Hankook renews sponsorship of the Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship! Hankook and the ANICC have agreed a contract to sponsor the Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship for the second year in succession. The new deal sees Hankook substantially increase their support package, and there will be a number of exciting new initiatives for the series. Mike Patterson, Hankook Motorsports Manager, said: "We are pleased and delighted to reconfirm our commitment to competitors in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. We're looking forward to enjoying another successful year with competitors in what is a very challenging Championship." Andy Gilmore, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Stage Rallies committee, said: "This is a fantastic package put together by Hankook. We are delighted at the confidence that Hankook is showing in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship, and this a major investment in the Northern Ireland Championship competitors." "This package is by far the largest and most exciting sponsorship packaged ever secured for the Northern Ireland Rally Championship and its participants. We look forward to releasing all of the exciting details in the very near future." The 2010 Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship starts on 27 February with the Pedro Pet Foods Stages Rally. The event, which is held at Kirkistown Race Circuit, is the first of 10 rounds which take competitors across Northern Ireland. A mixture of circuit based events, closed road and forestry rallies provide a real variety of challenges throughout the season. The official championship website, Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship 2009, will provide event and Championship updates during the year. Regulations and entry forms for the opening round are already available to download, and more details will be announced soon.
Pedro Pet Foods to sponsor Northern Ireland Rally Championship opener at Kirkistown! Pedro Pet Foods has been confirmed as title sponsor of the opening round of this year's Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship! The Pedro Pet Foods Stages, held at County Down's Kirkistown Race Circuit, will kick-start the 10-round series with six stages based at the venue on Saturday 27 February. Alan Atcheson, Managing Director of Pedro Pet Foods, said: "I have great pleasure in sponsoring North Armagh Motor Club for the Kirkstown Stages. I'd like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable day's rallying at what is the opening round of the Northern Ireland Rally Championship." Clerk of the Course, Eric McCombe, said: "It's with great pleasure that I can welcome on board our new sponsor, Pedro Pet Foods. Thanks must go to Alan Atcheson as the event would not be possible without his financial support and assistance." The Kirkistown event, which is organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, is the traditional Hankook season opener. It is the first of two circuit based events, with the remainder of the season contested on closed roads and in forests. Regulations and entry forms are available for the rally, which takes place on 27 February. It will attract many of the country's leading rally talent, and more details will be announced soon on Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship 2009.
Entries received so far for Pedro Stages : Pedro Pet Foods Stages Rally 27 Feb 2010. Entries To 7th Feb DriverNavTownCarCCClass 1McToal, Paddy/O'Loan, ConnorBallymenaFord Escort16004 2Leonard, Jonny/Donaldson, JackieBALLINAMALLARDFord Fiesta20001 3Donnelly, Oran/Hughes, PaulBALLYMENAFord Escort21006 4Pedlow, Malcolm/Ferguson, IvorBelfastBMW 2002199011 5Dickson, Stephen, OmaghPeugeot 106 GTI05 6McCance, Neil, COMBERMitsubishi Lancer Evo 920002 7Henry, DesiRowan, JohnCo.AntrimFord Fiesta ST16001 8Henry, NiallMcErlean, OliverPortglenoneMitsubishi Lancer09 9Sayers, GarethGilchrist, GarethCastledergVauxhall Nova14003 10Hamilton, PhilipStride, DerekARMAGHCitroen C216005 11Farrell, Kris, FermanaghProton Satria13983 12Johnston, RaymondMcAleer, FabianEnniskillenMitsubishi Lancer Evo 919982 13Vance, BrianMcNamara, CiaranPORTAFERRYToyota Corolla15875 14McKeown, DeclanMcFarlane, DuncanCROSSMAGLENBMW