Ulster Rally Win For Meirion Evans
This year’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally was based in Newry and held over two days on closed road stages in counties Armagh and Down. We were officiating and marshalling on the Northern Ireland Motor Club event. The rally was the seventh and final round of the Irish Tarmac Championship.
To win the championship, Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes only had to finish in the top four. Meirion Evans was Moffett’s only remaining challenger for the title but full championship points were awarded for each day so a measured approach by the Monaghan driver was required. A total of 87 cars started the event. There were 3 stages on Friday evening. Slieve Gullion at 6.04 miles run twice (the second in darkness) with 15.30 miles of Bronte Homeland sandwiched in between. On Saturday we had 3 repeated tests; Tyrone’s Ditches (12.12 miles) Babylon Hill (11.07) and Mount Pleasant (8.30)
My job was to be on start radio of SS4/7 Tyrone’s Ditches on Saturday. Our rescue unit crewed by Rory, Chris, Goff and Nigel joined Victor and myself for the day. Both stages ran to schedule and without incident. The first run which started at 10am was wet, very wet. Lots of the 79 competitors left running had big moments on the standing water of the tight and twisty test which had been used many times in the past on both the Ulster and the Circuit of Ireland.
Overnight leaders Desi Henry and Paddy Robinson retired on SS4, their Ford Fiesta Rally2 aquaplaning and then crashing out mid stage. Fastest here were the new rally leaders, Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson in their VW Polo GTI R5. Recently crowned NI Champion Jonny Greer was second quickest in his Citroen C3 while Jason Mitchell’s Fiesta finished third. 72 cars finished the stage.
Second time round Evans was fastest again with Mitchell second best. Greer survived a puncture on SS7 but dropped to third.
The 2022 Ulster Rally finished two stages later. Meirion Evans in the Polo was the winner, over 2 minutes ahead of Jonny Greer and Niall Burns Citroen C3 Rally2. Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden in the Ford Fiesta Rally2 were third. This was Meirion’s first ITRC win and Jason’s first podium.
Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes did what they had to do. The Hyundai i20 crew won the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship by finishing fourth overall. This was their second ITRC title, they won with a Fiesta R5 back in 2018.
It was great to see four different cars at the top of the Ulster Rally pile. Also there wasn’t a World Rally Car in sight on the entry list, how times have changed!
Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor were fifth in their Fiesta R5 and the top 2WD crew were Marty Toner/Ben Teggart in a BMW 1 Series.
Altogether 57 cars made it to the finish at Modern Tyres impressive new state-of-the-art building in Newry which also hosted the service park. Full results are available at rallyscore.net.
The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally 2022 Podium: 2nd Jonny Greer/Niall Burns Citroen C3 Rally2 winners Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson VW Polo GTI R5 and 3rd Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Desi Henry wins Dogleap Rally
Driving their Ford Fiesta Rally2 Desi and Mark Henry (pictured) won the Maiden City MC’s Dogleap Rally last month. The single-venue event was based at the Shackleton Airfield complex in Ballykelly. Victor and myself were covering finish radio for all six stages (four were just over 6 miles plus two at 8 miles) while Rory and Chris were on rescue duty. There were only 52 starters and 49 finishers but the competition was intense in ideal dry conditions. Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran in their Fiesta R5 led for five stages but Henry beat them on the last test to clinch the win by just 1.2 seconds. Stephen Wright/Gregory McQuillan in another Fiesta R5 finished third 1.4 seconds behind McLaughlin. Derek McGarrity was fourth in a Skoda Fabia R5. Derek McGeehan turned up in a brand new Fiesta Rally2 Evo. and finished fifth while John and David Bonner were the first 2WD crew to finish in twelfth place with their Escort Mk.2. Full Dogleap Rally results can be found at rallyscore.net
WRC News
It now appears that the chances of Northern Ireland hosting around of the 2023 World Rally Championship are fading fast. Sources suggest a push for an NI date next year is very unlikely. In fact it looks as if the UK and Ireland will miss out altogether in a proposed 14-round global series. Not only that, but the European Rally Championship is expected to feature 9 rounds, again with no event in the British Isles. Confirmation of both calendars is due to be announced at the October meeting of the FIA Word Motor Sport Council.
Rally Diary
Sat. 3rd September.
Lakeland Stages Rally
Based in Enniskillen and sponsored by Trailer parts & spares.com Round 2 of the 2022 McGrady Insurance ANICC Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge. Just 53 competitors are on the entry list as I write, including series leader Desi Henry. Organised by Enniskillen MC we are covering stage marshalling, rescue, timekeeping and radio. The gravel rally uses stages in the Derrygonnelly area of Co.Fermanagh. Sign-on for all officials is via rallyscore.net
Sat. 17th September.
Bushwhacker Rally
The “Tyrone GP” is based at Omagh Showgrounds which will host Rally HQ and the Service Park. The Bushwhacker is Round 3 of the ANICC N.I. Forest Rally Challenge and Round 6 of the Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship. Sponsored once again by McKelvey Asbestos. Expect a large entry for this popular event. There are 10 gravel stages in the West Tyrone forests of Lough Bradan, Carrickaholten and Killeter. We are due to cover stage marshalling, rescue, timekeeping and radio on this Omagh MC rally. Sign-on for all officials is via rallyscore.net
