Harper hits the jackpot as Sisson maintains Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead after thrilling Carryduff Folklift Down Rally

Daniel Harper scored one of his best results of his rallying career when he finished fourth overall and took maximum Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship points on the Carryduff Folklift Down Rally in his Minisport-run John Cooper Works Mini WRC. And in a thrilling 11 special stage battle over the big jumps and twists of Northern Ireland’s closed roads, Wayne Sission survived a high-speed off through a fence to maintain his lead in the series in his AMS Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

It was Harper’s first appearance in Northern Ireland since 1995 (when he rolled out of the Ulster Rally), but he was quickly into his stride and setting some consistently fast times as others around him spun into the scenery and left bodywork parts scattered across County Down.

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Carryduff’s Jonny Greer wins Carryduff Forklift Down Rally!

Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick have won the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally, round four of the McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship!

Driving his Citroen DS3 R5, the Carryduff man secured the spoils by 20.1 seconds from Portglenone’s Desi Henry, with current N.I. Championship leader Derek McGarrity in third.

Greer was lying in 10th overall after the short opening test in the Eikon Centre complex but he quickly stamped his authority once the event moved on to the closed roads between Hillsborough and Castlewellan. He moved up to second overall after stage two and then assumed a lead that he was never destined to relinquish after the third test.

Down Rally

Our first trip to Northern Ireland saw us take in the Down Rally. The stages have featured many times over the years on the Circuit of Ireland and Ulster Rallies, with Hamilton’s Folly being the stand out. Jonny Greer & Kirsty Riddick (DS3 R5) stole a march on the rest by setting some blistering times on the opening loop ahead of David Bogie & John Rowan (Fabia R5) with Desi Henry & Liam Moynihan (Fabia R5) further back after sustaining damage on landing off one of the big jumps. Greer held his lead through the 2nd loop of stages as Henry closed in on Bogie and passed him. Bogie did sneak back ahead but retired before the last loop of stages.

Carryduff Forklift Down Rally midday report

Times are still unofficial but at first service, it looks like reigning McGrady Insurance N.I. Champions, Jonny Greer and Kirsty Riddick, head the Carryduff Forklift Down Rally leaderboard in their Citroen DS3 R5!

Stunning entry for Saturday’s Down Rally!

Spectators attending this Saturday’s Carryduff Forklift Down Rally, round four of the McGrady Insurance MSA Northern Ireland Rally Championship, are in for a real treat! A capacity entry of 130 crews from across the UK and further afield, including almost 20 high-specification World Rally Cars and R5 rally cars, are ready to do battle in County Down…

Evans makes first Fiesta WRC outing as Sisson takes Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead to Down Rally

Melvyn Evans and co-driver Mark Glennerster will lead the capacity 130 car field away in their first event in a Ford Fiesta WRC at the start of the Carryduff Folklift Down Rally, as Round 4 of the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship takes place on Saturday 21 July.

The Welsh driver won the opening round of the series, the Melvyn Evans Motorsport Tour of Epynt, but has recently sold that Subaru Impreza WRC and will drive a Fiesta WRC that he normally hires out for gravel events. The event will also be Evans’ first appearance on the Northern Ireland stages since the 2009 Circuit of Ireland, so he’ll have his work cut out to repeat his first round victory, especially with such a high quality entry.

Wayne Sisson/Max Freeman lead the Championship after scoring well on all three rounds in their AMS Arnside Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, and the B14 class leading crew haven’t put a foot wrong all season. They are currently 18 points ahead of Jason Pritchard/Phil Clarke, who appear in their Bet On Aces Manx National winning North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC, and will be set on regaining the series lead.

Yates enters history books with awe-inspiring Belgian rally win

Rhys Yates proved he is one of the most talented rally drivers in Europe by leading last weekend’s Rally Van Wervik (8/9 June) from start to finish, to become the first British driver to win the Belgian event in its 42-year history.

The Chesterfield ace fired his Brettex Skoda Fabia R5 into the lead of the rally on the opening stage and was never headed to win four of the event’s 12 stages, taking his biggest rally victory to date and in the process, maximum points in the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship.

Yates becomes first British driver to win Rally van Wervik after masterful Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship display

Rhys Yates has become the first British driver to win the Rally van Wervik, after he and co-driver Elliott Edmondson clinched outright victory on Round 3 of the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship in their Brettex-backed ŠKODA Fabia R5. Wayne Sisson/Max Freeman have taken the lead of the Championship mid-way through the season, after another impressive performance in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.

Pritchard aims to celebrate 30th birthday by extending Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead in Belgium

Jason Pritchard aims to celebrate his 30th birthday by extending his lead in the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship, as he takes a six-point advantage at the top of the drivers’ standings into the Rally van Wervik (9 June).

Pritchard takes Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship lead after winning Manx National for a fourth time

Jason Pritchard has taken the lead of the Protyre MSA Asphalt Rally Championship after winning the Bet On Aces Manx National Rally for a fourth time in his North Road Garage Ford Focus WRC05.