M323008 15Loughran, GarettLoughran, PhilipBallygawleyFord Fiesta ST20001 16Orr, Ivan, ArmaghFord Escort MK II23008 17Murdoch, Paul, StranraerFord Escort MK II19986 18Murdoch, HughMurdoch, AnneStranraerFord Escort MK II2000 19Ferguson, TrevorMcElroy, DavidCookstownSubaru Impreza N12B19982 20Donnelly, NiallGallagher, EamonBALLYMENAFord Fiesta13003 21Nevin, Geoffrey, COLERAINEFord Fiesta21006 22Nevin, GarethNevin, JonathanCOLERAINEFord Escort MK II2400 23Irwin, GlenTorrens, DerekCASTLEDERGVauxhall Nova14003 24Bustard, Andrew, CastledergVauxhall Corsa15984 25Dickson, Ashley.Dickson, IanOmaghVauxhall Astra19986 26Strain, DavidTate, RudyDownpatrickPeugeot 20519006 27Erwin, RobertErvine, NeilLISBURNToyota Corolla16015 28Galbraith, MervynMcGuigan, AineOmaghVauxhall Nova1596 29Robinson, GeorgeSpeers, TommyBALLYMENASubaru Impreza WRC20009 30Logan, JamesLogan, GarethNewtonabbeyFord Escort21006 31Duff, IanHull, IanCookstownProton Compact Sprint15975 32Johnson, AndyMiller, PhilipKillinchyVauxhall Chevette230011 33Cartmill, PaulPark, AdrianRathfrilandTalbot Sunbeam160010 34Mackay, AllanDowney, MoSutherlandFord Anglia WRC16004 35Strain, NoelMcCarthy, RyanDOWNPATRICKVauxhall Nova20007 36Nutt, MichaelPollock, JasonColeraineHonda Civic Type R19981 37Simms, AlanSimms, ChristopherNewryFord Escort20006 38Greer, BarryCranston, HarrietBelfastFord Fiesta16005 39Ewart, PhilipMcMahon, ScottARMAGHFord Fiesta ST20001 40Kennedy, James, AntrimFord Escort MK II20007 41Thom, SamanthaDoherty, CormacCookstownPeugeot 10616005 42McAteer, Mark., Co TYRONEFord Escort20007 43Doherty, CyrilHenderson, GrahamOMAGHSubaru Impreza19942 44Nugent, CahalMcDermott, NiallDungannonPeugeot 20516004 45McEvoy, GaryMcEvoy, KeithLondonderryMitsubishi EVO20009 46Colville, Jat, BelfastFord Escort23008 47McGrady, FintanMcGrady, CormacBelfastFord Escort MK II19987 48Burrows, AlanBurrows, GavinBALLYNAHINCHMitsubishi Lancer Evo 919982 49White, GaryCarson, DominicBelfastSubaru Impreza20009 50Devine, EugeneVaughan, MarkSTRABANEFord Escort20007 51McLaughlin, DavyMcGloughlin, PaulNewtownardsOpel Kadet 40020006 52Quigley, BrianDeery, PaulBuncranaPeugeot 20516004 53Conlon, Michael, CastleblaneyFord Escort2050 54Millar, Stephen, Victoria BridgeNissan Micra13003 55McCann, JohnDevlin, SeanDRAPERSTOWNVauxhall Nova13003 56McCormick, Andrew, Co.DownVauxhall Chevette20007 57Haughian, RoryMcGrath, DamienLurganHonda Civic16005 58Allen, TrevorLoughran, ConnorLisburnVauxhall Astra GSi20487 59Cochrane, AlastairMcKenna, BarryBushmillsFord Escort MK II19987 60Carmichael, AlanLamont, IvorBallymenaMitsubishi Lancer Evo 919982 61Carson, BrianCochrane, LloydCRAIGAVONMini Cooper S127510 62Hunter, PhilipFaloon, MichaelCOOKSTOWNFord Escort MK II199811 63Haslett, Roy, NEWTOWNARDSFord Escort F219987 64Haslett, RobertGeddis, DavidNewtownardsVauxhall Astra19981 Looks like I will be doing this event in a class 3 Nova
65O'Connell, TommyMagee, SeanL'DERRYFord Escort MK II240011 66Laird, DavidLaird, RebeccaLarneFIAT PUNTO15875 67Hamilton, Andrew, BALLYMENAFord Escort MK II20007 68Woodside, SimonHarryman, AlanTemplepatrickBMW M325008 69Wilson, AndrewCraig, PaulBALLYMENAToyota Starlet Maxi16005 70Wilson, SamuelQuigg, LiamBALLYMENARenault Clio Maxi20006 71Stewart, DrewPark, StevenANTRIMFord Escort MK II20017 72Ballantine, StanleySomerville, BrianSTRABANEMitsubishi Lancer Evo 919972 73Ballantine, Graham, StrabaneMitsubishi Lancer Evo 919972 74Latimer, CliveHayes, ChrisCraigavonBritish Leyland Mini 1275 GT129310 75Mulholland, AndrewTBA, LISBURNFord Escort16505 76Wright, StephenWright, SuzanneNewblissFord Fiesta ST19981 77McAlonan, RickyBovill, SamBallymenaFord Escort23008 78Biggerstaff, StuartHull, KennyDromaraSubaru Impreza WRC20009 79Magee, MichaelMagilton, JohnDownpatrickFord Escort20006 80Straney, Andrew.Carson, MarkBallynahinchVauxhall Astra20007 81McGarrity, DerekMcKee, JamesNewtownabbeySubaru Impreza S12B20009 82Boyd, RoisinBlackledge, WendyBelfastSuzuki Swift14003 83Moore, ChrisMcSorley, J DOmaghCitroen C216005 84Cassells, AlanGraham, RobertLurganPeugeot 106 SI616005 85Teggart, TerrenceMcGarrity, MartinFord Escort25008 86Devlin, JohnDevlin, GavinBanbridgeChrysler Sunbeam2000 87Smith, StephenNelson, richardNEWTOWNARDSHonda Civic1600 88Ward, PaulGallagher, JoeCLAUDYFord Escort2000 