Round 4 of the Millers Oils Anicc Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship took place on Saturday 14th August. With a big entry of machinery from standard road cars to high powered single seaters and everything in between, it was set to be an entertaining day. Looking at the initial practice times, it was going to be a quick day indeed, with the loose stones from road surfacing last year clearly gone.
Graham Thompson led from the word go and was on the pace immediately, Graham holds the hill record which he set back in 2015. On Graham’s 2nd run he broke his own hill record with a 35.37 second run which no one was going to get near all day. In 2nd place overall was Richard McGimpsey with a fastest time of 37.02 and in 3rd place was John Donnelly with a 37.61.
In the modified saloon category, Daniel Campbell took the win, with Garry Campbell in 2nd in their Toyota Starlets, with Ian Lancashire in 3rd in the Subaru. Daniel also beat the class 9a record set by David Francis back in 2015.
In the road-going saloon category, Philip Cardy took the honours in his Subaru, with Conor Hamill in 2nd in the BMW M3 and Adrian Mullholland in 3rd in his Escort.
The Specialist Category saw Jack Boal take the win in his Graham Thompson build 7 and also beat the class record by almost 2 seconds, in 2nd place was Paul Hamill and in 3rd Scott McMullan.
Other record-breaking times included Andy Hawthorne In class 5 breaking the class record with a 44.01 time, Dara Fay in class 6b breaking the class record by over 2 seconds, and Gerry McGarrity breaking the class 16a record.
With the cancellation of the next round at Eagle’s Rock, our last round of the championship takes place at Craigantlet Hillclimb on the 11th September. This also is a round of the British Hillclimb Championship where the fastest cars in the uk will visit us, it will be an interesting to watch the best in the UK versus the best here compete for the FTD.
Words: ALAN CASSELLS #5 | Photos: Gary Craig Motorsport Photography
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