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WRC bound for Northern Ireland ?

It now looks likely that Rally Northern Ireland will be included in the 2022 World Rally Championship. That is of course IF funding can be found for the new Belfast-based event. Time is of the essence for organisers to agree funding between Motorsport UK, the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. It is understood that the final calendar will be announced in October. Nine of the twelve rounds have already been confirmed. Northern Ireland (UK), Finland, Croatia and New Zealand are tipped to fill the remaining four places. Next year of course sees the WRC enter a new hybrid era with new cars for the three manufacturers, Toyota, Hyundai and M-Sport Ford.

Meanwhile the 2021 Motorsport UK Northern Ireland (Tarmac) Rally Championship steps up a gear this month with two single-venue events. The Dogleap Rally is on Saturday 7th at Ballykelly and then two weeks later we have the Loughgall Country Park Rally. Expect full entry lists for both these events. Following on from that, two classic gravel rallies in Enniskillen and Omagh take place in September.

Three closed-road rallies are due to take place in NI later this year. The Tour of the Sperrins in October and then the Tyrone Stages plus the Ulster Rally in November. It is hoped by that time some of the current stringent coronavirous restrictions will have been be lifted, allowing these events to take place without any problems regarding marshalling  and most importantly the safety of local communities. It looks like we will all have to learn to live with Covid-19 and it’s associated restrictions for some time to come, unfortunately.

Looking Back

20 Years Ago.....2001

The SEAT Lurgan Park Rally was dominated by Gwyndaf Evans in his Seat Cordoba WRC. The car was the latest and last development of the Cordoba, the EVO.3. It had been a miserable day for us marshals with continuous rain falling throughout the nine-stage event. Derek McGarrity was second in a 2000 spec. Subaru Impreza WRC and Kenny McKinstry third in an older Impreza. The end-of-rally Challenge Time Trial was also won by Evans but SEAT donated the total £5,000 prize money to charity.

I predicted way back then that Garry Jennings and Kris Meeke would be “Two to Watch” as they competed in the nationwide 2001 Peugeot 106 Cup series. Quote; “Both of these young chargers from Northern Ireland offer us hope for the future and hopefully they will go all the way to the top of the tall tree that is the pinnacle of our sport” Well they both did quite well didn’t they. By the way there are lots of rumours around regarding a Kris Meeke return to the WRC with a new manufacturer, watch this space!!! Meanwhile the 2013 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship winner Garry Jennings is competing in the National section of the BRC this year in a right-hand-drive Ford Fiesta R5.

The Foot and Mouth outbreak was still creating havoc with both the Lakeland Stages and the Bushwacker cancelled. The 2001 NI Championship restarted in August with round two the Dogleap Rally. Trevor Moore won the gravel event in his Escort Cosworth. Denis Biggerstaff was second in his Metro 6R4.

I made the trip to Naas for the World Rally Masters rallysprint event at Punchestown Race Course. Richard Burns, Freddie Loix and Miki Biassion were the stars but only preformed demo runs. Burns and Loix were in the latest Subaru and Mitsubishi World Rally Cars respectively.

10 Years Ago.....2011

Darren Gass took his second win in succession at Lurgan Park. Driving a Subaru Impreza S10 WRC with sister Kerrie co-driving for the first time, the Armagh man won every stage and was 18.4 seconds ahead of Kenny McKinstry and Noel Orr in their S8 Impreza. Denis and Stuart Biggerstaff were third in their family S9.

Jonny Greer brought his fabulous Skoda Fabia S2000 to the Bishopscourt Clubman Stages and dominated the time sheets by around 10 seconds on each of the eight stages. Unfortunately he and Brian Crawford were not competing, they were in the zero course car, testing for the forthcoming Ulster Rally. The rally was won by James and Heather Kennedy in their Mk.2 Escort with the Mitsubishi Evo.9 of Marc Johnston/Rodney Hicks second. As Chief Timekeeper on the day I had the support of five other club members on what was a good day weather wise and ran to schedule without incident. 55 cars started the Ballynahinch and District MC’s event which was round two of the ANICC 2WD Rally Challenge.

5 Years Ago.....2016

2016 saw the last ever Lurgan Park Rally (to date anyway). Winners were Garry Jennings and Michael Moran for the fourth year in succession. They were in was the same Subaru Impreza S12B as on all previous occasions. In fact that particular car won at Lurgan five times. Kevin Lynch drove it to victory in 2008. Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr finished second yet again this time in a Subaru Impreza S14. Declan Boyle and his cousin Brian were third in a Fiesta WRC.

We were covering all the fire points as well as assisting on radio. The crowds were well down on the 10,000 who flocked to Lurgan Park in the glory days, possibly indicating the end of an era. This had been my 36th year marshalling in the park and my 20th year as Fire Officer. BMMC / BRMC have officially supported the event since 1982.

North Armagh Motor Club would love to bring back the Lurgan Park Rally. The only problem is a lack of sponsorship. It takes a huge amount of money and commitment to stage an event like this in the modern era. Hopefully all is not lost. We would love to see this unique event back on the calendar.

Rally Diary

Sat. 7th August    
Dogleap Rally

Round 2 of the NI Championship this Maiden City MC event takes place at Shackleton Airfield, Ballykelly Co.Derry. Sponsored by Eakin Bros. Brian James Trailers. We are covering rescue and radio. Due to the current regulations no spectators are permitted to the single-venue rally. A full entry of 100 cars are due to start the six stages. Jonny Greer and Derek McGarrity are set to continue their battle for the championship. Sign on was electronic and through rallyscore.net.

Sat. 21st August   
Loughgall County Park Rally

Round 3 of the NI Championship. Organised by North Armagh MC. Originally the club had planned to use a closed-road stage as well as tests in the Country Park but due to problems with regard to the stiff Covid-19 regulations it has now been decided to hold the complete event within the confines of the park. There will be six tarmac stages (two repeated three times)

This is the first time the championship has visited Loughgall Country Park although the stages are well known to clubmen who have competed there many times over the past number of years, Damian Toner winning on the previous five occasions in his Mk.2 Escort. This time could be different though with Greer and McGarrity etc. expected to set the pace in their more powerful four-wheel drive machinery as the race for the 2021 NI Rally Championship hots up. A maximum entry of 100 cars is expected. Officials sign-on is electronic through rallyscore.net.

We will be covering radio points and other marshalling duties on the day. Spectators are permitted but the current Covid-19  regulations will apply. The event will be sponsored by PRM Group and RPM Motor Sports.

Sat. 4th September   
Lakeland Stages Rally

This event has been CANCELLED. In a statement the organisers Enniskillen Motor Club said the reason for their decision was because of the prevailing COVID-19 situation.