Latest News...
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2013 Down Rally replaces Easter Stages Rally...Following confirmation from the Easter Stages Rally management team that their event cannot be rescheduled in 2013, the organisers of the Carryduff Forklift NI Championship have confirmed that its place will now be taken up by the Championship reserve event, the Down Rally, on October 19th. This will therefore bring back another gravel round to the series, and also mean that the series will take place over its scheduled eight rounds, therefore the scoring system remains the same.
Further details will be made available soon... |
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No Spelga Pass Hillclimb in 2013...Rathfriland Motor Club have reluctantly decided to cancel the running of this years Spelga Pass Hillclimb on 29th June.
The event had moved from it's traditional August date to June but unfortunately a clash with another popular event makes it impossible to attract enough competitors or key Officials and Marshals to run the event properly. |
Older News Items...
Successful night for the Beginners/Rallyschool crews...
The Novice crew of Gary McDonald and Peter Barker emerged narrow winners of the 2012 Tour of the Mournes Navigation Rally after an event long battle with Emmett Kelly and Cieron Gribben. MORE...
FINAL RESULTS !! Click HERE...
FINAL RESULTS !! Click HERE...
Check out some of the action photos from the 2012 Hankook Down Rally...
Log on to www.kgrallypics.com for some more brilliant action photos from the 2012 Down Rally.
McGarrity snatches first Down Rally win by just 1 second…
Derek McGarrity and co-driver James McKee emerged the winners of 2012 Hankook Down Rally, round six of the Carryduff Forklift NI Rally Championship last Saturday. McGarrity, the current leader of the NI series, nudged past 2011 Down Rally winners Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan on the final 13 mile blast over the famous Hamilton’s Folly, to take victory by just 1 second.
McGarrity and Kelly, both driving Subaru Impreza’ s, had been
embroiled in a tit for tat battle for the lead all day and by the halfway point
Kelly held the advantage by only 0.7 seconds. Donagh pulled out the stops over
the first visit to Hamilton’s Folly to stretch the lead out to 5.5 seconds and
another 0.9 seconds were added to the advantage before the pivotal second run
over Hamilton’s Folly. MORE...
Read the Hankook Down Rally highlights with RallyNews Bulletins...
For full results from Rallyscore, click HERE...
Photos courtesy of Jeremy Clifford.
McGarrity and Kelly, both driving Subaru Impreza’ s, had been
embroiled in a tit for tat battle for the lead all day and by the halfway point
Kelly held the advantage by only 0.7 seconds. Donagh pulled out the stops over
the first visit to Hamilton’s Folly to stretch the lead out to 5.5 seconds and
another 0.9 seconds were added to the advantage before the pivotal second run
over Hamilton’s Folly. MORE...
Read the Hankook Down Rally highlights with RallyNews Bulletins...
For full results from Rallyscore, click HERE...
Photos courtesy of Jeremy Clifford.
CHRIS SIMMS TAKES HOME THE FIRST BERNIE McMULLEN PERPETUAL TROPHY...
Poyntspass driver Chris Simms was the first winner of the Bernie McMullen Perpetual Trophy which was awarded in memory of the wife of long time event sponsor, Frank McMullen, who passed away after a sudden illness.
The Bernie McMullen Perpetual trophy was awarded to the fastest 2000cc 8v car on stage 8, the second run over the 13 mile Hamilton’s Folly stage. It is hoped that the award will bring some recognition to the work done by the staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital where Bernie and the family were so well looked after. Any monies collected over the rally weekend was donated to the hospital.
The Bernie McMullen Perpetual trophy was awarded to the fastest 2000cc 8v car on stage 8, the second run over the 13 mile Hamilton’s Folly stage. It is hoped that the award will bring some recognition to the work done by the staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital where Bernie and the family were so well looked after. Any monies collected over the rally weekend was donated to the hospital.
DEREK McGARRITY TOPS THE HANKOOK DOWN RALLY ENTRY...
Multiple Circuit of Ireland winner Derek McGarrity starts at number one on the 2012 Hankook Down Rally. McGarrity leads the 55 crews away from the start ramp in Lower Square, Castlewellan just before 9am on Saturday morning.
Derek McGeehan starts at number two with 2011 winner Donagh Kelly at three and two time winner Kenny McKinstry at four.
Click HERE to view the full entry list...
Derek McGeehan starts at number two with 2011 winner Donagh Kelly at three and two time winner Kenny McKinstry at four.
Click HERE to view the full entry list...
TWO PAST WINNERS RETURN TO DO BATTLE ON THE HANKOOK DOWN RALLY...
Two past winners are included in the provisional entry list for the tarmac 2012 Hankook Down Rally which kicks off from Lower Square in Castlewellan on Saturday morning.
Donegal driver Donagh Kelly returns to Castlewellan after his maiden Down Rally victory in 2011. The Mitsubishi Lancer driver had initially played second fiddle to Kenny McKinstry last year but leapt into the lead on the final stage when the Banbridge driver slid off briefly on the final slippery stage in Castlewellan Forest Park...Read MORE...
Donegal driver Donagh Kelly returns to Castlewellan after his maiden Down Rally victory in 2011. The Mitsubishi Lancer driver had initially played second fiddle to Kenny McKinstry last year but leapt into the lead on the final stage when the Banbridge driver slid off briefly on the final slippery stage in Castlewellan Forest Park...Read MORE...
HANKOOK DOWN RALLY PREPARATIONS BEGIN...
