NI Season Starts With Two Events
Last month Stormont went back to work (not before time and probably too late to help bring WRC to the province), but the big news here in Northern Ireland was the start of the 2024 rally season. The Echlinville Stage Rally at Kirkistown Race Circuit was first off the mark on the 17th February. We were out in force marshalling the newly branded 90% sealed-surface single venue event which as usual was organised by North Armagh Motor Club.
Round 1 of the McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the Echlinville Stage Rally had 75 starters, headed by 2023 champions Jonny Greer and Niall Burns in their Citroen C3 Rally2. In changeable conditions Greer led from start to finish, the Carryduff driver was fastest on four of the six stages. Total stage mileage was just 26.2.
The podium places were completed by two former NI Champions. The 2010 champion Stuart Biggerstaff and Anthony Nestor were second,15.3 seconds back, in their older Ford Fiesta R5 which went well in the wetter tests. Eight-times champion and Kirkistown expert, Derek McGarrity and his co-driver Paddy Robinson finished third (19.3 seconds behind Stuart) in a Skoda Fabia R5 Evo. Best of the two-wheel-drive finishers were Colin Price and Billy Regan who were 11th overall in their Toyota Starlet.
For my part, Victor and I were marshalling at Fisherman’s bend. Thankfully we were able to shelter from the rain in a new permanent marshal’s hut. The rally started at 9am in damp and misty conditions but, after very heavy rain during stages three and four, the final tests took place in much drier conditions. All six stages ran to schedule and without any major incidents, despite the bad weather. We and all the other marshals were well fed and looked after by the organisers. A total of 61 cars finished the event.
By the way, you can watch highlights of each round of the NI Championship, hosted by the BBC’s Stephen Watson, on YouTube following the events. Just search for the 2024 McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship.
A week after Kirkistown, I was deep in the woods of County Tyrone for round one of the 2024 McGrady Insurance Motorsport UK NI Forest Rally Challenge. The Samsonas Rally Fivemiletown was organised by Omagh Motor Club on 24th February. There were 8 special stages totalling 31 miles spread over three forests south of Fivemiletown, SS1/4/7 Jenkin SS2/5/8 Crocknagrally and SS3/6 Doon.
A smaller than usual entry of 54 cars started and 43 finished. Winners were Niall McGonigIe and Caolan McKenna in a Fiesta R5. The Clady driver, who has helped to organise this event in the past, finished just 2.8 seconds ahead of the VW Polo R5 of Vivian Hamill and Lorcan Moore after a rally-long battle. McGonigle led from the start but then Hamill went ahead by two tenths of a second on the penultimate stage. On the final 3.05 mile Crocknagrally test, Niall pulled out all the stops and claimed a popular win.
Derek Mackarel and Darren Curran were third in their Fiesta R5 but they claimed top NI Forest Challenge points as they were the first registered competitors to finish. Best of the 2-wheel-drive cars was the Escort Mk.2 of Hugh McQuaid/Martin Byrne who finished 9th overall.
I was on radio at the finish of Crocknagrally. The weather was cold to start but warmed up as the event progressed. We had a heavy localised shower before the final stage. There were no major problems for us, all three stages ran to schedule with just a few retirements. Other BMMC marshals were timekeeping and also covering rescue on the Doon stages.
Looking Back
40 Years Ago
Ronnie White won the second round of the 1984 Belfast Car Ferries Rallycross Championship at Boyd’s Quarry, organised by Larne Motor Club. The Ford Fiesta driver was fastest all day and finished the A final ahead of Denis Biggerstaff’s Mini. Jimmy Peak was third also in a Mini. We were marshalling as usual and the weather was kind to us for a change!
A healthy entry of 72 competitors took part in the first round of the 1984 NI Loose Sprint Championship. Held at Craigmore Quarry and organised by Mid Antrim MC the winner was David Francis in his Escort Mk.2 who was just two tenths of a second ahead of Bertie Law’s Vauxhall Chevette. Dominic McNeill was third in his Escort while Stanley Orr gave the Corry Cultra it’s NI debut and finished a respectable fourth. BMRMC (as we were back then) provided marshals at the Randalstown venue.
34 Years Ago
It’s now been 34 years since the first time North Armagh Motor Club organised a rally at Kirkistown. The Kittle Brothers Stages on Saturday 3rd March was round one of the 1990 Adair-Singleton Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Winners were Fred Cameron and Dale McNeill in their Ford Escort G4. Second were the father and daughter combination of Derek and Roisin Boyd in their Mazda RX7 4-wheel-drive while Stephen Mawhinney and Ian Beasant were third in a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. There were 6 stages. Not sure how many started, but 48 finished.
20 Years Ago
The first two rounds of the 2004 British Rallycross Championship took place in Northern Ireland. Round 1 was held on Saturday 27th March at Kirkistown for the first time. In fact the venue hadn’t been used for rallycross for 10 years. Round 2 was at Nutts Corner the next day. Will Gollop won at Kirkistown and Dermot Carnegie was top dog at Nutts Corner, both of them were in Ford Focus’s. Local man Lawrence Gibson was second on both days in his Metro 6R4. There were 50 races on Saturday and 40 on Sunday. We supplied marshals on both days. After a total of 10 rounds, Dermot Carnegie went on to become 2004 British Rallycross Champion for the second consecutive year. Unfortunately, the British Rallycross Championship has never returned to Northern Ireland since that doubleheader in 2004.
10 Years Ago
Belfast City Centre came to a standstill on Saturday 22 February 2014 when a cavalcade of 200 classic rally cars (mostly Minis) made their way from Parliament Buildings at Stormont via. the City Hall to the new Titanic Belfast museum. It was all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Paddy Hopkirk’s 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win.
Hopkirk himself, now 81, led the cavalcade in a replica of 33 EJB, the Mini Cooper S which he drove to the surprise victory. Others including Ari Vatanen driving a Ford Fiesta he used on the Monte and Jimmy McRae in the 1980 Circuit of Ireland winning Vauxhall Chevette joined in. Northern Ireland’s current WRC star, Kris Meeke drove a DGM Citroen DS3 R3. An autograph session proved very popular. I was able to have a word with old friend John Lyons who attended the event in a Mini.
A celebration knockout autotest was staged on the Titanic slipway and large crowds saw Paul Blair take victory in his powerful Westfield, but only after pre-event favourite Steven Ferguson’s Mini Special hit a pylon in the final run. The event concluded with a gala dinner in the Titanic Suite.
Rally Diary
Sat 9th March.
Race & Rally Stages @ Bishopscourt
Round 2 of the 2024 NI Rally Championship, this Ballynahinch and District MC event takes place as usual within the confines of Bishopscourt Race Circuit in South Co.Down. We are providing timekeepers and stage marshals. The rally starts at 9am and runs until approximately 5pm. Sign-on up until 8am at the venue if you haven’t already done so on rallyscore.net Hot food will be provided. Leading entrants include championship contenders Jonny Greer, Derek McGarrity and Stuart Biggerstaff.
Sat 30th March.
Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland Rally
Round 3 of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Organised by the Ulster Automobile Club and based this year in Dungannon Co.Tyrone. There are four stages run twice. We will be covering rescue, stage marshals, timekeepers and radio points. Sign-on via rallyscore.net or on the one-day event.
Sun 7th April.
BMMC (NI) Marshals Training Day
To be held once again this year at Transport Training Services, Nutts Corner. The day starts at 9.30am and should finish around 4pm. Lunch will be provided but please confirm your attendance with Rory O’Neill. Jim Whittaker is lead trainer. The event is supported and promoted once more by the MMP and ANICC. All motorsport disciplines will be covered.
