Rally Ireland 2007

[corsa]

Dont know if this will create enough interest to make it a sticky but here goes with an update.

 

UPDATE NO1.

Rally Ireland Confirms North West Location

Rally Ireland has this week said that next November’s round of the prestigious World Rally Championship (WRC) will take to the roads of the north western counties following a detailed study requested by the sports global governing body to examine the feasibility of hosting the event on the east coast.

"We carried out a very rigorous comparative study covering all elements involved in hosting a World Championship round, and we can now confirm that the North West came out as the best venue," said promoter Seán O’Connor.

A new feature of the cross-border event, which is expected to draw 150,000 spectators, will be the introduction of a Super Special Stage, where competitors race head to head, and which will give spectators an opportunity to see all the action up close. Rally Ireland have confirmed that they are at advanced stages of discussion with RTÉ, Eurosport and other broadcasters regarding prime-time live TV coverage of this, which will be the opening stage of the WRC round in Ireland.

Whilst the detailed route has yet to be confirmed, Rally Ireland has stated that Sligo, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Roscommon, Cavan and Donegal are under consideration as part of the 1,400 kilometre route. It is anticipated that final sign-off on the route should be secured from the FIA, the sport’s governing body, within the next month.

The event will see the best rally drivers in the world compete on the island for the first time, including defending Champion Sebastian Loeb (France), Marcus Gronholm (Finland), Dani Sordo (Spain) and Petter Solberg (Norway). With entry numbers capped at 90 cars due to the limited number of satellite timing tracking devices capable of being monitored, competition amongst drivers north and south is likely to be fierce for the remaining slots on the entry list.

Independent research carried out last year by the University of Ulster estimated the economic impact of a WRC round to be €46 million and Rally Ireland are confident that this figure will be exceeded. The Rally starts on Thursday 15 November with the Super Special Stage and will finish on Sunday 18 November.

[dan_jess]

Mega! [H]

 

[rallye6]

yep looking forward to it , definitely be at this event.

 

Brian[H]

[ANDYJDMSTI]

If i am on leave then i am up for a little boat trip and drive.!!

[dan_jess]

I can imagine ther will be a few people up for it! []

[colzo]

I`m already booked up. Can`t wait! The cars look their best in tarmac form.[]

[paulc555]

After my involvment in Irish Rallying for a number of years now, I am contemplating arranging a trip back home to this for those that are interested. I can get access to competitors rates on the boat to help with the costs.....Just trying to sort out my plans for the circuit of ireland rally first.  Will keep you all posted when i hear any further news.....so is everyone wanting to go their own way??? or would you be interested in a bit more organsiation.

Paul

 

[aaron_mckay]

Organized!! Plus it will be a wee trip to home for me anyways!

 

Aaron 

[ormiboy]

I will be keeping an eye on this thread, sounds like a great idea!

Willie

[ANDYJDMSTI]

Organised for me too.................local knowledge is always best!

[eurosti]

Organised for me too.................local knowledge is always best!

Andy I touch goats.

[corsa]

I should have the route available at the weekend due to my mate being one of the route organisers.

Thats our digs sorted for the Rally folks, got 1 of 6 cottages for the rally in Cliffony, which is on the Sligo to Enniskillen road.

Just to deal with the ferry now.

 

Update number 2 looming.[]

 

[aaron_mckay]

Sounds great, put me down!!!

[gus the bus]

After my involvment in Irish Rallying for a number of years now, I am contemplating arranging a trip back home to this for those that are interested. I can get access to competitors rates on the boat to help with the costs.....Just trying to sort out my plans for the circuit of ireland rally first.  Will keep you all posted when i hear any further news.....so is everyone wanting to go their own way??? or would you be interested in a bit more organsiation.

Paul

Paul and Sammy Chamois. Count me in for this one deffo! nae ifs nae buts. Keep us posted Paul[Y]

[paulc555]

will do mate.....talk to you at the next meet..over the next few weeks...

