Round 9: Down Rally, Saturday 19 OctoberKenny McKinstry in his Subaru WRC S14 won the final round of the 2013 Carryduff Forklift MSA ANICC Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship, the Rathfriland Motor Club’s Down Rally on Saturday 19 October.The event started and finished in Castlewellan, with service in Castlewellan Forest Park. A total of 33 crews started the event and 23 drivers and 20 co-drivers were registered for the 2013 championship. The weather was sunny and dry in the morning but showery in the afternoon. Six stages, in four loops, totalling 30 miles were planned for the day.After the second loop of two stages Kenny McKinstry arrived back in service with a lead of 29.5 seconds from Shane McGirr. Jonny Leonard was third 0.9 seconds further back. Derek McGarrity was fourth just 0.6 seconds behind. Gareth Sayers in a Mitsubishi Evo was fifth 5.2 seconds behind. Paul Killen in a Mk2 Escort was sixth 1.7 seconds further behind.After the third loop of two stages Kenny McKinstry arrived back in service with a lead of 42.3 seconds from Gareth Sayers. Jonny Leonard was third 16.1 seconds further back. Niall Henry was up to fourth 32.2 seconds behind. Kieron Graffin was fifth 4.3 seconds further back. Paul Killen was sixth 1.1 seconds further behind. Shane McGirr had slid off and out of the rally. Derek McGarrity was back in seventh place.After the fourth and final loop Kenny McKinstry arrived at the finish with a winning margin of 39.7 seconds from Gareth Sayers. Jonny Leonard was third 44.8 seconds further back. Championship winner Derek McGarrity finished fourth and won Group N 25.4 seconds further back. Kieron Graffin was fifth 2.7 seconds back. Paul Killen was sixth and the leading 2WD finisher 17.6 seconds behind. Niall Henry went off on the last stage and out of the rally.Derek McGarrity and James McKee are the overall winners of the Championship while Kieron Graffin is the winner of the Group N Drivers Championship.Results1. Kenny McKinstry/Kenny Hull – Subaru Impreza WRC S14 – 39:12.42. Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist – Mitsubishi Evo – 39:52.1 3. Jonny Leonard/Niall Burns – Mitsubishi Evo – 40:36.94. Derek McGarrity/James McKee – Subaru Impreza N12 – 41:02.3 5. Kieron Graffin/Paddy Robinson – Mitsubishi Evo – 41:05.06. Paul Killen/Barry Savage – Ford Escort Mk2 – 41:22.6
Provisional Championship Points after Round 9:1. Derek McGarrity – 70 points2. Derek McGeehan – 563. Jonny Leonard – 444. Kevin Barrett – 355. Kieron Graffin – 336. Brian Armstrong – 15
