deserve top marks for bringing a 2 wheel drive car into the top 10 on a rally of this calibre and with so many 4 wheel drive turbo machines.