Lurgan Park Rally Report 2016
The Hamilton Classic and Motorsport Triumph TR7V8 rally car made the journey over to Ireland for this fantastic event organised by the North Armagh Motor Club.
Alastair Flack, owner of Hamilton Classic and Motorsport was navigated by Simon Mooney, editor of Pacenotes Magazine and was entered into Class 4 for All 2 wheel cars 2101cc and over. This naturally put them in competition with a lot more modern machinery but under the circumstances the Triumph TR7V8 remained competitive and was a popular car with the crowds offering something different for the Irish rally fans in attendance.
Now in its 37th year in Lurgan Park, sponsored by Orchard Motorsport continues to attract a large crowd of spectators who come for its variety of cars, rally stages and other attractions. The eight stages were a mix of loose surfaces and tarmac all contained within the grounds of Lurgan Park.
Fermanagh man Garry Jennings scored a start to finish win. Co-driven by Michael Moran in his Subaru Impreza WRC, this was Jennings’ fourth consecutive victory on the event. Banbridge man Kenny McKinstry, also in Subaru, kept the pressure on Jennings throughout. Eleven times a winner over the years and dubbed ‘King of the Park’, McKinstry ion the end just didn’t have enough in the bag to beat Jennings’ stunning speeds. Even a collision with a 6th stage straw bale did little to slow him down nor did a smokey, low oil pressure engine.
There was particular interest in the 2wd category, and Armagh man Damian Toner in his Escort, took the class win against very strong opposition. Keith White and Frank Kelly, also in Escorts, were 2nd and 3rd in the 2 wheel drive race, but despite much wheel spinning in the at times slippy conditions could not make a dent on the lead of Toner.
Alastair Flack and Simon Mooney in the Triumph TR7 V8 managed 7th in class and 43rd overall.
View our in – car videos below.