AARON McLaughlin has said achieving a third successive victory at Saturday’s PRM and RPM Motorsport Loughgall Stages Rally would be an “extra special” achievement for him.
In recent times, only Damian Toner has won the clubman rally three years running and is the record holder with five back-to-back first-place finishes. These were achieved between 2015 and 2019.
McLaughlin is the top seed for the non-championship counting event, and the bookies’ favourite to retain his title for another 12 months despite having to revert to an older specification Ford Fiesta R5.
He had intended starting in his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 but an engine problem that surfaced on the final day of last month’s Donegal International Rally has not been fixed in time and means it remains sidelined this weekend.
Despite having relied on the German supermini for this season’s Northern Ireland Rally Championship, McLaughlin feels that a quick pre-event test in the Fiesta should allow him to readjust.
“The big change is going from the Polo to the Fiesta,” he said. “Yes, I have tackled most rallies in the Ford, but it has been eight months since I last used it, but I am confident I can find my feet quickly.
“Everyone knows the Fiesta is a good car – the result it has achieved in Ireland speaks for itself – but whereas it is good in tight and twisty sections, the Polo is more stable at higher speeds.
“Winning is obviously the main objective,” he said, “and if I can go to Loughgall and make it three-in-a-row, well, I would be absolutely delighted.
“Last year I had a bit of an advantage over a few of the other drivers having built up a bit of extra knowledge from previous starts, but I would say it is going to be a much tighter race this time.”
Aidan Wray (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) and Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia Rally2) are what stand between McLaughlin and a hat-trick of wins at the Loughgall Stages, which is organised by North Armagh Motor Club and comprises a closed-road stage and spectator-friendly stages in Loughgall Country Park.
Late entry Jason Mitchell is another real threat (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) as is Barry Morris (Darrian T90 GTR+).
“I know what Aidan and Eddie are capable of on their day,” added McLaughlin, “so if we can beat them, it would mean a very sore head on Sunday morning. To make it three consecutive victories at the Loughgall Stages Rally would be the highlight of my career, without a doubt.”
The first of Saturday’s seven stages are due to start at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning, with the overall winners being crowned around 5pm.
LOUGHGALL STAGES RALLY – TOP 10
1. Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R5)
2. Aidan Wray/Niall Burns (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)
3. Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia Rally2)
4. Damian Toner/Damien Kelly (Ford Fiesta R5)
5. Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)
6. Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet)
7. Marty Toner/Ben Teggart (Proton Millington)
8. Barry Morris/Denver Rafferty (Darrian T90 GTR+)9. Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2)10. John Bradley/Ryan Crozier (Ford Escort Mk2)
