While Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan won the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship on last weekend’s Ulster Rally the battle in the Junior BRC was less than clear-cut.
Three different drivers had their slot on top of the category leaderboard during the weekend.
Making his return to the hotly contested category was the Welsh pairing of Ioan Lloyd and Sion Williams in their 208 Rally4.
Lloyd had opened up a five-second advantage over fellow Peugeot ace and Motorsport Ireland licence holder Kyle White during the opening loop, but sadly a power issue in his 208 sent Lloyd back to service early.
Enter Kyle McBride into the equation.
The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy member set scorching time over the third test, 17 seconds faster than anyone else put him into the overnight halt with a healthy lead.
But it wasn’t long before that lead evaporated as White and co-driver Sean Topping went on a charge, clawing back time with each passing test and with a nominal time due to a stage stopping landing in their favour, it would seal the deal for the Northern Irishman, taking a valuable Junior British Rally Championship win on home soil and his third victory of the season.
“I`ll be honest, my first thought is with my wife who could well be giving birth around now so thank you to her for being so patient” said White.
“Thanks to the team after last night’s disaster, we found some luck today to bring home more points for the championship is important and it's always nice to win on your home rally”.
McBride and Liam McIntyre secured second spot yet again in their Ford Fiesta Rally4, the fourth time in 2023 with Ypres Rally Junior winners Casey Jay Coleman and Rally Academy co-driver Lorcan Moore grabbing third after a rally to forget.
Text By Sean Moriarty / Lead Pic by BRC
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