Lurgan Park Rally - (Sat) 12 Aug 06

Posted: August 15, 2006 5:15 PM

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‘Lynch’s Lurgan’
NI Rally Champion Kevin Lynch dominated last Saturday’s Turkington Group backed Lurgan Park Rally. Dungiven man Lynch, co-driven by Francis Regan, was fastest on all of the eight special stages on this showcase event. Banbridge man Kenny McKinstry brought his Impreza home 2nd, while former British Rally Champion David Higgins was 3rd in another McKinstry Subaru..  

A big feature of the rally was the Escort Mk2 Challenge and Lisburn man Wesley Patterson saw off a strong challenge to take victory from former British Champion Alister McRae. Pat Donegan was 3rd, Camillus Bradley 4th with seven times Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae 5th..  

With the backing of both Craigavon Borough Council and a new sponsor in the form of the Turkington Group, North Armagh Motor Cycle and Car Club devoted their not inconsiderable resources to their annual invitation event and the consensus of opinion was that the day was a resounding success. Thousands of spectators turned up and enjoyed a great day of non-stop action in the environs of the beautiful Lurgan Park.  

The competition throughout was fierce, but there was no stopping Lynch. His Subaru seemed to be bursting with power and he just kept raising the game through the early stages to leave the opposition trailing in his wake, and open mouthed, at his stage times.  

Kenny mcKinstry has won the rally ten times over the years and has often been dubbed ‘King of the Park’ But no matter how hard he tried this time, and he felt at times that he had got stages absolutely right, Lynch was aalways a second or two quicker. From the half way point Lynch was able to control proceedings from the front, although still going extremely quickly.  

David Higgins has rallied with success all over the world, but he had no answer to the two in front. He said at the end, “Coming here was a last minute thing for me, it was thanks to Hankook tyres who sponsor the car. I’ve really enjoyed it. Obviously it’s a specialised event, and I’ll do anything it takes to get back next year and try to win now that I have the experience of the Park. It’s a unique, great event.”  

Kinallen’s Denis Biggerstaff had a fine run to fifth. Denis was supposed to drive his raucous Metro 6R4 and was disappointed at first that lack of parts forced him to drive his Subaru, but as it turned out he really enoyed his drive, saying, ‘The Subaru is so much easier to drive’  

Former Production World Rally Championj Niall McShea was 5th in yet another Subaru from the McKinstry stable. Niall was in at the deep end a little, far from match sharp, but  following a few early fluffs he quickly mastered his Impreza WRC and turned in some quick times towards the end.  

The battle for GpN superiority on the event was another highlight, with Garry Jennings taking victory by less than a second at the end from Michael Curran. Bangor man Curran was slightly slow off the starting blocks, while Fermanagh’s Jennings went like the wind from the word go. Jennings had a small problem with his Lancer’s gearbox towards the end, but judged the pace superbly to take the category win .  

Just as this was winner Lynch’s third victory in a row, it wa also Jennings’ third GpN victory. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the competitors of course. Enniskillen’s Stuart Clarke caused quite a stir when he crashed his Escort out in spectacular fashion just before the end. Happily there were no injuries, allowing the rally to finish on a high note.  

Lurgan Park Top Ten:
1 Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m04.05s
2 Kenny McKinstry/Fintan McGrady (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m18.6s
3 David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas  (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m23.6s
4 Denis Biggerstaff/John Lewis (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m35.05s
5 Niall McShea/John Reddington (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m39.0s
6 Garry Jennings/Darragh Mullan (Mit. Lancer Evo 9) GpN 15m43.3s
7 Michael Curran/Fabian McShane (Mit. Lancer Evo 9) GpN 15m44.1s
8 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza WRC) 15m52.6s
9 Neale Dougan/Rory Doyle (Ford Escort WRC) 15m55.1s
10 Sean Devine/Kenny Hull  (Subaru Impreza WRC) 16m03.1s

Full Results on:

Lurgan Park Rally

Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)

Photos:
Motorsport Photography by Anthony Hunter
neillpics.co.uk
Roy Dempster Photos

Stewart Clarke rolls during SS7
Photo: www.roydempster.com

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• David Higgins to Dice in Lurgan.
• Jimmy McRae to use Seamus O'Connell's Black Group 4 Escort.
• LURGAN PARK BIG BUILD UP
  Kenny McKinstry enters in Subaru, Jimmy and Alistair McRae enter Mark II Challenge.
• TURKINGTON LURGAN PARK RALLY IS GO!

