The Wilsons Auctions Loughgall Festival of Motorsport is just a couple of weeks away and organisers have announced more enticing details for the popular high octane extravaganza, which will see proceeds donated to Northern Ireland Hospice Care and other Lions charities!
 
The festivities, which have been jointly organised by Armagh Lions Club and North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club Ltd, will be based in the magnificent setting of County Armagh's Loughgall Country Park on Saturday 5 July. As plans for the Armagh City and District Council supported event have gathered momentum, additional support has been secured from a number of local companies.
 
Once again this year, a number of leading lights from past and present rallying will be enticed to the venue for the Historic Rally Car Challenge. The event, which will feature eight all tarmac special stages around the confines of the park, has attracted an entry from Dungannon's Kris Meeke. As a former protégé of the late Colin McRae, and as arguably the Emerald Isle's leading rally talent, Meeke has confirmed his attendance behind the wheel of a Ford Escort!
 
Billy Coleman, who is still the only Irishman ever to win the British Rally Championship (a feat achieved in 1974), will also return to Loughgall once again with a Mark 2 Escort. He will be joined by the likes of Cahal Curley and Elkin Robinson in a Porsche 911, as well as John Lyons and John Keatley.
 
Banbridge rally preparation expert Kenny McKinstry, who is a multiple winner of the Irish Tarmac and Northern Ireland Rally Championships, plans to contest the event in an ex-Ari Vatanen Escort with navigator Tom Geraghty. Winston Henry will have an Escort at his disposal while Mervyn Johnston returns in his Mini Cooper S, and Dessie Nutt plans to navigate for his son, Michael.
 
Gareth MacHale will provide sweeper duties in a BMW M3, while it is also hoped that Englishman Russell Brookes will return in an Andrews Heat for Hire Sunbeam. Sean Tracey, Martin Ward and Alan Jardine will also join the fray, as will the Keady husband and wife Avenger crew of Jimmy and Hillary Wilson.
 
There is also a separate class for modified crews and Lisburn's Wesley Patterson has confirmed his entry. He will be joined by the likes of Markethill legend Winston Henry, Mervyn Wedlock as well as Camillus Bradley, who won NAMCC's recent Loughgall two-wheel-drive rally.
 
The Apple Blossom Autotest, which is being organised in conjunction with the Autotest Drivers' Club (NI) Ltd, has attracted approximately 30 high quality entries. There will also be a large contingent of classic cars and historic rally cars on display, with some vintage lorries and bikes as well, totalling some 150 vehicles!
 
There has been massive interest in the classic car auction, which is being organised by Wilsons Auctions. This will take place at 12.30pm, when there will be an official break from the high-octane proceedings.
 
Gates open at 8.30am and the admission fee of £10 includes a free colour programme and free car parking, while accompanied under-12s can enter free of charge. The Historic Rally Car Challenge will start at 9.30am and all proceedings will be finished by 5.30pm, when prizegiving will take place in the centre arena.
 
Excitement levels for this year's extravaganza are mounting, and with plenty of entertainment for all the family, this is one event not to be missed this summer!