Paul

 

[micra_wrc]

sounds interesting

agree with Andy, local knowledge is best. Organised for us too

[corsa]

No update as yet folks, but a good BTT.

[fai17]

Nice and near and am interested.

[corsa]

Finland's Marcus Grönholm and Timo Rautiainen won the Galway International Rally today in a Focus RS World Rally Car, gaining valuable experience of the Irish roads ahead of Rally Ireland’s debut in the FIA World Rally Championship in November.

"It's a good way to celebrate my birthday," said Grönholm, who is 39 tomorrow. "It's always good to win but the real reason for being here was to learn about the roads and develop a good feeling with the car ahead of Rally Ireland. The roads were totally different to anything I have driven on before, with many blind crests which required total accuracy with the pace notes.

"It was hard for me during the first day but by the end of the weekend I had a good feeling with the car and my confidence had improved. I'm pleased to have come here because the experience was good and the welcome from the Irish fans was unbelievable," he added.

Grönholm was a hugely popular figure throughout the event. Huge crowds packed the stages to watch the double world champion in action and he was besieged by autograph hunters and fans seeking photograph souvenirs wherever he went.

BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson said: "We came here to learn as a team and for Marcus to benefit as a driver. We tried various different suspension settings and Marcus finished the event with a good knowledge of what these types of road require. We'll go back and analyse the data but I believe it was well worth the effort of competing here because we have a large bank of information which will assist us greatly when preparing for Rally Ireland."

Coming in second were Irish duo Gareth MacHale and Paul Nagle, who had their first outing this weekend in the 2006 Ford Focus WRC, which fittingly enough had seen Grönholm take four wins in the 2006 Championship. It was their first competitive event in the left-hand drive car, which will see the pair contest 12 rounds of the Championships this year.

MacHale said: "We’re very pleased with the outcome this weekend, with how the car handled and how we adapted to it and, of course, with finishing second behind a WRC legend like Marcus Grönholm. We hope that we can sustain that level of professionalism in WRC this season, and let the world know that Irish rallying really is on top of its form."

Rally Ireland's debut in WRC will see the unique event cover stages in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and will be the largest sporting event on the island this year. The rally takes place in the beautiful north-west region and is likely to be amongst the most picturesque rounds of the Championship.

The results for the top five competitors in the Galway International Rally were:

1 Grohnolm/Rautiainen Finland Ford Focus WRC 1:57:14.4

2 MacHale/Nagle Ireland Ford Focus WRC 2:00:06.4

3 Higgins/Kennedy Wales Subaru WRC 2:00:56.5

4 Boland/Regan Ireland Ford Focus WRC 2:01:09.6

5 Lynch/Noble Ireland Ford |Focus WRC 2:02:26.4

[corsa]

Another wee snippet of information.

And a BTT[H]

They are only running 90 cars and of that only 45 places will be allocated too non pwrc/wrc crews and with upwards of 70 wrc's and at least 100 class 4 grpN cars in ireland an entry might be hard got.

But if you are lucky enoughto get to do the event there is only one company to deal with for ferries and that allsport logistics give dave a call and he will sort you out 0187359500

 

Davie

[rallye6]

looking forward to this event. all booked up now, ferry and accommodation leaving from stranraer to belfast and staying 3mls from sligo.

 

brian[H]

[gus the bus]

Haw faither, I hope you've booked me into this one??????[] send me the details am gonna book it now then av nae excuses[:$]

Gus

[DR Motosport]

I've been going over to Ireland for the last 4 years. Been to the Circuit and also Donegal (4 times)

I've heard that the Saturday Donegal stages, those based to the South of Letterkenny are to be used for Rally Ireland.

We've always flown over and hired a car, and while I'd love to take my STi across, I've never seen V-Power or Optimax for sale. So check up on that.

Also the lanes are so narrow for parking and passing, we've never taken a hire car back yet that hasn't been damaged. Mirrors broken, scratches down both sides, broken bumper, to name a few problems.