Photo: William Neill

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09/08/06
Former British Rally Champion David Higgins is the latest addition to this weekend’s Lurgan Park Rally line-up. The rally, supported this year by the Turkington Group as well as Craigavon Borough Council, has once again attracted a strong entry, which will fully test Higgins, who has also won the USA Rally title twice and is in contention for this year’s China Rally Championship.

Kevin Lynch from Dungiven, who has won the rally for the last two years in his Subaru is at 1, and ten times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry is at 3. Then it is David Higgins at 4, ready to dice with the best for a share of the £5,500 prize fund.

Korean tyre company Hankook is backing the David Higgins entry and he will drive an Impreza WRC from McKinstry Motorsport. Gwyndaf Evans was originally thought to be driving the car, but he has been forced to cry off. David Higgins is the more than worthy replacement in this high octane invitation only event.

Two years ago David’s brother, current British Champion Mark Higgins, had a thrilling battle for victory in Lurgan Park, but had to give best to Kevin Lynch. Now David has the opportunity to depose Kevin, saying, “I’m really looking forward to Lurgan, it’s a brilliant event. I always enjoy coming to Northern Ireland anyway, plus it will be great to get behind the wheel of a World Rally Car again.”

Niall McShea, former Production World Rally Champion, runs at No.5 in an S9 Subaru Impreza World Rally Car. Niall’s Subaru is a sister car to the one that David Higgins will drive, so Kenny McKinstry is certainly going to be a busy man bidding for his 11th Lurgan Park win as well as keeping a watchful eye on the service arrangement for the other 2 WRC cars plus his daughter Emma’s Lancer. McShea is one of the most exciting and succesfull drivers in Northern Ireland. His determination and talent could well seem producing a shock winning result in Lurgan Park.

Glenn Allen at 6 drives his normal Corolla WRC. Denis Biggerstaff (No.7) had planned to run his Metro 6R4 but has switched to his Subaru Impreza. Castlederg’s James Gillen at 8 always goes well in the Park while Peadar Hurson at 9, and Maurice Gass at 10, should feature highly in their respective World Rally Cars.

The rally starts at 10.00 am from the ramp in Lurgan Main Street, with the first of the 8 stages at 11.00am. There are full spectator facilities in the park, allied to a central servicing paddock and lots of activities for the children, which should make it a great day out..

As well as the battle amongst the World Rally Cars for overall honours, Group N on the rally should be an interesting feature with Michael Curran, the National Group N Champion, taking on Garry Jennings, the current Tarmac Group N Champion as well as a host of other top competitors. Emma McKinstry competes at No.25 in her Lancer and has Manx National Rally Clerk of the Course, John Skinner, co driving.

BTRDA 1400 Champion elect Neil Weaver is at 31 and goes head to head with Darren Gass at 32. Behind those two is Alister McRae and 7 times Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae, both in Mk2 Escorts. Trevor Moore is at 37 and he has had to make a hurried trip to London this week to get a replacement engine for his Escort which blew up on last weekend’s Dogleap Rally. Trevor has UTV presenter Pamela Ballantine co driving.

