Meeke's magnificent Lurgan Park

Kris Meeke showed his World Championship spec class on last weekend's Lurgan Park Rally, dominating from SS2 to the finish of the iconic event.

Kris Meeke

Competing on his first rally of 2012 in one of two Derek McGeehan run MINI John Cooper Works WRC's, the former MINI works driver was bested by double Irish Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity in another MINI. But once Meeke got the hang of his car and the “green” stages, he was flying.

Within the remaining 7 stages, Meeke had amassed a lead of 30.3 secs over 'King of the Park' Kenny McKinstry. McKinstry was using one of his own hire cars, this specific one usually used by John McGaffin. King Kenny's usual X14 SRT was being used as a demonstration car.

Kenny McKinstry

A tense final stage fight between Garry Jennings and Derek McGarrity over 3rd place lead to Jennings claiming the position by 1.9 secs. Jennings entered the event in a forestry-spec Subaru Impreza 555, a dinosaur compared to McGarrity's MINI, and while the car wasn't a match for the competition, Jennings' crazy, all-or-nothing style certainly was. His co-driver on this occasion was his partner Kerry McCarter, who belied her lack of experience to keep her partner away from the trees.

Garry Jennings

The battle for fifth was even tighter, with Kevin Barrett's Impreza edging Derek McGeehan's new right hand drive MINI JCW WRC by 0.6 secs. Stuart Biggerstaff brought the glorious Metro 6R4 out for a run, and he, in a car over 25 years old, took the fight to Ray Brammer's Impreza WRC to edge Brammer by 1.5 secs and snatch 7th.

John McKeown's Ford Escort WRC popped and banged all the way to 9^th place. Alan Carmichael stalled his McKinstry Motorsport Impreza S11 on SS1, and struggled to get used to left hand drive. With Donegal International Rally winning co-driver Neil Doherty sitting with him, he claimed a solid 10^th place in The Park.

Alan Mullen

Alan Mullen won Group N in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, with Paddy McVeigh in second. Mullen received a slight scare when his throttle started to stick. Not something you want with the infamously solid Lurgan Park trees are only a few metres away, just ask Derek McGarrity what can happen.

Lurgan Park regular Mark Doyle campaigned his usual Toyota Celica, bring it home to 11^th. Doyle ran fifth after SS1, but slid off then ran out of wet tyres and plummeted down the order. His brother was dispatched to get some more wet tyres from his house, and with the new rubber fitted Doyle was back on form.

Gary Owens

Gary Owens won the historic class in his immaculate Ford Escort MK2 RS1800 by 10 secs over Raymond Nelson. Owens suffered a near major disaster when he managed to snap the gear stick off. Luckily, co-driver Denver Rafferty was carrying a lump hammer in his co-drivers bag!

Jimmy McRae

Jimmy McRae won the FIA Historic Class in Wesley Patterson's Ford Escort MK2. The legendary Scotsman remarked at the end “There's life in the old dog yet!”. Drew Wylie took second 2.7 secs behind with Raymond Johnston in third.

If any of our readers watch the BAFTA winning Irish TV programme Mrs. Brown's Boys, you may be familiar with the names Danny O'Carroll and Paddy Houlihan. More commonly known as 'Buster Brady' and 'Dermot Brown', respectively, both were in the co-drivers seat for the Lurgan Park Rally. Buster found himself in the hot seat alongside Stuart Biggerstaff, claiming 7^th O/A and class honours. Dermot was on demo duties alongside Philip Greenlee, and was involved in a small crash. There is a debate over whether Dermot called the note too late, or Philip misread the corner. Either way, the bright orange MK2 Escort was left a bit worse for wear after a fairly heavy thump!