Fresh from winning the Down Rally a couple of weeks ago two times Tarmac Champion, Derek McGarrity, was fastest over the opening stage of this Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally. Craigavon Borough Council’s Lurgan Park was at its greenest and in beautiful condition for the rally. However, all the recent damp weather that has provided the lush undergrowth has also made conditions very difficult for the organising North Armagh Motor Club. For the moment, there is just a hint of blue sky and it is all stations go.
World rally star Kris Meeke, with Gerry McVeigh on the pace notes, in the McGeehan Mini WRC was first on the road and he said when he completed his first run. “I was a bit tentative. The tracks are a bit green under the tress. It was slippy and I was braking slightly early.” Derek McGarrity told us. “That was good but not fast enough. There is more in it. I made a bit of a mistake noting the stage and did not have the first corner in where I roofed the Subaru a few years ago. Naturally I was a bit cautious there". ”Eleven times Lurgan Park winner, Kenny McKinstry, 3rd overall so far today, said. “We were very sideways in places. I did not make any mistakes but it’s very slippy”.
There was great anticipation as to how Garry Jennings and his partner Kerry would fare in the older model Group N Subaru but Garry’s times was just a couple of seconds shy of the leaders. He said. “The car has no go on the straights.” Considering he has not competed since this time last year Mark Doyle did very well to record 5th fastest time in his Celica GT4. Derek McGeehan and his co-driver Laurie Smith are debuting the right hand drive Prodrive Mini WRAC today and they round off the top half dozen. Draperstown man Derek commented. “I am still bedding myself and the car in. I’m happy enough with the time”.
Further stories include: Alan Carmichael stalled his Subaru a couple of times and dropped quite a few seconds. Alan has Neil Doherty co-driving and is in a left-hand drive Subaru from the McKinstry stable. The car is brilliant but Alan is just not used to left hand drive. Some changes to the entry list are – Emma McKinstry is a non-starter as is Pat O’Connell, they were to run at numbers 9 and 14. Stephen Kellett is now car No.9 and Shane McGirr is car 14. Both will run further down the order.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
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