Last year’s winner Darren Gass in his Subaru World Rally Car heads a strong invited entry for this Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally. Darren will have his sister Kerrie co-drivng this time, on what will be her first rally, reflecting the great family day out spirit of North Armagh Motor Club’s Lurgan Park showcase event.

Armagh man Darren, a former British Junior Rally Champion, will still be taking the rally seriously. He will be driving his recently acquired Solo Petroleum backed Subaru, which he took to victory on the ALMC Stages. Darren commented on the run-in to the event. “I’m going to try my best to win. It won’t be easy, especially with Kenny McKinstry and some of the other top drivers in the entry.”

Fresh from the thronged rally launch at the Rushmere Shopping Centre, where he performed “demonstration runs” in his Subaru, 11 times Lurgan Park winner Kenny McKinstry was in upbeat mood about the event. As he enjoyed lunch in Craigavon Civic Centre hosted by the Mayor, Councillor Alan Carson, Kenny declared his intention to give the rally everything. He hopes to not only round up his number of wins to a dozen, but also to capture the lion’s share of the re-introduced £2500 prize fund.

Third in the list of fifty invited drivers is multiple Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity in his Subaru. Derek missed out on winning last year’s event by a whisker and he is out to redress the balance this time. But then all the drivers in the various classes will be out to prove a point. The exciting Escort Challenge contenders will be no exception, and are headed by Wesley Patterson, Adrian Hetherington and Mickey Conlon in their respective ‘Mk2’s’.

A big point of interest on the rally will be the appearance of seven times Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae, driving a stunning 5 litre, 380hp Chevrolet Camaro engined Firenza. XS Racing will run the Firenza, and they will also launch a new F1000 Rally Championship in the Park, featuring the new Chevrolet Spark and young F1000 Junior Champion driver Cameron Davies.

In addition there will be an historic section on the rally, an appearance by the iconic rally cars of the ‘Slowly Sideways Club’, and a huge display of Rally Sport clothing by Event Sponsor, Orchard Motorsport.

Although there are several female co-drivers in the event, there is just one driver listed, Emma McKinstry. Banbridge based Emma will drive one her father Kenny’s Subaru Impreza WRC’s. Former works Peugeot driver Garry Jennings from Kesh is the top GpN seed in his Lancer, with Irish Forestry Champion Pat O’Connell from Cashel in Tipperary the 2nd GpN seed and he rounds off the top ten. Gilford’s Mark Doyle has Bobby Campbell co-driving in his Celica GT4. Bobby co-drove the late Bertie Law to victory in 1984.

As well as backing from Brian Stinson’s Armagh based company, Orchard Motorsport, the rally enjoys the support of Craigavon Borough Council, and that includes the use of the beautiful Lurgan Park. Once again the central paddock area in the Park will provide a social focal point as well as the scene of some frantic activity as the cars are refettled between the 8 special stages. This will be the 32nd running of the rally in Lurgan Park.

Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Top 10
1. Darren Gass/Kerrie Gass - Subaru Impreza WRC
2. Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr – Subaru Impreza WRC
3. Derek McGarrity/James McKee – Subaru Impreza WRC
4. Derek McGeehan/Lawrie Smith – Toyota Corolla WRC
5. Garry Jennings/Kerry McCarter – Mitsubishi Lancer
6. Denis Biggerstaff/Stuart Biggerstaff - Subaru Impreza WRC
7. Mark Doyle/Bobby Campbell – Toyota Celica GT4
8. Gary White/Alan Purdy – Subaru Impreza
9. John McGaffin/Lesley McGaffin – Subaru Impreza WRC
10. Pat O’Connell/Matt Wylie – Mitsubishi Lancer

Rallying again takes centre stage in Lurgan’s magnificent parklands on Saturday 30th July with support from Orchard Motorsport and Craigavon Borough Council. The event brings the cream of rally drivers and cars to fans and families in the setting of Lurgan’s Historical Park and Lakeland environment.

Last year’s winner, 23 year old Darren Gass will return to defend his title, however stiff opposition will come from 11 times winner and Lurgan Park master Kenny McKinstry, multiple Irish Rally Champion Derek McGarrity, former Rallycross Champion Denis Biggerstaff and the ever reliable Kevin Barrett.

Local man Mark Doyle, in a Toyota Celica is usually near the sharp end of the leaderboard, while the spectacular crowd pleasing Mk2 Escorts will fight for rear wheel drive honours with drivers, Wesley Patterson, Adrian Hetherington, Camillus Bradley and Frank Kelly. Other two wheel drives of note are Simon Woodside’s beautiful E30 BMW M3, Stephen Mawhinney‘s ex works Sunbeam Lotus and worldwide rally legend Jimmy McRae in an interesting Vauxhall Firenza.

The colourful history of rallying is very well represented this year with the inclusion of the hugely popular ‘Slowly Sideways’. Around 20 top classic rally cars that have competed around the world will be in attendance, including Porsche’s, BMW’s, Peugeots etc from the 70’s, 80’s and the 90’s.

As a prelude to the main event The Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Preview Spectacular is taking place this Saturday 23rd July between 11am and noon at Rushmere Shopping Centre Craigavon. Cool FM and Downtown Radio will bring their Roadshow along, Kenny McKinstry and Wesley Patterson will be doing rally car demonstration runs, and there will be family orientated activities with prizes and rally car displays, including the ex Stig Blomqvist Audi Quattro and ex Ari Vatanen Rothmans Escort.

Admittance is free to the Preview Spectacular and everyone is welcome to get a taster of the rally flavours.

This year’s prestigious Lurgan Park Rally will take place on Saturday 30th July.

The event, which is organised by North Armagh Motor Club, will be supported by Brian Stinson’s Orchard Motorsport company, as well as Craigavon Borough Council.

Over the 31 years since its inception, the Lurgan Park Rally has developed into an absolute showcase event, with brilliant motorsport action allied to family fun and a sociable service paddock, all within the confines of the beautiful Lurgan Park.

The Park, one of the most attractive in the province, is the keystone to the event, with its natural amphitheatre ambience. That is a major factor in making the event one of the landmark occasions in Ireland.

Rally director William Fullerton is planning a similar structure to the rally as last year, with some fine-tuning. It will begin at 10.30 on Saturday morning July 30th and there will be 8 short sharp stages.

Special consideration will be given to the spectacular Mk2 Escort Challenge. There will be a small Historic category this year. The format of 50 invited competitors will remain to ensure fast flowing action throughout the day. Regulations are now available.

Young Armagh driver Darren Gass, who scored such an exciting and closely contested win last year with Kenny McKinstry has pledged that, all being well, he will be back in Lurgan Park on the 30th July to defend his title.

Barry Taggart will once again be Clerk of the Course, reinforcing the uniquely strong management team. Keith Somerville will be Secretary of the Meeting, and can be contacted on 07745 959141.