BTRDA RETURN FOR MCCLOSKEY IN MINI

Northern Ireland’s Connor Mccloskey will contest the opening four rounds of this year’s Ravenol BTRDA Rally Championship in an ex-works Mini World Rally Car prepared by Mcgeehan Motorsport.

Navigated by close friend and new team-mate Damien Duffin, Mccloskey will open his account on next month’s season-opening Cambrian Rally in North Wales, and follow that up with outings on March’s Malcolm Wilson Rally, the Somerset Stages five weeks later and the Plains Rally in mid-may.

Depending on performances and points gained at the halfway mark in the championship, Mccloskey could return for the remainder of the season, which includes the Carlisle and Woodpecker rallies.

“We’ve just managed to sell the S11 Subaru Impreza I had,” said Mccloskey. “I approached Derek Mcgeehan about doing a few rallies in one of his Minis and he came back to us with a decent offer. I haven’t actually driven the Mini yet but Derek has taken me up the road in one and straight away I was impressed with it. I’m really looking forward to doing some rallies in a 1.6-litre World Rally Car.”

He added he had considered the British Rally Championship: “It was a choice between the Northern Ireland Rally Championship and the BTRDA. I had looked at the British Championship, but the costs are just crazy, so that made my decision easier.”

The deal has been made possible with the backing of a new team sponsor, which Mccloskey is set to announce in due course. He will also receive support from the family business, Woodland Kitchens.

Mccloskey is no stranger to the BTRDA, having finished a close second to Euan Thorburn in the 2013 championship. Six podium finishes – including three victories from eight starts – didn’t go unrewarded as he went on to clinch the Welsh Forest Rally Championship.