PRESS RELEASE:
For immediate release 5th August 2013
Lurgan a GO for Garry
This weekend`s Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally has a stunning entry, with 10 World Rally Cars heading an invited list of 50 crews. Topping that list is 11 times winner Kenny McKinstry in his Subaru WRC, with 5 times Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly at 2, current Tarmac Championship leader Garry Jennings at 3 also in a Subaru, and former multiple Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity, at 4.
Following his sensational win on the Killarney Rally of the Lakes this year, and then dominating the recent Donegal International timesheets, Garry Jennings could just be the man to take the coveted Lurgan Park Trophy this time. Garry has won the GpN category in Lurgan Park many times over the years, and in doing so has beaten all the odds by finishing in the top six as well.
Speaking from his Fermanagh base earlier this week, Garry commented: – “Lurgan Park is a rally I always enjoy. It is very competitive and as well as that a great day out for families and kids. I would love to win it, but at the same time I`ll have to take care of the car, because the rally is so close to the Ulster. Immediately after the event the engine and gearbox has to come out of the car for a rebuild. The unit has to be on a ferry to England on the Sunday night. Having said take care, when the timekeeper says 3-2-1 Go, that could all change!” Fittingly, Garry is co-driven by one of his sponsors, Michael Moran from the `GO` petrol station chain!
One thing is for sure; whoever wins the rally will almost certainly earn their plaudits. No.1 seed Kenny McKinstry, also a former Tarmac Champion, as well as just about every other sort of former motorsport champion, first won the rally 30 years ago. He is the master at getting every stage just right, which is so important in Lurgan Pk. Kenny would dearly love to round his winning tally up to a dozen.
Business is business of course, and Kenny has hired his best Subaru, the Impreza WRC S14 to Eugene Donnelly. Eugene didn`t earn the nickname `the Genie` lightly, and he will surely be ultra-competitive in Lurgan as well.
Derek McGarrity, like Jennings and Donnelly, has loads of Lurgan Park experience, but has never won it. Derek`s race begins in the middle of this week, when his Focus WRC`s rebuilt engine returns from England. It will then be a two day job re-installing it in the Focus WRC – a race against the clock for the Saturday morning 10.15 start in the Park.
In addition the entry list is studded with top drivers in beautiful cars, including some fabulous Mk2 Escorts to be driven by some highly regarded drivers such as Frank Kelly, Wesley Patterson and Fintan McGrady. Four of the furthest travelled drivers for the rally include Ray Brammer who makes the trip all the way from Kings Lynn. Former Irish GpN Champion Kevin Kelleher is bringing his Impreza WRC from Clonakilty in Co. Cork. Former Irish Forestry Champion Pat O`Connell is a wedding guest on the Friday of the rally, but is planning an early escape to drive his Lancer in Lurgan Park, and Tom Morris and Hugh Murdoch are travelling from Scotland to drive their respective Escorts.
There are a couple of very notable father and son combinations driving as well. Former NI Rally Champion Denis Biggerstaff is out in his Impreza WRC, while his son Stuart, the youngest ever NI Rally Champion, drives an iconic Metro 6R4. Similarly young Marc Johnston from Ballinamallard will compete in a GpN Lancer, while his father Raymond is in a Historic Escort RS 1800. Also in the Historic section is another former NI Champion, `Swervy` Mervyn Hill in a Lotus Sunbeam. Indeed, as well as hugely technically advanced World Rally Cars, the Mk2 and Mk1 Escorts, the select Historic contenders plus some fabulous GpB rally machinery from the `Slowly Sideways` club will provide a large part of the day`s entertainment.
The rally is organised by Armagh Motor Club and also backed by Craigavon Borough Council. Lurgan Park itself is in beautiful condition at the moment, and the whole idea is to give families, as well as the out and out motoring enthusiasts, a really enjoyable day out. The event will again have the centralised paddock service area concept, making the teams and cars totally accessible, which all adds to the unique ambience and atmosphere which Lurgan Park has generated since the late Bertie Fisher took victory on the first one back in 1980.
At a reception held this week in Craigavon Civic Centre, the Mayor of Craigavon, Councillor Mark Baxter, who was hosting the reception, commented, “The Lurgan Park rally is always an important date in the Craigavon calendar. We are delighted to support it and wish the North Armagh Motor Club, as well as all the competitors a successful day. We are very proud of Lurgan Park and it is always great to see so many people enjoying the facility.” The rally enjoys support from many quarters, especially from overall sponsor Brian Stinson of Orchard Motorsport who commented from his Armagh City base. “It is an honour to be involved again with Lurgan Park. The rally is very special to the area and we are glad to support it.”
Barry Taggart is the rally Clerk of the Course, while William Fullerton, who has been involved with the event since its beginning, is the Rally Director. William commented at the reception. “As ever we have put a huge effort into bringing the rally to fruition. The emphasis is more and more on safety. Just one extra item this year is the provision of 1,000 metres of motorway safety barrier which has added another £10,000 to the expenses. We have a massive team working on the rally. It is a big logistical task to get everything set up. Hopefully we will get a bit of decent weather and it should be a good day.”
Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Top Ten
1 Kenny McKinstry/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
2 Eugene Donnelly/Adrian Fraser (Subaru Impreza WRC)
3 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Subaru Impreza WRC)
4 Derek McGarrity/TBA (Ford Focus WRC)
5 Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (Mini WRC)
6 Alan Carmichael/TBA (Mini WRC)
7 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Metro 6R4)
8 James Gillen/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC)
9 Denis Biggerstaff/Damien McCann (Subaru Impreza WRC)
10 Ray Brammer/Gary McElhinney (Subaru Impreza WRC)
Issued by: Brian & Liz Patterson: Patterson Agency Ltd.
Tel: 0044 2890 844111 E-Mail: pattersons@rallynews.net
Photo courtesy of NeillPics.co.uk Award-Winning Motorsport Photography
William Neill – Journalist and Photographer
Press Release 29th July 2013.
PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release – 24.06.13
