Four times former Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly now heads the strong list of top contenders for this weekend’s Orchard Motorsport backed Lurgan Park Rally, with seven World Rally Cars in the top ten.

Donnelly has won just about everything in Irish rallying worth winning, but the ultimate Lurgan Park victory has always eluded him. He’ll not get it easy this time either, with nine times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry sure to have his Subaru right on Donnelly’s Skoda rear Bumper.

At No.3 is another former Tarmac Champion, Derek McGarrity. At No.4 is Sean Devine, fresh from winning last Saturday’s Dogleap Rally. No.5 is young Co Armagh ‘hotshot’ Darren Gass and at 6 is Kinallen’s Denis Biggerstaff. Behind Donnelly’s Skoda WRC there are five Subaru World Rally Cars all capable of ‘doing the business’ in Lurgan Park.

One disappointment regarding the entry is the unexpected withdrawal of five times winner Kevin Lynch. The upside of that is however that it could make for an even more exciting day in the Park.

As well as Orchard Motorsport, Craigavon Borough Council is also supporting the rally and at a small lunchtime press gathering at the Council’s Civic Centre today the Mayor, Councillor Meta Crozier, bid the rally welcome. Rally Director William Fullerton emphasised at how pleased the organising North Armagh Motor Club is to again have the support of the Council and the use of the fabulous arena of Lurgan Park.

Fifty cars should start Lurgan Park on Saturday, and that select fifty is packed with talented drivers and fabulous cars all battling for their own slice of glory in their own classes. The action certainly won’t be confined to the select few at the top. Bel ow are the top entries in three of the main categories.

The action begins this Saturday 8th August in Lurgan Park at 10.30 and there will be eight special stages. With its beautiful environment, displays and central paddock area, this promises to be a great family day out. Admission by programme is £10 for adults and accompanied children (under 12) go in free.

Top Entries

1 Eugene Donnelly/Andrew Mullan (Skoda Fabia WRC)
2 Kenny McKinstry/John Skinner (Subaru Impreza WRC)
3 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 Sean Devine/Robert McDaid (Subaru Impreza WRC)
5 Darren Gass/Connor McCloskey (Subaru Impreza WRC)
6 Denis Biggerstaff/Stuart Biggerstaff (Subaru Impreza WRC)
7 James Gillen/John Bustard (Subaru Impreza)
8 Glenn Allen/Brian McCracken (Toyota Corolla WRC)
9 Mark Doyle/Mairead Doyle (Toyota Celica GT4)
10 Gary White/Alan Purdy (Subaru Impreza)

Top Mark 2 Escorts

Wesley Patterson/Ivor Scott (Escort)
Camillus Bradley/Danny O’Neill (Escort)
Trevor Moore/Julie Hill (Escort)
Adrian Hetherington/Vincent Fegan (Escort)
Mervyn Wedlock/Laura Wedlock (Escort)

Top Historics

Seamus O’Connell/Brian Duggan (Escort RS1800)
Stewart Clarke/Joe McGullion (Escort RS1800)
Philip Hunter/Paul Bolton (Escort Mk2)
Tommy O’Connell/Sean Magee (Escort RS1800)
Connor Corkill/Howard Allison (Escort RS1800)

Issued by Brian and Liz Patterson: Patterson Agencies Ltd

Armagh businessman Brian Stinson of Orchard Motorsport has stepped in at the last minute to sponsor the Lurgan Park Rally. Craigavon Borough Council is once again lending its full support to this flagship sporting event.

However, it was looking as if this was going to be the first time in its 30 year history that the rally, which takes place on Saturday the 8th August, was not going to have a commercial ‘headline’ sponsor.

Orchard Motorsport, whose large blue trucks are well known at rallies up and down the length and breadth of Ireland, carry the promotional clothing of many of the top rally drivers, will fill the void.

Stinson commented about his new involvement, “I’ve been rallying almost all of my adult life and used to compete on many North Armagh Motor Club events. I’ve always been a follower of Lurgan Park. As well as that, a few years ago we were supporting a charity in the South, and the North Armagh Club made a large donation.”

“I’ve never forgotten that,” Stinson continued, “and now I’m only too pleased to help the Club with the Lurgan Park Rally.”

As ever the Lurgan Park entry is limited to just 50 cars so there will many disappointed drivers who will not get a start. Two ‘big names’ who have now committed are Eugene Donnelly and Derek McGarrity. Donnelly, who will drive his Skoda World Rally Car and McGarrity, who will be in a Subaru, have six Tarmac Championship crowns between them, so should provide some tight competition for No.1 seed Kevin Lynch (Subaru), who has five Lurgan Park wins to his name.

Issued by Brian and Liz Patterson: Patterson Agencies Ltd

Lurgan Park Rally is all stations go for Saturday 8th August 2009, retaining all the best aspects of its winning formula built up over 30 years since the first running of the event.

Craigavon Borough Council is once again giving the rally its support and the format remains broadly similar to last year, with eight special stages within the beautiful confines of Lurgan Park, with its amphitheatre feel and family friendly service paddock.

As ever, the competition promises to be white hot and there will be as much attention on the battle of the Escort Mk2 Challenge as there will be for the overall winner. Kevin Lynch has been the outright victor for the last three years in his Subaru and the Dungiven man will be back this time to bid for six wins in a row, which would be a new record.

Kenny McKinstry, who will be ch allenging Lynch for supremacy again this year, has won Lurgan Park 9 times over a 26 year period, and Welshman Gwyndaf Evans has won it three times, but nobody has equalled Lynch’s feat of taking five consecutive victories.

Some of the other top drivers who will be bidding for Lurgan Park glory include Glenn Allen (Corolla WRC): Denis Biggerstaff (Subaru): John McGlaughlin (GpN Lancer): plus Wesley Patterson, Camillus Bradley, Trevor Moore and Adrian Hetherington in Mk2 Escorts. There will also be a Historic section and young Ian Corkill from the Isle of Man will be making the trip to Lurgan Park to do battle with the similar Escort RS1800’s of Seamus O’Connell and Stuart Clarke, to name just a few.

Scrutineering for the event is in Lurgan Park on the Friday night, and the action begins at 10.30 on Saturday morning with the first of the eight stages. William Fullerton is again the Rally Director, Barry Taggart is the Clerk of the Course and Keith Somerville is the Secretary of the Meeting. Keith can be reached through either the North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club’s website, www.namcc.com, or 0774 5959 141.

Issued by Brian and Liz Patterson: Patterson Agencies Ltd