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2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship

Round1 Nutts Corner 11th Oct.

'Mad Mark' claims first round of the Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship  

The opening round of the 2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship got underway last weekend at Nutts Corner Circuit (Belfast). After setting the fastest time throughout the heats on a circuit that was in excellent condition following a number of developments since the previous event back in April, 'Mad Mark' secured a lights to flag victory in the Division 1 category with his Citroen Xsara. The 2007 and 2008 Rallycross Open Champion scored maximum points from the event to get his Northern Ireland Championship challenge off to the perfect start. Declan Kelly finished second with his Ford Fiesta.

The Super National category produced some of the best racing of the day, with wheel to wheel action throughout the heats and finals. Seamus Murphy (Ford Escort RS2000), Barry McCardle (Renault 5) and Don Shannon (Volvo S40) shared the spoils during the heats, but it was McCardle that lined up on pole position for the A final. Stanley Bovill (Vauxhall Astra) completed the front row of the grid, followed by Murphy, Dessie Tierney (Vauxhall Tigra), Shannon, Sam Bovill (Vauxhall Corsa) and Ian Biagi (Mini). At the start of the final Shannon made a near perfect start from the third row of the grid to slot into second place behind McCardle. The cars circulated nose to tail for four laps, before Bovill made a move on Shannon, with contact being made between the pair. This allowed McCardle to escape to record his first victory of the year. Shannon held onto second ahead of Stanley Bovill, Murphy, Tierney, Sam Bovill and Biagi. With another five Super National competitors set to join the action next month, this is going to be a very competitive Championship.

Derek Lenehan took a dominant victory in the combined Procar 2000/1600 category after a first corner incident with Conor Mullholland (Fiat Stilo) in the first corner, left Mullholland at the back of the field. Jackie Harris (Citroen Saxo) finished second overall with Graham Blair (Honda Civic) completing the podium.

In the nine car Junior category it was Mark Francis who raced to victory ahead of Paul McCardle, who had been on pole position for the A final. Niall Murray finished third overall, with less than a second covering the top three competitors. Aaron Clarke finished fourth overall, followed by Paul Barrett, B final winner Michael Cahill, Calvin Beattie and Daniel Carey.

Gary White (Subaru Impreza) narrowly edged out Mark Doyle (Toyota Celica GT4) to claim victory in the four wheel drive Auto Fashion Rally Car Category. Derek McGeehan (Toyota Corolla WRC) completed the top three finishers followed by Mark Massey (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO) and Keiron Graffon (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO). In the two wheel drive Auto Fashion Rally section, featuring 12 Ford Escort MK2's, Drew Stewart (Ford Escort MK2) took the win, ahead of Derek Gurney (Ford Sierra) and James Kennedy (Ford Escort MK2). 

Full results from the event can be downloaded from the official 2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship website - www.nirallycross.com

The Entry List for this weekend’s opening round of the 2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship is as follows:  

Division 1                             

1 Mad Mark' WATSON - Citroen Xsara 

3 Declan Kelly - Ford Fiesta 

5 Kyle ORR - Ford Focus 

35 Mike MANNING - Ford Puma 

Super National                  

103 Stanley BOVILL - Vauxhall Astra 

108 Sam BOVILL - Vauxhall Corsa 

116 Ian O'CONNELL - Ford Fiesta 

124 Dessie TIERNEY - Vauxhall Tigra 

137 James MURPHY - Ford Escort 

139 Barry MCCARDLE - Renault 5 

339 Don SHANNON - Volvo S40 

955 Ian BIAGI - Mini Clubman 

Procar 1600                          

777 Jackie HARRIS - Citroen Saxo VTR 

739 TBA - Honda Civic 1600 

835 Derek LENEHAN - Peugeot 106 Xsi 

852 Michael LAWLER - Peugeot 205 Gti 

Juniors                  

417 Paul MCCARDLE - Nissan Micra 

418 Mark FRANCIS - Nissan Micra 

420 Daniel CAREY - Nissan Micra 

511 Calvin BEATTIE - Rover Mini 

555 Simon QUINN - Rover Mini 

560 Paul BARRETT - Rover Mini 

Auto Fashion Rally Car Category 4 Wheel Drive                  

51 Sean DIVINE - Subaru Impreza WRC 

52 Derek MCGARRITY - Subaru Impreza WRC 

53 Eion MCERLANE - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

54 Derek MCGEEHAN - Toyota Corolla WRC 

55 Keiron GRAFFON - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

56 Mark MASSEY - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

57 Gary MCEVOY - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

58 Trevor FERGUSON - Subaru Impreza 

59 Rodney MCKNIGHT - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

60 David WISHART - Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 

61 Mark DOYLE - Toyota Celica GT4 

62 John MCKEOWN - Ford Escort WRC 

63 Gary WHITE - Subaru Impreza 

64 Martin CAIRNS - Subaru Impreza 

65 TBA  TBA 

Auto Fashion Rally Car Category Rear Wheel Drive                           

71 James KENNEDY - Ford Escort MK2 

72 Martin TAGGART - Ford Escort MK2 

73 Brian MULDOON - Toyota Corolla Twin Cam 

74 Derek GURNEY - Ford Sierra Cosworth 

75 Ian MILLER - Ford Escort MK2 

76 John WARING - Ford Escort MK2 

77 Martin DOWNEY - Ford Escort MK2 

78 William CAREY - Ford Escort MK2 

79 Nial BRANETTH - Ford Escort MK2 

80 William MCCLURKIN - Ford Escort MK2 

81 Drew STEWART - Ford Escort MK2 

82 Paul BARRETT - Ford Focus 

83 Steven NEVIN - Ford Escort MK2 

84 Dessie KEARNEY - Ford Escort MK2 

85 TBA  TBA 

86 Conor MULHOLLAND - Fiat Stilo 

2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship Calendar (all events at Nutts Corner): 

Round 1 Sunday October 11th - 2009 

Round 2 Sunday November 22nd - 2009 

Round 3 Sunday January 31st - 2010 

Round 4 Sunday February 21st - 2010 

Round 5 Saturday April 24th - 2010 (including RxOC round 2) 

Round 6 Sunday April 25th - 2010 (including RxOC round 3) 

Event Details – 2009/10 Fuchs Lubricants Northern Ireland Rallycross Open Championship - Round 1 

Circuit: Nutts Corner is located on the B101 near Nutts Corner roundabout 

Date: Sunday October 11th 2009 

Timetable: On track action starts at 9.30am. 

Website: www.NIRallycross.com