Controversy surrounds final standings

Editorial Department • Published 12 Nov 2009 15:29 0 Comments

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Raymond Johnston claimed the biggest success of his rallying career when he was crowned Group N Champion after the final round of the Hankook Northern Ireland Rally Championship, but the Ballinamallard driver could have the title snatched from his grasp after the organising committee agreed to review the final standings. Controversy surrounds the final results because of discrepancies in the rules awarding drivers bonus points for marshalling at other rallies during the season. The regulations dictated that all competitors had to complete their marshalling prior to the penultimate round of the series, but Raymond's rival Donagh Kelly completed his officiating after the cut off date. Despite this the championship organisers have decided that the situation needs further discussion and are debating whether to award Kelly the points, making him Group N champion and relegating Raymond to second.

"As far as I'm concerned we have won Group N, but we have to wait until it is rubber stamped," said Raymond. "Apparently Donagh Kelly is now looking to have the marshalling points added to his score because he did it just before the last round, and that would make all the difference. The Northern Ireland Championship committee are meeting this week, and I think they will set a date for a meeting about it at that. It doesn't really matter that much to me, but Adair Tyres and Dunlop have put a fair bit in this year and I'd like to win it for them. We'll just have to wait and see."

Raymond and co-driver Richard Hicks went into the final round, the Townparks Rally, seven points adrift of leader Kelly, but with the Mitsubishi driver missing the event because of a family bereavement Raymond knew fourth place points in group N would give him a superior points total. "We did what we had to do," he said. "The rally went well, although the car was down on boost by about 0.2 or 0.3 bar from the word go, which makes quite a difference. We tried everything, but I don't think at the end of the day it would have made any difference."

The championship victory, if confirmed, would rank as Raymond greatest career success. The Ballinamallard driver came close back in 2003 when he finished second overall to current reigning Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly, but because of a quirk in the scoring system finished second in Group N behind the driver who finished third overall in the series.

On a successful day for local drivers Alastair Fisher and Barry McNulty finished an impressive second overall, 15 seconds behind winner Kenny McKinstry. The Trillick driver posed the second fastest time on the opening stage, and held his position throughout the rally. Their performance also earned them the Group N honours, sixteen seconds ahead of the similar Mitsubishi of Johnny Greer.

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