Lurgan Park Rally - (Sat) 31 Jul 10
Posted: July 30, 2010 9:41 PM - 13501 Hits
Live Results:RallyScore.Net
Rallynews (by Brian & Liz Patterson)
Eugene Donnelly & Pat O Connell Late Entries
Posted: July 28, 2010 9:25 AM
Latest news on the Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally is that current Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly has been slotted into the entry. Donnelly is to drive the Toyota Corolla WRC that carried him to several of his Tarmac Championship titles.
He will carry the No.49 on his Corolla WRC and will run 2nd on the road behind Kenny McKinstry in his Subaru. Eugene made a tentative entry last week but this was only formalised today.
Daragh Mullen of Sligo will co-drive and the Corolla is being run once again by McGeehan Motorsport of Draperstown. Also slotted into the entry is Cashel’s Pat O’Connell. Pat is the current leader of the Motorsport Ireland Forestry Championship in his Mitsubishi Lancer and will have Brendan McCullagh co-driving in Lurgan Park.
Top 10
Posted: July 27, 2010 2:19 PM
This Saturday (31st July) some of the best rally drivers and cars in the country will compete through the lanes of the beautiful Lurgan Park. The rally, which first took place in 1980 and was won by the late Bertie Fisher, is a real showcase event featuring both exciting competition and a unique social atmosphere radiating from the central service paddock.
Banbridge man Kenny McKinstry has rightly been dubbed ‘King of the Park’. He drives one of his own Subaru World Rally Cars. Kenny will be doing his utmost to make it his 12th Lurgan Park win this weekend. He has maintained over the years, that to win in Lurgan Park,
“you have to get the first stage just right, as well as the final one, plus all the stages in between, as the slightest slip can cost victory.”
Kenny will however face strong opposition. Ironically, if Kenny doesn’t win, he could well be beaten by one of his own cars. He has hired Subarus to Darren Gass and Garry Jennings and also prepares Dubliner Kevin Barrett’s Triton Showers backed Impreza.
Derek McGarrity, this year’s Circuit of Ireland winner and former multiple Tarmac Champion, could perhaps be McKinstry’s chief stumbling block for that 12th win. McGarrity has come close to winning Lurgan Park several times, but it has always slipped from the Glengormley man’s grasp.
As ever, Lurgan Park has a select and very interesting entry. There are a couple of Metro 6R4’s to provide a contrast to the Subarus and there is a terrific line-up of Escorts, which should provide plenty of all sideways exciting motoring. Several drivers are making quite a trip to compete on the event. Callum Duffy and James MacGillivray are bringing their respective Escorts from the Isle of Mull. Ray Brammer is travelling from Kings Lynn in Norfolk to compete in his Subaru Impreza WRC.
Just over forty cars will tackle the 8 special stages and an added bonus this year will be a high quality selection of rally cars from the GpB era – a full house Audi Quattro, a Peugeot 205T16, a Ford RS200 and several more equally exciting cars. The start ramp will be in the park beside the paddock. The first car goes over the ramp at 10.15, with the first stage commencing at 10.30. The champagne finish should take place at 5pm.
The Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Top Ten
1 Kenny McKinstry/Emma McKinstry (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
3 Darren Gass/Andrew Cullen (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 Kevin Barrett/Paul Barrett (Subaru Impreza WRC)
5 Garry Jennings/Damien McPartland (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 Mark Doyle/Cormac Doyle (Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD)
7 Gary White/Alan Purdy (Impreza WRC)
8 Denis Biggerstaff/Graeme Stewart (Metro 6R4)
9 Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins (Metro 6R4)
10 John McGaffin/Lesley McGaffin (Impreza WRC)
At a reception in Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre on Monday to launch this year’s rally, the Worshipful the Mayor of Craigavon, Alderman Stephen Moutray MLA, emphasised on behalf of Craigavon Borough Council how welcome the event is in Craigavon. Orchard Motorsport’s Brian Stinson commented,
“This is my 2nd year to sponsor the rally and it is great that in these difficult times it is shaping up so well. The rally has a great history and I’m more than happy to play my part in keeping that going.”
Clerk of the Course Barry Taggart and Event Director William Fullerton represented the organisers, The North Armagh Motor Club. William Fullerton commented.
“The event has reached such a state of sophistication over the years that without the help of many organisations and individuals the rally wouldn’t be able to take place, and on behalf of the organisers we express our sincere thanks.”
Lurgan Park Shaping Up
Posted: July 20, 2010 10:14 AM
Entries for the Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally (Saturday 31st July) are arriving daily with the organisers, the North Armagh Motor Club. Top drivers should include 11 times winner Kenny McKinstry and this year’s Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity, both in Subaru World Rally Cars. Darren Gass will also be competing in a Subaru Impreza WRC. The Metro 6R4’s of Denis Biggerstaff and Mark Jasper will provide variety.