Turkington Lurgan Park Rally Top 10:
1 Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2 N/S
3 Kenny McKinstry/Fintan McGrady (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Subaru Impreza WRC)
5 Niall McShea/John Reddington (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 Glenn Allen/Kieran McCracken (Toyota Corolla WRC)
7 Denis Biggerstaff/John Lewis (Subaru Impreza WRC)
8 James Gillen/PJ Gillespie (Subaru Impreza WRX)
9 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Subaru Impreza WRC)
10 Maurice Gass/Stuart Jamison (Skoda Fabia WRC)

Full Entry List on:

Lurgan Park Rally

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Jimmy McRae will using Seamus O'Connell's Group 4 Spec Left hand drive car black MK 2 Escort, where he will be up against his son Alister who will also be driving a Mk2 Escort


Photo: William Neill

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18/07/06
Interest in the Turkington Group backed 12th August Lurgan Park Rally is rapidly building up, with 10 times Lurgan winner Kenny McKinstry, dubbed ‘King of the Park’ the latest addition to the line-up with his Subaru Impreza WRC. Also now pledged for the event are father and son Jimmy and Alistair McRae, both to drive in the Mk2 Escort Challenge part of the rally.

Just some of the other top drivers lining up entries include Fermanagh’s Raymond Johnson and Donemana’s  Sean Devine in their respective Subaru Impreza WRC’s. Neale Dougan will make the trip from Ayr in his WRC Ford, and Nigel Worswick is travelling from Lancashire to compete in his Escort WRC. A very interesting entry is from young Neil Weaver, 1400 BTRDA Champion elect, in his giant killing Nova.

  In the Group N category Irish National Champion Michael Curran is now on the list with his new Lancer Evo 9 and should face tough opposition from Tarmac GpN Champion Garry Jennings, also in a Lancer.  

The organisers, North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club has planned  8 special stages through the beautiful park, with its natural ampitheatre and sociable central service area. Craigavon Borough Council is again lending their full support to the event and there will be attractions for all the family.  

The main business will of course be the battle for overall honours, not to mention a substantial share of the £5000 prize fund. Last year’s winner Kevin Lynch will be doing his utmost to defend his Lurgan Park title, which could provide Kenny McKinstry with a very big stumbling block in his attempt to take his 11th win.  

Speaking from his Banbridge rally preparation business, Kenny McKinstry looked forward to the rally with the comments, “It’s good news that the Turkington Group have lent their support to the rally, keeps it going. It is a big occasion, very special to me, as well as a lot of other people, has a big following and it would have been a shame to lose it. It’s not an easy rally to win, its real pressure cooker stuff and you have to get every corner of every stage just right. It’s easy to overstep the mark, but I’m going to give it a real big go.”  

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20/06/06
TURKINGTON LURGAN PARK RALLY IS GO!
North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club is delighted to announce that Turkington Holdings Ltd. Portadown has stepped in as major sponsors of the 12th August Lurgan Park Rally. The event is one of the highest profile sporting events in the province as well as being a great family fun day out within the beautiful environs of Craigavon Borough Council’s Lurgan Park.

In its current format of short snappy non-stop action special stages through the Park, the rally has had a huge following since the late Bertie Fisher first won it in 1980. There were some doubts as to whether the rally would take place this year, as it is a high budget affair for the North Armagh Club to stage.

Under the direction of Rally Director William Fullerton it is all stations go now for the 12th August, thanks to this backing from theTurkington organisation. The company is a major player in property development, window manufacturing and produces specialised concrete products. Craigavon Borough Council is also lending its continuing support to the event.

Gary Turkington lent his support to the event when handing over a cheque to the rally organisers on Tuesday of this week. Gary commented. “The Lurgan Park Rally is a fabulous event which offers excellent entertainment for all the family in a quality local venue. It is a great fit for the Turkington brand given the quality nature of the event and the fact that it takes place locally. We are delighted to be main sponsors this year and are looking forward to a great day”.

The Turkington family has had a long association with motor sport and Colin Turkington is currently at the cutting edge of the British Touring Car Championship in 2nd place having won the last BTCC at Thruxton.

The rally will consist of 8 special stages, with a 45 car entry including a special Escort Challenge section. Barry Taggart is the Clerk of the Course and Keith Somerville the secretary.

Contact details:
02837 527045 NI/UK
04837 527045 ROI