Kenny McKinstry cracks Icebreaker Rally in Antrim

Banbridge driver Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) with Kenny Hull calling the pacenotes won the Carey Cleaning Machines Icebreaker Rally in the forests of north Antrim.

They finished 41.7 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi EvoVI of Patrick O’Brien/Stephen O’Brien, with the Subaru WRC of Shaun Sinclair/Stephen O’Halloran just 1.1 seconds further behind in third.

Top seed Derek McGarrity (Mini WRC) was a non-starter as Lisburn’s Philip Morrow (Mitsubishi EvoIX) eked out a lead of just eight-10ths of a second on the short opening stage, Beaghs (1.5 miles). Oran Donnelly in his rear wheel drive Mk 2 Ford Escort held second while McKinstry was down in fourth — 3.2 seconds off the lead.