Rally Preview: Summer rally final at Benone
The McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship will conclude on Saturday at the EuroAuto Commercials Tyrone Stages at Benone with the series’ most successful champion Derek McGarrity returning after a limited campaign this year, writes William Neill.
Organisers Cookstown and District Motor Club have put together 14 stages within Ministry of Defence land along the edge of Benone Beach. Given site restrictions, spectators will not be able to access the stages, but there will be six service sessions across the day, with much activity at the Aghanloo Industrial Estate base.
A 9am start ramp will set off almost 50 cars at the event, receiving additional support from Men Shun Fireworks. The competitive section will start with Point 1, measuring 3.3 miles, followed by the nearby Bailey 1. After service stages will be repeated before minor changes and later reversed layouts concluding the rally – and McGrady Insurance-backed championship – before 6pm.
Back to the contenders and in car two is Donegal’s Aaron McLaughlin, who sits third and could claim enough points to move up a place ahead of Jason Dickson with regular co-driver Darren Curran.
Gareth Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist were eighth fastest back in 2018 and improved to fifth in 2019 to start as podium hopefuls in a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Top seed Derek McGarrity won the rally in 2016 at what was the first visit to the Magilligan tests and again in 2019 so son Michael, in car four, will be among the starters looking advice – both Glengormley men have Skoda Fabia options.
Two-wheel drive will add to the variety, first with Oran and Connor Donnelly in a new for this season BMW 1M. Barry Morris and Martin Harte are expected to be on form in car six ahead of Paul Britton.
Leading lady category driver Emma McKinstry will be looking for a third maximum score of the year in one of the McKinstry Motorsport-run R5-spec Ford Fiestas with rally sponsor Trevor Ferguson starting behind.
Junior Ben McFall is fifth in the overall standings and Kalum Graffin returns from demonstrating at Goodwood Festival of Speed, switching from a Ford Fiesta R5 to a more familiar Peugeot 208 Rally4.
A full entry list, that also includes Rathkenny’s Niall Donnelly as the leading Ford Escort campaigner can be viewed at www.rallyscore.net.
The event can be followed on the day via the McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship Facebook page, live results will be provided by rallyscore.net and both a YouTube show and rally report can be expected.
McGrady Insurance NI Rally Championship 2024 Calendar remaining rounds
July 20 – Tyrone Stages – Cookstown Motor Club
November 16 – Reserve date (may be used in the event of a cancelled round)
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Cover photo credit: www.NeillPics.com / William Neill