Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally Press Release 30th June 2014
Press Release: For immediate release: 30th June 2014
Enniskillen’s Garry Jennings scored a resounding win in the showcase Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park event last weekend, his 2nd win at the Craigavon Borough Council venue. Jennings was co-driven by Michael Moran in his Subaru Impreza S12b. Glengormley’s Derek McGarrity, co-driven by James McKee were 2nd in a Mini WRC, and Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth 3rd in a similar Mini WRC.
Weather conditions and decent spectator numbers are always critical for the success of ‘The Park’. Both factors looked good as Garry Jennings powered his Subaru to fastest time through the opening stage. Kenny McKinstry, an eleven times winner in the Park is usually the yardstick as to the winning pace. Not this time though, as McKinstry dropped 5s on the opening stage, his Subaru not boosting properly.
McKinstry’s mechanics worked furiously at the car between stages to get the flat four Impreza engine back on song, even purloining a control valve from another car back in the McKinstry Banbridge workshop. It was only over the final four stages that McKinstry got going properly. He then pushed hard to catch McGeehan in 3rd, but it was too little too late.
Derek McGarrity also pushed hard, in his case to catch Jennings, but to no avail. Just a few days before Lurgan Park McGarrity had taken delivery of the last ‘works’ Mini WRC to be built by Prodrive. Although Derek attacked hard and said the car was very good, but he seemed to lose out on the gravel sections.
Kevin Barrett was a little hesitant over the first few stages, but slowly his confidence grew as he tuned in to his Impreza S14 as well as the mixed tarmac/gravel special stages. The Dubliner reinforced his 5th place with some excellent times towards the finish.
Paddy McVeigh, in an older model Subaru, had a steady run to 6th. Like father like daughter – Emma McKinstry had the turbo pack on her Subaru changed towards day’s end and she then turned in some excellent times to improve from 10th to 7th. Lisburn’s Wesley Patterson produced a brilliant drive to finish ‘best Escort’ and 8th o/a, while Frank Kelly in his similar Escort made a charge towards the end to improve from 14th to 9th. Pat O’Connell made the trip from Tipperary worthwhile by capturing the GpN category with 10th overall, despite being hampered by ‘awry’ steering on his Lancer over the final 2 stages. The only hiccup during a great day’s sport in the Park was Simon Gordon/Billy Regan crashing their Astra in stage 2. This necessitated the rescue services being called into action, but the organising North Armagh Motor Club reacted quickly and positively, so there was only a short delay.
Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Top Ten:-
1st (1) Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC) 15.26.1
2nd (4) Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Mini WRC) 15.39.2
3rd (7) Derek McGeehan/Laurie Smyth (Mini WRC) 15.59.8
4th (3) Kenny McKinstry/Noel Orr (Impreza WRC) 16.02.9
5th (5) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 16.07.5
6th (9) Paddy McVeigh/Martin McCann (Impreza WRC) 16.13.2
7th (8) Emma McKinstry/John Woods (Impreza WRC) 16.27.5
8th (41) Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) 16.31.9
9th (42) Frank Kelly/Connor Dunlop (Escort) 16.34.9
10th (14) Pat O`Connell/Kieran Carroll (Lancer N) 16.37.9
Class Winners: – CL1 Pat O’Connell/Kieran Connell (Lancer): CL2 Alan Smyth/Richard Kinloch (Citroen C2R2): CL3 Shane McGirr/Kieran Meehan (Starlet RWD): CL4 Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort): CL5 Jonny Leonard/Geraldine Leonard (Lancer): CL6 Garry Jennings/Michael Moran (Impreza WRC): CL7 Stephen Mawhinney/Joanne Mawhinney (Sunbeam Lotus): CL8 Drew Wylie/Steven Cartwright (Escort).
Issued by Brian & Patterson, Patterson Agency Ltd. Tel: 02890 844111
Filed Under: Lurgan Park Rally News
