Fast and furious at Bishopscourt

Fast and furious at Bishopscourt

14 March 2012

THE Carryduff Forklift MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship returns to action this Saturday with the McGrady Insurance Stages Rally.

Based just outside Downpatrick at Bishopscourt, this year’s event marks the sixth consecutive year that local business McGrady Insurance has sponsored the rally.

The company provides business, personal and leisure insurance to thousands of customers throughout the country, and Fintan McGrady, the managing director, is a regular competitor in his potent Mark 2 Escort.

He will be one of the leading two-wheel-drive contenders this weekend, but topping the entry list is a host of powerful four-wheel-drive machinery.

Heading the entry are the current Carryduff Forklift NI Championship leaders, Derek McGarrity and James McKee. They won the opening round of the series at Kirkistown in February and as former Bishopscourt winners the crew are favourites for adding more winning trophies to their cabinets.

McGarrity will face opposition from English visitors Ray Brammer and Jody Wilson. The crowd favourite Mini WRC also returns with Derek McGeehan and Laurie Smyth, and they are followed by another two World Rally Car Imprezas, with James Gillen and John McGaffin.

In the Group N category, Trevor Ferguson and David McElroy are hoping to add to their Kirkistown Group N win. Other contenders will include Alan Carmichael, Kieron Graffin and Jason Curran.

There is also a healthy contingent of two-wheel-drive crews. They are headed by event sponsor Fintan McGrady, who starts the event with No. 12 on his doors, followed by James Kennedy, Simon Woodside, Keith White and David Armstrong.

The event also hosts the second round of the McGrady Insurance Junior 1000 Rally Challenge Ireland. Seven young drivers between the ages of 14 and 16 will contest four stages. Ben Crealey was the runaway winner of round one and is the hot favourite to take another win in his Nissan Micra.

The action gets underway shortly after 9am on Saturday morning.

Competitors in the main event will tackle six stages, with the champagne finish due to take place at approximately 5pm.

Spectators are welcome with the spectacular jump sure to keep them entertained. More details can be found online at www.nirally.com.