There are several top GpN contenders, including Cookstown’s John McGlaughlin and Kieran Graffin, both in Lancers. Top drivers including Wesley Patterson, Frank Kelly, Donegal’s Declan Boyle and Adrian Hetherington will spearhead the very strong Mk2 Escort showing.
An innovation this year will be cars such as a full house Audi Quattro, Peugeot 205 T16 and a Ford RS200 from the fabulous Group B era of rallying. These will run behind the main rally on six of the eight special stages. As ever a full day of motorsport, as well as a family fun day out, is promised within the confines of the beautiful Craigavon Borough Council’s Lurgan Park.
Regulations available
Posted: June 24, 2010 12:52 PM
Anyone who wants regulations can contact
keith.somerville399@btinternet.com
Phone 07745 959141 / +44 7745 959141
ORCHARD LURGAN PARK BLOSSOMS
Posted: May 21, 2010 3:15 PM
Plans are well advanced for the showcase 31st July Lurgan Park Rally. Armagh man Brian Stinson, through his Orchard Motorsport Company, is again lending his support as title sponsor. Over the years Lurgan Park has built up a superb high profile reputation, not just for the quality of rallying competition, but also as a great family friendly day out around the central paddock of this beautiful parkland. It is fitting then that Craigavon Borough Council is again lending their support.
Last year Kenny McKinstry won the rally for an astonishing 11th time and the driver who finished 3rd, Derek McGarrity, seems pretty determined to stop McKinstry making it a dozen wins! Speaking from his Glengormley base, McGarrity, who is the current NI Rally Champion and who has won a string of events this year, including the Circuit of Ireland, said, “I feel I should have won Lurgan Park a couple of times over the years, but circumstances intervened. It is my intention to win this time. I’m certainly going to try my utmost and will have my Subaru specially set up for it.
The rally will have 8 special stages with a dedicated category for the ‘Mk2 Escort Challenge’, plus a special class for the exciting Metro 6R4’s. There will be a collection of exciting GpB Rally cars running between the stages. In addition Orchard Motorsport will be introducing several innovations which will be designed to raise the profile and appeal of this very popular day out.
The North Armagh Motor Club is again organising the event, as it has done since the first Lurgan Park Rally in 1980. William Fullerton is the Event Director once again and Barry Taggart is the Clerk of the Course. Further information from the event organisers is available on the websites:
10 spaces for Metro 6R4s !
Posted: April 7, 2010 4:46 PM
North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club have allocated 10 places for 6R4's to run.
Ferry Deal also available.
For more information please email
Update on Metro 6R4 Challenge
Posted: February 27, 2010 4:25 PM
With the event on July 31st this year which is earlier than previous years it is hoped more 6R4 drivers can make it
Two more names that have said would be interested is that of Sandy Arbuthnott in his Clarion replica machine and former Lurgan Park regular from the past ex rallycrosser Denis Biggerstaff.
Donegal man Gary McElhinney asked Denis while he had the Metro over at a friends wedding said he was interested in competing but the engine is due a check but he would like to be there
It is also hoped that either Frank or his son Bryan O'Mahoney would be out in their 6R4
So far here are a list of names that have expressed an interest
Craig Bennett
John Stone (could do the event in his car that he sold if its available)
Mark Jasper
Reay Mackay
Andy Horne
Alastair McSkimming
Jimmy McRae if a car can be sourced for him
Sandy Arbuthnott
Denis Biggerstaff
Metro 6R4 Challenge
Posted: February 27, 2010 4:23 PM
Plans for next years Lurgan Park Rally to have a 6R4 Challenge where met with a yes from some of the organisers from the North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club after speaking to them to see if it could be run within the rally as the event already has the Lurgan MK2 Challenge.
Metro 6R4 Online News put it to Willie Fullerton and Barry Taggart about it that they said if a number of 6R4 drivers where interested then it could very possibly happen as its a long time since more than one 6R4 has competed in the park at Lurgan.
Its a long time since more than one 6R4 has competed in the park at Lurgan and if a minimum number of six upto however more that could be got it would be a good sight and sound of the former Group B car racing around the park again.
Northern Irish 6R4 driver Craig Bennett welcomed this and he has already confirmed he will bring his Metro to the park to compete on the 31st July 2010 which is a week earlier than this years event.
Only the 2.5 and 2.8 machines would be allowed to enter
Any Metro 6R4 drivers interested in competing in the Metro 6R4 Challenge next year please email
Event Website / Details
Posted: January 1, 2010 12:01 AM
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