Rally Preview: Omagh Forest Challenge Stages
A link up of forests, thanks to a road-closing order, forms the agenda for Saturday’s McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally in Omagh – round three of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge, writes William Neill.
NI’s largest gravel entry so far this year, with over 100 starters, includes leader Derek Mackarel and challenger Paul Britton with Patrick and Stephen O’Brien in car one following the Trailer Parts and Spares Lakeland Stages win earlier this month under the R317 Motorsport banner and a Skoda Fabia R5.
In car two, with Brian Hoy alongside, Cathan McCourt will be keen to put a puncture behind him on the last outing to be among the front runners again at his local rally, ahead of lead Volkswagen Polo R5 entrant Jason Mitchell and Paddy McCrudden. Ryan Caldwell slots in at five ahead of Mackarel.
Gareth Mimnagh finished tenth at the 2023 edition of the Omagh Motor Club event to start as car seven ahead of another Omagh man – Niall McCullagh.
Derek McGarrity, a former winner, is at nine and Belfast’s Kyle White provides the fourth brand out of ten cars with a Hyundai i20 R5 listed.
Paddy McToal and Connor O’Loan head the two-wheel-drive category in a Ford Escort Mk2, a single road position ahead of Shane McGirr and Denver Rafferty in the more unusual Lada Riva entry. Historic drivers Adrian Hetherington and Owen Makin will both start among two-wheel-drive favourites to boot.
Cars will start from the Omagh Showgrounds at 9.30am and head to Killeter Forest for SS1 to start at 10.29am. From there Carrickaholten follows shortly after 11am and Lough Bradan will complete the first-half with car one on stage at 11.35am. Cars are expected back at service after midday before a repeat of the stages.
A full entry list can be viewed at www.rallyscore.net. And for drivers thinking ahead entries are also open for the Premier Car Parts Dogleap Rally.
Spectators can access programmes at the rally office and the following shops – Hamilton (Castlederg), Kilter Post Office, MO’S Newsagent and McCullough’s (Campsie) or follow all the action via the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship Facebook page and live results site www.rallyscore.net.
McGrady Insurance NI Forest Rally Challenge 2024 Calendar remaining rounds
September 21 – McKelvey Asbestos Bushwhacker Rally – Omagh Motor Club
October 19 – Premier Car Parts Dogleap Rally – Maiden City Motor Club
November 16 – Reserve date (may be used in the event of a cancelled round)
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