The Annual North Armagh Motor Club Kirkistown stages, the first round of the Hankook MSA N.I Rally Championship and sponsored by Petro Pet Foods took place on Saturday 27th February.

The format consisted of six stages throughout the Kirkistown race track, with total of approx 30 stage miles. Conditions for this year’s event where very good, despite heavy over night rain which lead to standing water on many corners.

Reigning N.I champion, Glengormley`s Derek McGarrity in his Subaru Impreza S12B dominated proceedings taking fastest times on all six stages. Concerns were raise about gearbox problems on stage SS3, consequently the Subaru's gearbox was changed as a precaution, after SS3.

Second seed Gary White, who was driving a Group A Subaru Impreza , sheared all five studs off one of his wheels as he accelerated off the start line of stage one. The wheel flew off, broke a side window and landed on the roof of the Subaru, thus ending his participation prematurely.

The final results saw Derek McGarrity and James McKee Subaru Impreza S12B take overall win by 1m 23.2s. With Stuart Biggerstaff and Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza WRC S9 take second and George Robinson and Tommy Speers Subaru Impreza WRC take third.

Raymond Johnston (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) won the Sunoco Fuels Group N category with a fine fourth place finish, while Kieron Graffin rounded out the top five in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.
Drew Stewart took top 2WD honors with his Ford Escort Mk2, in seventh place overall.

There were 93 finishers from the 112 starters.

Pedro Pet Foods Stages Rally Top Ten Results

1. Derek McGarrity/James McKee Subaru Impreza S12B
2. Stuart Biggerstaff/Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza WRC S9
3. George Robinson/Tommy Speers Subaru Impreza WRC
4. Raymond Johnston/Fabian McAleer Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
5. Kieron Graffin/Neil Doherty Mitsubishi EVO
6. Alan Carmichael/Ivor Lamont Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
7. Drew Stewart/Steven Park Ford Escort MK II
8. Terry McGonigle/Damian Caldwell Mitsubishi Lancer Evo
9. Gary McEvoy/Keith McEvoy Mitsubishi EVO 29m
10. Alan Burrows/Gavin Burrows Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

Words and images by warren McConnaughie of www.industryimage.com