A fantastic first-half put Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy in command at the GO Tour of the Sperrins – round two of the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship – and, despite Aidan Wray going faster on the final two stages, a margin of 16.9 seconds remained, writes William Neill.
Stage one, Gortanewry and, while World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean exited with gearbox issues that would dash the Kilrea man’s hopes of winning his home rally for a second time, Jennings held an advantage of 2.8 seconds.
The GO sponsored Ford Fiesta Rally 2 was fastest again on stage two, Creevagh, by 1.9 seconds but it was stage three, Crockandun, that became the most important with the lead extended by a further 12 seconds.
Aidan Wray went from nearly going into a hedge on stage one to runner up with Paddy McCrudden in a Volkswagen Polo Rally2, 4.4 seconds ahead of fellow Strabane driver Ryan Caldwell and Stephen O’Brien in a Skoda Fabia Rally2.
Thanks to hitting a rock Joseph McGonigle and Ciaran Geaney were 42.4 seconds off the podium, in fourth but the place secured by over half a minute to finish lead Citroen crew.
Following a crash at the Circuit of Kerry Desi Henry hired a Volkswagen Polo Rally2 and, while getting used to the switch, had a costly overshoot to be seventh after stage one. A second fastest stage time mid-rally was the best run of the day before limping through the last stage with a misfire.
Gareth Mimnagh’s consistency often rewards a good finish. In sixth, just six seconds would have matched the pace of Henry.
Looking at Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship points, Donegal’s Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran doubled their points tally off the back of the Magherafelt and District Motor Club event as the top registered finishers.
Draperstown’s Joe Hegarty claimed second-place points in the Brown & Brown table with last year’s Junior champion, Ben McFall next in a Ford Fiesta Rally4 – a strong performance while quickly adapting to front-wheel-drive to earn the Driver of the Day award.
Two-wheel-drive
Gareth Irwin claimed his first two-wheel-drive win following a last stage exit for Scotland’s David Bogie after a day-long race that also had Damian Toner in the mix.
Irwin, with Justin McAuley alongside, won the category by 7.2 seconds from Toner and Denver Rafferty. A misfire hampered Camillus Bradley who had been pushing hard with better luck for Fergal McGuigan as third two-wheel-drive and a class win.
Entries are now open for next month’s round three of the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship. The Eakin Brothers Brian James Trailers Stages will take place on Saturday May 24.
Results (Full results via www.rallyscore.net)
1 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
2 Aidan Wray/Paddy McCrudden (Volkswagen Polo Rally2)
3 Ryan Caldwell/Stephen O’Brien (Skoda Fabia Rally2)
4 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Citroen C3 Rally2)
5 Desi Henry/Dean O’Sullivan (Volkswagen Polo Rally2)
6 Gareth Mimnagh/James Barry (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
7 Daniel Barry/Lorcan Moore (Volkswagen Polo Rally2)
8 Gareth Irwin/Justin McAuley (Ford Escort Mk2)
9 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort Mk2)
10 Frank Wray/Joe McNulty (Volkswagen Polo)
