Biggerstaff takes the National glory
Stuart Biggerstaff (Ford Fiesta) overcame a loose turbo pipe to win the National section of the Ulster Rally but he had only 7.3 seconds to spare over top two-wheel-drive exponent Damian Toner (Ford Escort) with David Condell (Escort) 11.4s further behind in third.
Alan Carmichael (Hyundai i20 R5) set the pace initially and eked out a 2.3s lead over Biggerstaff on the opening stage where the Escorts of Toner and Frank Kelly were next in pursuit. However, his tenure as rally leader ended when he put his car off the road on the second stage with Biggerstaff topping the leaderboard, although Toner was fastest through the stage even though he overcooked the brakes.
Kelly’s early promise was halted when he made a trip into a field. Although his Escort was undamaged, he lost some seven minutes trying to get it out of a hedge. Using the rest of the event as a test exercise, he later retired with a broken brake disc.
By the end of the first loop Biggerstaff was 9.4s ahead of Toner, who damaged the rear quarter panel, with Condell an additional 28.4s adrift. Fourth-placed Camillus Bradley admitted he was far too cautious on the opening stage and thought he had punctured a wheel after clipping a kerb. Richard Moore and John Devlin followed.
Extending his lead over Toner to 22.4s, Biggerstaff was untroubled and well in control as Condell, quickest on SS6, closed the deficit to Toner to 21.9s.
The only real drama came on the final loop when the turbo pipe came adrift and threatened to undo all Biggerstaff’s good work but he just managed to hang on to secure the win with
Toner best of the twowheel-drive brigade.
Results
1 Stuart Biggerstaff/anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5) 1hr31m22.4s; 2 Damian Toner/michael Coady (Ford Escort Mk2) +7.3s; 3 David Condell/paul Kelly (Escort Mk2); 4 Camillus Bradley/crawford Henderson (Escort Mk2); 5 Richard Moore/john Mccabe (Escort Mk2); 6 John Devlin/john Mccarthy (Escort Mk2).
Class winners: Matthew Mcgaffin/ben Taggart (Mistubishi Lancer E8); Niall Creighton/gregory Roberts (Ford Lotus Cortina); Jason Dickson/ Martin Brady (Fiesta R2); Quentin Park/shane Farrell (Escort Mk2); Devlin/mccarthy; Toner/ Coady; Biggerstaff/nestor; Niall Henry/damien Duffin (Citroen DS 3 R5).