89O'Hagan, BrendanHone, PaulDUNGIVENSubaru Impreza WRC2000 90McLaughlin, GregMcLaughlin, JodeCo L'DERRYFord Escort2000 91Moore, NigelCurry, GrahamNewtownabbeyVauxhall Nova1300 92Carey, ConorIngram, BrendanBallymenaTalbot Sunbeam1600 93Haveron, SeanFergus, VincentBALLYCLAREFord Escort Cos1998 94Gaffney, AmandaGaffney, MichaelNewtownabbeyVauxhall Astra1998 95Kelly, DonaghFlanagan, KevinFrossesFord Focus WRC1998 96Craine, David, FOXDALE, IOMFord Escort Cos1993 97Courtney, AlanHill, JimCarrickfergusPorsche 9284700 98Holden, Stephen, DONEMANAPeugeot 106 GTI1600 99McNeil, DominicCarey, MartinBallymenaFord Escort WRC2000 100Mason, RaymondMartin, PeterMONEYREAGHNissan Micra1275 101McGonigle, TerryCaldwell, DamianStrabaneMitsubishi Lancer Evo 91997 102Curran, JasonLove, BarbaraNEWTOWNARDSPeugeot 1061600 103Hall, WilliamHall, DennisLisburnFord Escort1993 104King, Ciaran, ArmaghHonda Civic1600
See a few local names there. Will be keeping an eye on no9 as he won his last event. Also dont see Pedro dog foods owner entered in his MK2 escort. Know him prety well, Built his house around 2/3 yrs ago
this isn't a seeded list so numbers will change as for Sayers in the nova, we competed against him on the Townparks and he tore our times to bits (took the class win by near 5mins from memory), serious commitment and up against him in a 1300 nova this time instead of the micra maxi looking forward to it
Entry List is out, we are running car 91 and I can't wait http://www.nirally.com/downloads/2010/r1-entrylist.pdf
Kirkistown Race Circuit plays host to the opening round of the Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship! Tuesday, February 23 2010 15:16 It's time to blow off those winter cobwebs for Northern Ireland's leading rally talent as round one of the 2010 Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship, Kirkistown's Pedro Pet Foods Stages, kicks into action this Saturday! Organised by North Armagh Motor Club Ltd, the County Down venue has attracted more than 100 crews to this weekend's event. The popular season opener, which is held on a mixture of loose and sealed surfaces, will feature six stages within the confines of the Kirkistown Race Circuit. "We're very pleased to have secured support from Alan Atcheson of Pedro Pet Foods," said Clerk of the Course, Eric McCombe. "The event would simply not be possible without his support and assistance." Reigning champions, Derek McGarrity and James McKee, are at the top of the entry list in their S12B specification Subaru Impreza WRC. McGarrity has a busy weekend ahead, as he intends to contest the opening round of the Irish National Championship which takes place on Sunday. Gary White and Dominic Carson start the event at number two in their Subaru Impreza, with George Robinson and Tommy Speers also in a Subaru at number three. Young Dromara driver Stuart Biggerstaff completes a quartet of Subarus at number four with Kenny Hull calling the notes. Biggerstaff was the sensation of the New Year Stages Rally, which was held at the same venue. He finished second overall at what was his first stage rally, enjoying a dream debut behind the wheel. Biggerstaff starts ahead of the Escort WRC belonging to Dominic McNeill and Martin Carey. In the Sunoco Fuels Group N category, Raymond Johnston and Fabian McAleer start the event as the top seeds. They will be joined by Mark Massey and former Northern Ireland Rally Champion, Connor McCloskey. "I'm going to start the season in a (Mitsubishi Lancer) Evo," McCloskey said, "but I may switch to a world rally car for one or two events. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs this year thanks to Hankook so I'm really looking forward to it!" The two-wheel-drive category has also received a strong entry which is headed by Gareth and Jonathan Nevin. They start the event at number 20, with the likes of David Armstrong, Ricky McAlonen, Terrence Teggart, Drew Stewart and Fintan McGrady all chasing the laurels. There are a number of fantastic prizes on offer during the 2010 season. The highest placed Group N driver at the end of the year will have their entry fee, tyres and ferry costs paid to give them an opportunity to take part in a European round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. There is also a Junior Prize Drive on offer