Northern Ireland Rally Championship Opener
Round 1 of the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship – A High-Octane Start! 🚗💨
The 2024 Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship roared into action at Bishopscourt Race Circuit on March 8th, hosted by Ballynahinch and District Motor Club and proudly backed by Race and Rally. The day started with tricky showers, making for a slippery challenge, but by the afternoon, the sun was shining, setting the stage for some breathtaking rally action! ☀️
McLaughlin Takes Charge – But Not Without a Fight! 🏁
From the first flag drop at 9:00 AM, it was Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran in their Volkswagen Polo R5 who took the lead. But it wasn’t a walk in the park! At the mid-event service, their advantage had shrunk to just 0.6 seconds, as Stuart Biggerstaff and Stephen Jess piled on the pressure. In response, McLaughlin delivered an incredible performance on the penultimate stage, pulling ahead by 15.9 seconds to clinch victory at the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship opener. 🏆
Early Drama and a Podium Battle 🔥
Derek McGarrity, a seasoned Bishopscourt competitor, slotted into an early second place after the opening 3.9-mile stage, while Jonathan Greer wrestled with the challenge of his new Toyota Yaris Rally2. However, Greer’s rally was cut short following a crash on the repeat stage. 😞
With Greer out, Biggerstaff and Jess closed the gap on McLaughlin, trailing by just 1.4 seconds at the halfway mark. A change in stage direction added a new twist to the competition, but McLaughlin fought back and stretched his lead on the final two stages to secure the win. Meanwhile, McGarrity held onto third, finishing 12.8 seconds behind the runner-up.
Exciting Finishes and WRC Powerhouses in the Mix 🚀
A big highlight was Darren Gass, the 2012 Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, making a much-anticipated return in a WRC-spec Subaru Impreza S12B. Despite limited seat time, he secured sixth place—a fantastic result! Michael Cullen and Junior WRC driver Eamonn Kelly, who switched to co-driving for the event, climbed their way to an impressive fifth-place finish in their Volkswagen Polo R5.
Further down the leaderboard, Derek and Mark McGeehan wrapped up their rally just 1.2 seconds ahead of Peadar Hurson and Damien Connolly, who lost crucial time after an early off-track detour. Meanwhile, Conor Wilson and Kyle McDaid put on a great show, jumping from car 24 into the top ten! 🎯
Two-Wheel Drive and Micra Challenge – Small Cars, Big Action! 🚗💥
The two-wheel-drive battle was just as exciting, with Jaye Nevin and Eoghan Moore overcoming a stage-three stall to grab victory, finishing 12th overall in their Peugeot 205. Right behind them, James and Heather Kennedy put in a solid performance, finishing 11.8 seconds behind.
The ever-popular Micra Challenge delivered thrilling, cost-effective racing, with Andrew Bushe and Geraldine McBride taking top honors, winning their class by 14.9 seconds. 👏
What’s Next? 🏎️💨
If Round 1 was anything to go by, we’re in for an epic season ahead! Expect more intense battles, stunning drives, and thrilling finishes as the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship continues. Stay tuned for the next round as Northern Ireland’s best rally drivers push the limits once again! 🔥
