Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran lead way in Derry with top-three Donegal finish

Donegal drivers took all three podium places at the Maiden City Motor Club’s annual Turkey Run Rally held at the former Shackelton Army Barracks in Ballykelly on Saturday. 

The ever popular event held after Christmas always gathers a large Donegal entry due to it's close proximity, fantastic stage layout and virtually zero road mileage. And after the event’s five stages, it was a Donegal podium lockout.

Carndonagh pair Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran took top spot in their Volkswagen Polo R5 while another Carn duo, Daniel and Tiernan Doherty claimed second place with Pettigo’s Kevin Eves and Chris Melly in third.

In the two-wheel drive section, Mac Walsh and Brian Gibbons finished second in what was a busy weekend for the Walsh family’s Ford Escort with son Ben finishing first in class at the Carlow Car Club Christmas sprint on Friday in Mondello.

In Class 2, Adam Doherty and Michael Ward finished second while PJ McDermott and Johnny Baird took fourth ahead of Eamonn Russell and Marty McBrearty back in fifth with Ben Burrowes and Patrick Durning rounding out the class in Ben's first event in the new car.

Another Donegal-Honda lockout in Class 4, saw Lee McLaughlin and Paul Creamer taking the win from Enda McBride and Declan Farren with Damien Cullen and Jason Wilkinson third. 

Kilmacrennan’s Sam and Robbie Stewart finished fourth after a successful day with Sam hiring the car from his father Keith for the event. 

Danny O'Donnell and Adrian Rankin, Caolan and Aaron Reid, Stephen Doogan and Conor Hagan, Jamie Boyle and Shane O'Neill, Conor Carroll and Mark Convey, James Cannon/ and Michael O'Donnell, Phelim McGowan and Daniel Ferry and James Doherty and Damien Sheridan all finished in that order with some fantastic times posted throughout the day.

Lee Burke and Dion Coyle had an impressive run in their MK2 escort to claim second in Class 5.

In Class 6, Mac Walsh and Brian Gibbons were highest placed Donegal crew in second, international navigator Gary McElhinney switched sides this weekend and brought his trusty MK2 Escort out of hibernation with Stevie Stafford alongside to finish fourth in class.

Kilmacrennan’s Alan Sweeney and Sean Doherty took their escort home in a solid fourth in Class 7.

Carndonagh’s Kevin and Katie Wilson were the only Donegal crew in Class 8 where they finished in second spot.

Fellow Carndonagh man Conor Wilson, with the famous Mickey Joe Browne on the notes, finished second in Class 10 in their Hyundai i20 R5, followed closely by Paul Britton and John McElhinney in third.  Barry McIvorand Bari Kane finished the day in eighth position.

There was some unfortunate luck for team Marsh, father and son duo, Sean and Adrian when a worsening misfire three quarters of the way through SS1 left the pair unable to continue putting paid to their event.