Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally, 6-7 April

The 2012 Carryduff Forklift MSA ANICC Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship continued over the Easter weekend with the Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally on Friday 6th & Saturday 7th April.

The Ulster Automobile Club organised event attracted an excellent entry and 108 crews started the event – 36 International crews and 72 National crews. For the first time ever the COI was a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and a high quality field assembled for the start in the centre of Belfast. In the International event, Juha Hanninen emerged victorious from a Skoda Fabia showdown between him, current IRC Champion Andreas Mikkelsen and Jan Kopecky.

In the National event Darren Gass won by  1 minute 27.5 seconds from Eugene Donnelly who was 3 minutes 3.2 seconds ahead of Derek McGarrity. Hetherington was the leading two wheel driver in fifth while the leading Group N driver was Ferguson who finished tenth.

Top 3 National  finishers:

1.      Darren Gass/Enda Sherry – Subaru WRC – 2:01:59.5

2.      Eugene Donnelly/ Paddy Toner – Toyota Corolla WRC – 2:03:27.0

3.      Derek McGarrity/James McKee – Mini WRC – 2:06:30.2

 Provisional Championship Points after Round 3:

1   Derek McGarrity 36 points

2   Derek McGeehan 19 points

3   Ray Brammer 17 points

4= John McGaffin 14 points

4=  Kieron Graffin 14 points

4=  Drew Stewart 14 points