SEAT Cars Lurgan Park Rally - 7 July 01

Posted: July 9, 2001 5:58 PM - 11144 Hits


Thanks to Brian & Liz Patterson

Gwyndaf Evans put on a dominant display on last Saturday's SEAT Lurgan ParkRally, steering his factory Cordoba WRC Evo 3 to a start to finish victory.
The Welshman won the Time Trial as well, to boost his winnings to £5000. Gwyndaf commented afterwards - "One of those days when everything goes like clock work. Although it wasn't as easy as it may have appeared, the rain made it slippy and difficult"

Posted: July 9, 2001 5:58 PM

Closest pursuer to Gwyndaf was Glengormley's Derek McGarrity, but the Subaru driver was always one or two seconds shy throughout all of the 9 stages. Pre-event favourite Kenny McKinstry lost time on the first stage when his Impreza WRC skated across the grass, the Banbridge man coming back from 14th to snatch 3rd at the last gasp, but at no time matching Gwyndaf's pace.

The battle for 3rd place provided lots of dramas through the day. Finaghy's Gary White occupied the spot early on but slipped back, while Newtownabbey's Trevor Moore, Dromara's Denis Biggerstaff and Armagh's Maurice Gass all battled for the bottom podium place. McKinstry however showed the sort of form that has made him a 9 times Lurgan Park winner to come through at the end.

Fermanagh's Raymond Johnston led GpN initially but made a wrong tyre choice to allow Neil Simpson in a similar Lancer to get in front and extend his gpN lead towards the end of the day to finish 12th overall. Crumlin's Keith White was the best placed two wheel drive car after an impressive display, beating Eugene Donnelly into 2nd, Philip Shaw 3rd, all driving various Ford Escorts.

Max McKillen turned in some very good times in his Citroen Saxo, but there was no specific class to cater for 1600cc cars, which meant the Dubliner had to be content with 4th in class behind the big engined Fords. Main retirement during the day was Limavady's Richard Hogg, who crashed his Lancer into the trees, fortunately with little damage. Tipperary's Roy White won the Spirit of the Rally award for his efforts in the Bobby King Porsche after his own Lancer was wrecked in Ypres the previous weekend. Niall McShea non- started when his Toyota suffered gearbox troubles before the start.


SEAT Lurgan Park Top Ten
1st  Gwyndaf Evans/Gary Savage (SEAT Cordoba WRC)  14.42.8
2nd Derek McGarrity/Adrian Foley (Subaru WRC) 	   15.08.4
3rd Kenny McKinstry/Mark McDonnell (Subaru WRC)    15.18.8
4th Trevor Moore/Roy Wilson (Escort Cosworth) 	   15.19.2
5th Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Subaru WRC) 	   15.19.7
6th Denis Biggerstaff/Robin McCandless (Metro 6R4) 15.22.9
7th Stephen Harron/Forster (Subaru Legacy RS) 	   15.29.5
8th Gary White/Angela Hamill (Escort Cosworth)     15.31.1
9th James Gillen/Victor Carrothers (Escort Cos.)   15.34.9
10th Wesley Patterson/Terence Teggart (Sierra Cos) 15.45.6

Topics: Lurgan Park 

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