Lurgan Park 2010 review [photos]

So it looks like 'King of the Park' Kenny McKinstry will have to wait for one more year to claim his 12^th Lurgan Park Rally win. Ah well, at least it was one of his cars that won!

Former Pirelli Star Driver in the BRC Darren Gass won the event by 1.3 secs with Kenny in second. Derek McGarrity was in third, rounding out a Subaru Impreza 1-2-3.

1st o/a 1st Class 4 Darren Gass/Nathan Gass Subaru Impreza WRC

Gass had no co-driver before 12:00 the morning of the rally, so a quick phone call was placed to his cousin Nathan at 12:00 AM. Nathan had never navigated before so this was some debut for him! However, Darren said that a good rally, albeit messing up a few time.

Nathan & Darren Gass

“I had my fingers crossed at the start of the last stage that it wouldn’t rain. We had a good day, a couple of messy stages. I had no co-driver last night and at midnight phoned my cousin Nathan and he offered to sit in. He has never done a rally!”

Derek McGarrity lost the rally lead on SS5 when he stalled the S12C at the 90 right where the gravel goes to the tarmac. McGarrity also seemed upset when the Darren Gass incident came to light.

3rd o/a Derek McGarrity - James McKee Subaru Impreza S12C WRC

Darren slid wide onto the grass near the end of SS5 but cut across the inside of the next bend to get back onto the stage. However, Kenny dismissed the incident at the finish ramp: “Darren’s incident is over and one with. It wasn’t deliberate. The car was on the grass and ended up out of shape.” Kenny went n to say. “I was pushing hard at the end but not hard enough to make mistakes. I very much enjoyed the day it was a really good rally”.

5-times Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly was back behind the wheel after a long lay off. Eugene was piloting the Toyota Corolla WRC that took him to three Tarmac titles.

4th o/a Eugene Donnelly - Darragh Mullen Toyota Corolla WRC

“I really enjoyed the day., It was great to get behind the wheel again. The Corolla hasn’t quite the speed but it was still good and this young co driver Darragh Mullen did a good job”

Mark Massey won Group N in his N12 Impreza with Paul McKenna on the notes. Kieron Graffin broke a driveshaft on SS1, so he put in a very good fight back to come in 10^th.

8th o/a 1st Group N 1st Class 1 Mark Massey - Paul McKenna Subaru Impreza N12B

Wesley Patterson was fastest 2WD and fastest in the MK2 Challenge in his 2.5 Escort. Brian O'Mahony claimed the 6R4 Challenge with relative ease when the 6R4 of Denis Biggerstaff had its gearbox failed. Dessie McCartney was fastest Historic in his Porsche 911.

6th o/a 1st 2WD 1st Mk2 1st Class 2 Challenge Wesley Patterson - Martin McGarrity Ford Escort MK2

1st Historic 1st Class 5 Dessie McCartney - Maurice Jellie Porsche 911

Early leader of the Metro 6R4 Challenge Denis Biggerstaff retired on SS4 after he ran out of time changing the gearbox and clutch. Brian O'Mahony, as the only other 6R4 contender, inherited the lead and stayed there to claim the win.

7th o/a 1st Metro 6R4 Challenge 1st Class 3 Brian O'Mahony - John Higgins MG Metro 6R4

1st Class 6 Stanley McKnowen - Graham Patterson Toyota Corolla

The Irish Slowly Sideways crew were present in the Park. Some of the cars present were an ex-Colin McRae Subaru Legacy, Audi Quattro S1, ex-Bertie Fisher Ford Escort MK2 (Rally Belgium 1981) ex-Billy Coleman Opel Manta 400, 2 Renault 5 Turbos and a little Autobianchi A110 Abarth, which was drive by the late Atillio Bettega on the Rally Sanremo in 1977.

Audi Quattro S1 (Ex-Stig Blomqvist, 1984 Rallye Sanremo)

Renault 5 Turbo (Ex-Jean Ragnotti, 1981 Monte Carlo Rally)

Subaru Legacy RS (Ex-Colin McRae, 1988 Manx Rally)

(All images copyright Jordan Murphy)