Lastly you'll also need someone who's bloody good with the map reading, because once your in the South, the back roads don't have any road numbers. And you'll need these roads to get between stages.

 Other than that, you'll have a great time, and the Irish Guiness really does taste better over there.

David

[corsa]

Gallagher on Course for World Title

Ireland’s Shaun Gallagher finished Rally Norway this weekend first in his class, picking up a coveted Junior World Championship point, and is leading in the Rookie category, setting the stage for an exciting Championship year. The Donegal driver was partnered by Welshman Clive Jenkins.

Despite an initial poor tyre choice on Leg 1, Saturday and Sunday saw Gallagher keep a steady pace in his Citroen whilst other competitors continued to struggle with the ice and snow of the Norwegian stages. He was delighted with his eighth place finish, but more so with finishing within the points. "I achieved my objective this weekend by securing a place on the leader board. As I get used to the car over the course of the Championship, I hope to move up the rankings and pick up more points along the way with the ultimate aim of securing the Rookie of the Year title. This is a great start to the year," he said.

The JWRC Opening round was won by Sweden’s Per Gunnar Andersson in a Suzuki Swift with fellow countryman Patrick Sandell in second and Estonian’s Urmo Aava in third. World Rally Team Ireland owner, Tommy Mullen, said: "We’re very happy to finish in the points and are making plans for the next round in Portugal at the end of March.

In the WRC competition in Norway, problems with the ice and snow resulted in the top teams driving their own rallies for a finish. BP Ford World Rally Team duo Mikko Hirvonen and Marcus Gronholm, both from Finland, held first and second places going into the final leg. Three and a half minutes behind them in third and fourth were Norwegian brothers Petter Soldberg (Subaru) and Henning Soldberg (Ford). Current World Champion Sebastian Loeb (France) had a disastrous rally, going off the road twice in Leg 2 and the resulting time delays dropping him to 16th overall and out of points contention.

This weekend saw Norway's debut in the World Rally Championships and given the gap of over fourteen minutes in the top ten finishers, there were problems aplenty for competitors in coming to grips with the unfamilar terrain.  Rally Ireland, which makes its entry into the championships in November this yeat, will doubtless prove a much more straightforward transition, albeit onto the unfamiliar and sometimes unpredictable tarmac of the north-west!

[corsa]

Jordan and Ringland on Board for Rally Ireland

Jordan Grand Prix founder Eddie Jordan and former rugby international Trevor Ringland have been appointed as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rally Ireland Management Ltd, the promoters of the Irish round of the World Rally Championships which will take place in November this year.

Dublin-born Jordan started his career as a driver in karting and Formula 3 prior to setting up Jordan Formula 1 in the early 1990’s where he scored some considerable success, including giving Michael Schumacher his first Formula 1 outing.

"This is a huge sporting opportunity for Ireland," said Jordan. "We have a wealth of talent in motorsport , both as competitors and organisers, and being part of WRC will allow us to develop that talent for the future.

"Rally Ireland also gives us the opportunity to take a fresh approach to the planning and delivery of World Championship events and I believe the plans and strategies we are putting into place are creative, innovative and will become models of good practice within motorsport and beyond," he concluded.

Former International winger Trevor Ringland has 34 caps for Ireland and was a member of the Triple Crown winning side of 1985 and a Lions player. He is now a solicitor practising in Belfast. He is also Chairman of the "One Small Step" campaign, whose objective is to encourage individuals and organisations to build a shared inclusive society.

Ringland said: "Given the global exposure Rally Ireland will receive in over 200 countries, and the contribution of €46 million/£30 million it is set to make to the economy here, this is a fabulous opportunity to showcase not only our sporting talent, but our capacity for co-operation and our ability to deliver as one of the best in the world."

The other members of the Rally Ireland Management Board are co-founders Seán O’Connor and Ronan Morgan and Chief Executive Officer David Marren. The four-day event will run from 15 - 18 November and will be based mainly in the north-west.