McGonigle to head the Dogleap Rally field

Maiden City MC have just announced details of the running of the 2017 MJM Dogleap Tarmac Stages Rally at the extensive Shackelton Airfield in Ballykelly, Co. Derry.
The event will run this Saturday 4th August and with over 70 entries received by last Friday, the Club are at advanced stages in preparation of the MJM Dogleap Stage Rally.
Once again, rally competitors and fans can enjoy the mid-summer rally on the NI ANICC rally calendar, with both the main event and Junior event, catering for all drivers and co-drivers on the day, competing over 6 special stages on the demanding track of the former RAF base.
The Club is always striving to create a new format to the extensive complex, but after some detailed planning with the Motor Sports Association in London, Maiden City have come up with an extension to the already long course, with the new addition of a loop added to each of the 6 stages.
The mileage for the longest stage now stands at over 6.5 miles, giving a total overall mileage of almost 37 miles for the MJM sponsored event. Clerk of the Course, Danny Gormley said, “We really want to offer value for money to the competitor, and this exciting layout has been extended to give a safe and enjoyable course, providing something for all levels of competitor.”
Top 3 seeds for the event are all driving MINI WRC’s, and include,
No. Driver Co-Driver
1 Joseph McGonigle / Patrick Brides
2 Alan Carmichael / Ivor Lamont
3 Alan McGeehan / Arthur Kierans
In addition, this is the 6th round of the NI Junior F1000 Challenge, one of the favourite rounds of the 2018 Championship calendar, which will field 4 of the top Junior drivers from across the province.
No. Driver Co-Driver Car
J1 Marcus McElwee / John Henderson -Citroen C1
J2 Sam Adams / Andrew Bushe – Skoda Citygo Sport
J3 Reece Pollock / .Hugh Watson – Nissan Micra.
Local interest in this Junior battle will be with young Reece Pollock from Goshaden on his first outing in this competition.
The Maiden City team is led again by veteran COC, Danny Gormley, who along with Safety Officer Gerry O’Doherty, asks all spectating fans, to obey the marshals and use the 2 special spectator areas created in the complex. “These spectator areas will provide plenty of good viewing from a safe distance, for everyone to enjoy on the day. Please stay safe!”
The Maiden City Club really pulled out all the stops along with Club Chairman, Gerry O’Doherty, to make the event happen with some close negotiations with new sponsors and Shackleton site owners, the Newry family based MJM Group, led by Mr. Brian McConville.
Mr O’Doherty said, “I would like to thank the MJM Group for their assistance in providing the course for this year’s event in particular with the new layout.”
More details are available from the MCMC website and Facebook