which is open to competitors who are under 26 years old. An all expenses paid drive in an overseas International event with a works specification car is up for grabs. Junior competitors will be assessed by a panel of judges who will monitor all competitors on a variety of aspects during the season. Superdrive Motorsports Centre is also supporting the Junior category with dedicated training and cash vouchers, while Sunoco Fuels is also supporting the Group N category with a drum of fuel up for grabs after each event. Montgomery Motorsport has again pledged support for the Historic category, while Autofashion.ie is sponsoring a new Group A cup. M-Sport, the company behind the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, is also supporting the series through the launch of a new bonus parts scheme. The Pedro Pet Foods Stages will get underway at approximately 9am this Saturday 27 February. Competitors will tackle six stages before the winning is crowned as the champagne finish in Kirkistown Race Circuit.
Good luck Graham, I recon you'll be a bit closer to Mr Sayers this time, he prefers gravel.... we where a match for him on tarmac, but he just blew us away on gravel. I see Andy Strainey has swapped the Nova for an Astra, sat beside Andy a couple of times, that man can steer.
Wright Looking to Carry Galway Form into NI Championship Opener Thursday, February 25 2010 09:20 This Sunday sees the opening round of the Hankook Northern Ireland Rally Championship in Kirkistown, as well as the first qualifying round of the Hankook Junior Prize Drive. After winning the first round of the Irish Fiesta Sporting Trophy in Galway, the young Monaghan man will be hoping to carry this form through to the NI Rally Championship opener. Stephen will be mounting a full challenge on this year’s Hankook Junior Prize Drive, and seems very excited about the challenge ahead. “I haven’t competed in this rally before but it seems to be a very competitor friendly format and one which I’m really looking forward too. I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel after such a great start to the season in Galway. There’s a strong fiesta entry too so it should be a good battle”. Stephen will be encountering a number a firsts this weekend. As well as being his first time to tackle the event, he also has a new co-driver in the form of Martin Connolly. Martin is a brother of the Successful Damien Connolly, and is a regular Night Navigation partner of Stephen. It will also be Stephens first time competing on Hankook rubber, the control tyre for the Championship. Speaking last week Stephen Commented, “Both Hankook and M-Sport have provided great incentives for Junior and Fiesta competitors and I hope I can stay in contention for the prizes. I haven’t used Hankook’s before so it may take some time to adjust but I’ve heard they’re a great tyre so I’m not worried about that.” The event Kicks off on Saturday morning in the County Down Venue.
Not long home, 4th in class, bit of damage but that was from trying too hard, slippy this morning but dried up lovely and we started getting good times in great days steam and cheers to Nigel for letting me into the navi seat for the day some photo's and bit of a report to come from crew 91
smashing was right pmsl wing, door, 2 wing mirrors, light and indicator needed haha (he couldn't have went any harder)
Went over today for a while, was freezing but at least the sun came out. The WRC Impreza sounded outstanding (McGarrity?). Great day out
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uztSwf8puis]YouTube - Pedro Pet Food Stages Rally Kirkistown 2010[/ame] we are on it at 4min 50sec, coming up the gravel into flat L & R, no one can say young Nigel wasn't trying, ha ha she's like a rear steer
Was at this myself as marshall. Cold but at least it didn't rain... The fella in the McNulty evo 6 number 5 was mad! Can fairly steer the car. Nearly wiped himself out at the hay chicane near the end of the day.
Rally That wee nova nearly bounced end over end down the middle section mr curry he certainly wasnt easing here ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
it was hairy enough at one point, she was a bit too sideways and i seen a bale and puddle coming, my "woo woo" gave Nigel a laugh though