Circuit Success!

Donaghadee’s Jonathan MacDonald claimed an impressive 36th overall aboard his Birch Motors Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 1 at last weekend’s Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally!

On what was his closed road rally debut and only his second event, the 29-year-old Bangor born man, who is editor of Pacenotes Rally Magazine, successfully completed the two-day rally, claiming fifth in his class in the process.

More than 100 crews started the world-renowned event, and ‘Big Mac’ was seeded at 102 alongside navigator Eugene O’Kane. The event was to provide a huge learning curve for the crew, but they quickly found their stride and immediately placed themselves higher than their seeding position suggested.

In 77th position after the opening stage, MacDonald, who is also sponsored by Armstrong Beattie, increased his pace as the Saturday stages progressed. And when the crew reached first service in Armagh, where service men Alan and Graeme Stewart checked the car for any problems, MacDonald had moved into 67th position.

“I was quite nervous at the start,” MacDonald admitted, “but once we finished the first stage, I started to settle down. There was quite a lot of gravel on some of the stages and it would have been very easy to make a mistake so we didn’t take any chances.”

With the first loop of stages completed, the crew increased their pace in the Millers Oils Evo over the longer second loop, which included two runs through the spectacular Lisburn Power Stage.

An estimated 15,000 spectators flocked to Lisburn to watch the action unfold, and those who were unable to make the trip had an opportunity to watch the action live online through the UTV website.

Another three stages followed the Lisburn test before crews returned to Armagh for the overnight halt, where MacDonald discovered that he had leaped into 55th overall.

After a much needed rest, the rally resumed on Easter Sunday, and the Donaghadee man opted to drive conservatively. A worrying noise was developing in the car, and he decided that discretion was the better part of valour.

“I could hear the prop-shaft hitting something underneath the car,” he recalled. “We were almost two minutes ahead of our nearest competitor and the noise was gradually getting worse so I nursed her to the finish line.”

MacDonald was on course for finishing 35th overall but a suspected incorrect time awarded to another competitor saw him drop to 36th after the final stage. Nonetheless, he was overjoyed with the result on what was his first major rally.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to get the finish of the Circuit of Ireland Rally,” MacDonald said. “My dad always told me stories of when he did the event in the 70s and it’s great to follow in his footsteps.”

“Thanks must go to all my sponsors and particularly Alan Stewart of Birch Motors. He put a lot of work into the car before the rally and only for him, we wouldn’t have reached the start, never mind the finish!”