Former Hankook MSA Northern Ireland Rally Champion, Connor McCloskey, made a succssful return to the series by winning the McKelvey Bushwhacker Rally, round eight of the 2011 series!

Navigated by Francis Regan, McCloskey led the event from start to finish in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Fastest on the opening stage by eight seconds, they went on to win the event by 31 seconds from leading Sunoco Fuels Group N contenders, Donagh Kelly and Kevin Flanagan.

Newly crowned 2011 champion Kenny McKinstry secured third in his Impreza. Navigated by Kenny Hull, he had been embroiled in a battle with Stuart Biggerstaff and Anthony Nestor when Biggerstaff’s gearbox cried ‘enough’.

Last year’s winner Martin Cairns sealed fourth alongside navigator Andrew Purcell, while Enda McNulty and Paul Sheridan completed the top five. Frank Kelly and Liam Brennan topped the two-wheel-drive category and finished eighth overall, while Ronan Campbell and Paul Corey won the Montgomery Motorsport Historic category.