This weekend sees the beginning of preparations for the Hankook Down Rally as the first of the competing crews travel over the four stages which make up the 2012 event.
The drivers and their co pilots have the chance to check out the route at slow speed and make safety notes ahead of their high speed attack on Saturday 7th July.
The drivers and their co pilots have the chance to check out the route at slow speed and make safety notes ahead of their high speed attack on Saturday 7th July.
HANKOOK CONFIRMED AS TITLE SPONSOR OF THE 2012 DOWN RALLY...
Issued 24th May 2012...
Hankook Tyres Ireland have today announced their title sponsorship of the 2012 Down Rally. Organised by the Rathfriland Motor Club, on Saturday 7th of July the 2012 Down Rally will take place for the first time on closed roads.
Eight stages comprising of 70 competitive miles will test a large entry of competitors on what is just one of three closed road events included in the 2012 calendar for the Carryduff Forklift MSA NI Rally Championship. The event will also act as a round of the Fiesta Sport Trophy Ireland.
Commenting on the announcement, Hankook Ireland managing director said “Hankook Ireland is delighted to be associated with the Rathfriland Motor Club
as title sponsor of the Down Rally. We are very pleased for Andy Gilmore and the Club that they have been granted a license to run their Rally as a closed road event this year.”
Rathfriland Motor Club’s Andy Gilmore, who is Clerk of the Course for the rally commented: “We are delighted to welcome Hankook on board for this year’s rally. Along with Niall Murray, Hankook have put a huge amount of effort and support into rallying and all types of Motorsport over the past number of years, not just in northern Ireland, but throughout Europe. It is an honor for us to have Hankook as our title sponsor, we look forward to working
together for the benefit of the brand and the rally”.
Based in Castlewellan, rally fans can look forward to central service area and ceremonial start & finishes in the heart of the town. The surrounding 8 competitive tarmac stages will test Irelands premier Rally Teams on what promises to be one of the most exciting events of the 2012 Championship.
ENDS
Kenny & Michael miss out on Maze win by 1.4 seconds...
Rathfriland MC's Michael Gilmore missed out on a dream win on his first outing in a WRC car.
Michael was co-driving for Kenny McKinstry at the Maze Long Kesh Rally and the pair led the event right up to the final stage when they where pipped at the post by Kevin Barrett...
Michael was co-driving for Kenny McKinstry at the Maze Long Kesh Rally and the pair led the event right up to the final stage when they where pipped at the post by Kevin Barrett...
Older News Items...
Donagh Kelly & Kevin Flanagan Win 2011 FMCCL Down Rally...
Photo by RoyDempster.com
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Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan took a last stage victory on the 2011 FMCCL Down Rally.
Kelly and Kenny McKinstry had been having an event long battle and entered the final stage with a 3 second advantage in McKinstry's favour. However, Kenny briefly slid of the road and Kelly was right there to take advantage. Click HERE for more details... |
Kenny Wylie Wins 2011 East Coast Customs Spelga Pass Hillclimb...
Kenny Wylie won the 2011 East Coast Customs Spelga Pass Hillclimb in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo with a time of 49.0 seconds. 2010 winner David Francis finished in second in his 2wd Escort Cosworth with Conor Lavery third in the BMW M3. Conor Lavery and Trevor Lancashire were first and second in the 2wd Rally Car class and receive a free entry to the 2012 Down Rally... For a full set of results, click HERE...
For the latest updated photo gallery, to include Spelga Pass, click HERE...
Photo by Alister Jackson
For the latest updated photo gallery, to include Spelga Pass, click HERE...
Photo by Alister Jackson
Down Rally awarded a Road Closing order for 2012...
Rathfriland MC has been awarded a Road Closing order by the ANICC Stage Rallies Committee for the 2012 Down Rally. Only ten Road Closing Orders are issued each year by local Government, seven being used for Motorcycle Road Racing with Rallying getting the other three. Traditionally the Circuit of Ireland and the Ulster Rally use up two of these with the other being used for the Down Rally this year. Rathfriland MC members are already well advanced in their plans for the 2012 event which will include eight tarmac stages in and around the local area.
Rathfriland Motor Club monthly meetings...
The Committee of Rathfriland Motor Club Ltd. meet on the first Wednesday night of each month in the Old George Hotel in Rathfriland. The meeting are usually fairly informal and new members are always welcome to attend.
Meetings kick off at around 8pm and end around 10.30pm at the latest.
Rathfriland Motor Club was formed in 1990 with the aim of furthering interest in Motorsport in the South & East Down area. The Club's main interest is rallying with two navigation rallies being organised during the year, one of which is a round of the ANICC NI Navigation rally Championship. The Club also organises the Spelga Pass Hillclimb and the Down Rally. These events are counting rounds of their respective MSA & ANICC NI Championships with the Down Rally also counting for the Irish National Forest Rally Championship. Rathfriland Motor Club won the MSA/JLT Sport UK Motor Club of the Year award in 2008.
Meetings kick off at around 8pm and end around 10.30pm at the latest.
Rathfriland Motor Club was formed in 1990 with the aim of furthering interest in Motorsport in the South & East Down area. The Club's main interest is rallying with two navigation rallies being organised during the year, one of which is a round of the ANICC NI Navigation rally Championship. The Club also organises the Spelga Pass Hillclimb and the Down Rally. These events are counting rounds of their respective MSA & ANICC NI Championships with the Down Rally also counting for the Irish National Forest Rally Championship. Rathfriland Motor Club won the MSA/JLT Sport UK Motor Club of the Year award in 2008.
