McGarrity and McKinstry to lead the way at Down Rally

15 October 2014

TWO former winners are included in the entry list for the 2014 Tarmac FMCCL Down Rally, the final round of the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship, which kicks off from Lower Square in Castlewellan on Saturday morning.
Derek McGarrity has been joined by Kenny McKinstry and both will be eager to add to their previous wins on the County Down-based event.
For 2014, McGarrity brings his Mini WRC in place of the Subaru Impreza which he used to great effect in 2012 when he took a last stage victory by just one second from Donegal driver Donagh Kelly. McKinstry has remained loyal to Subaru down the years and he will wheel out his Impreza S14 to try and take a fourth win on this the tenth running of the Down rally.
Joining the previous winners in the starters list is another Mini WRC of Alan Carmichael at number three, who starts ahead of the leading two wheel drive contenders Wesley Patterson, Camillus Bradley and Alister Cochrane, all in Ford Escort MkII’s.
At number seven is Keith White in his older, but no less rapid, MKI Escort with David Armstrong, Emma McKinstry with a new generation Skoda Fabia S2000 of Joseph McGonigle rounding out the top ten.
Looking further down the entry list, some of the better known drivers vying for glory on their local event include Paul Killen, Martin Teggart, NI Rally Championship sponsor Fintan McGrady, Niall Braniff, John Devlin, Gerry McPolin, JT Warnock, Barry Savage, Paddy Milligan and Dermot Murray.
The entry list also includes an amazing variety of machinery including Sunbeams, Vauxhalls, Mitsubishi’s, Audi’s and BMW’s to name a few. One car of interest which makes its competition debut on the Down Rally is the brand new Toyota GT86 of Jonny Greer.
Jonny returns to the event that he made his rally debut on when he competed on the first Down Rally back in 2005.
The 2014 FMCCL Down Rally, which again enjoys support from Down District Council, starts from Lower Square, Castlewellan at just before 10am on Saturday morning.
Council chairman, councillor William Walker will flag off around 70 crews before they head the short distance to the first test at Loughinisland Reavy and then on to Katesbridge before returning to Castlewellan Forest Park for service.
After the short break the drivers will move on to Annaclone, and then back to Katesbridge before a second service break in Castlewellan. The final loop sees the repeated Loughinisland Reavy and Annaclone tests before the ceremonial finish in Lower Square at around 4 pm.
The organisers have again produced a free spectator information guide which will be available from the Kings Inn, Lower Square, the Fresh Food Centre, both in Castlewellan and from the Ballydown Filling Station in Banbridge from tomorrow onwards.
Supporters can also keep up to date by logging on for Patterson’s Rally Bulletin’s from the event website, www.rathfrilandmotorclub.com and follow the live results via www.rallyscore.net.

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