‘Greer took Northern Irish title win in Antrim’
Organiser: Magherafelt and District MC When: November 4 Where: Nutts Corner, County Antrim Championships: Northern Ireland Rally Championship Starters: 57 Stages: 10.
Despite winning the Sunset Stages Rally by 3.1s and overturning his title rival on the last stage, it wasn’t enough to give Derek Mcgarrity the Northern Ireland Rally Championship title, which went to second place man Jonny Greer.
A single point, after dropped scores, decided Skoda Fabia R5 driver Mcgarrity would not take an historic eighth title with Greer becoming the first new champion since Stuart Biggerstaff in 2010.
Initial forest plans were scuppered due to rain damage so the Tour of the Sperrins, rebranded Sunset Stages, moved to Nutts Corner – a sprint and karting track – with nearby Superdrive Centre adding mileage.
Greer and Kirsty Riddick were fastest on the 1.7-mile opening stage by 0.5s in their Citroen DS 3 R5. But on the slightly shorter SS2, with a gravel section, Mcgarrity and James O’reilly were faster by 3.7s to go into service with a 3.2s advantage.
The format went unchanged for loop two and three. Greer mastered the circuit while Mcgarrity was in charge of Superdrive’s tests.
On SS9 Greer moved briefly into the lead but with the championship at stake a 10th fastest final stage time highlighted the importance of a finish. The Carryduff man noted rain as the sun set at the stage start so backed off.
Event sponsor Derek Mcgeehan was third all day with well-travelled co-driver Gary Mcelhinney, 27.4s from Greer but the Mini John Cooper Works WRC was 15.1s ahead of Spamount winner, Gareth Sayers and Gareth Gilchrist.
Alan Carmichael’s championship support earned third in the series with fifth at the final, a fine result after the Ballymena man raced up the field following a measured start, before breaking into the top 10 on the second loop.
Conor Mccrossan was sixth and Niall Henry followed, while on her rally return Amy Cox and Caron Mccormack impressed with eighth despite getting caught in the worst of the rain and catching cars. The latter pairing’s Skoda Fabia S2000 was a mere 0.3s from Henry.