2015 National Rally Championship

National Rally Championship Awards - 21 Nov 15

Posted: October 28, 2015 3:29 PM

National Rally Championship Awards - 21 Nov 15

Points after Final Round (Provisional)

Posted: June 8, 2015 3:14 PM

2015 National Rally Championship Points - FINAL

National Rally Championship Website

MAGUIRE INTERNATIONAL TO SPONSOR TELEVISION COVERAGE of TRITON SHOWERS NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: February 26, 2015 2:06 PM

Organisers of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship have concluded a deal with Monaghan transport and logistics company, Maguire International Limited, for the sponsorship of the television coverage of the eight round series.

Established in 1983 and based in Ballinode, the company with a fleet of sixty articulated Scania trucks and over 250 trailers are already well known in Irish rallying. Niall Maguire is a triple national champion and his son Shane, is the current Group N national champion. Indeed, both Niall and Shane along with Kevin Barrett and his son Paul, all rally under the Triton Showers banner.

Commenting on the decision to sponsor the On the Limit Sports coverage of the Triton Showers series Niall Maguire said,
“In many ways its a natural progression for ourselves and the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. When Richard Talbot from the National Rally Championship Committee made the proposal to us, we knew immediately that is was something that we were ready and very willing to embrace. We are very involved with Kevin Barrett in regard to transporting the Triton Showers range of products. Of course, he is also our team mate in rallying and everything dovetailed quickly. We are looking forward to the new venture and with On the Limit Sports we look forward to promoting the Triton Showers National Rally Championship both on terrestrial stations and across the globe on satellite television.”

Coverage of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship will be transmitted on TG4, Sky Sports, Setanta, Motors TV and Irish TV.

Meanwhile, with third place on last weekend’s opening round in Abbeyleix, Niall Maguire was pleased with his performance. “The car worked well, we had the right tyres from the start and had grip right away. I actually liked the conditions.” Maguire also gained a point from setting the third fastest time on the first ever Power Stage in Irish rallying. Garry Jennings, who was quickest on the Power Stage leads the series with 21 points – one ahead of event winner Donagh Kelly with Niall Maguire third with 17 points.

The second round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the Roscommon based Midland Moto Rally takes place on March 29th. next.

Championship Guide and Regulations

Posted: January 13, 2015 8:16 PM

2015 National Rally Championship Guide and Regulations

TRITON SHOWERS NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHED

Posted: January 13, 2015 8:13 PM

Irish rallying began a new chapter with the launch of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship at the Glen Royal Hotel, Maynooth today, Saturday January 10th.

The series will consist of eight rounds with the best six scores to count. It will begin from the heritage town of Abbeyleix in County Laois in February and conclude at the maritime town of Bantry in West Cork in late October. In between, the Triton Showers journey will cascade throughout county towns of Roscommon and Monaghan, the medieval town of Kilmallock, Waterford City, Sligo town and the penultimate round in Ballinasloe. The series will herald a new era for the Midland Motor Club, who join the national series for the very first time. Next year’s eight rounds will include the return of the Dublin based ALMC Rally to the championship.

The overall winner of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship will receive the Vard Memorial Trophy, one of the most prestigious pieces of silverware in Irish motorsport. The winning co-driver will be presented with the Noel Smith Perpetual Trophy.

Speaking at the launch, Kevin Barrett, Managing Director of Triton Showers said,
“Although Triton Showers have been involved in rallying for several years through the support of events such as the renowned Circuit of Ireland and the Lurgan Park Rally along with a regional championship, our sponsorship of the National Rally Championship adds a new and important dimension.”
“We look forward to encompassing the unique variety of the eight events that will unite under the umbrella of Triton Showers to showcase Irish motorsport at its very best. The fact that eight different organising clubs and locations are gearing up for the 2016 Triton Showers series is another illustration of the diversity of the National series.”

Kevin added, “The Triton Showers livery will also continue on our own car and those of Niall Maguire and Shane Maguire as we begin an exciting era in Irish motorsport and together with underpinning the National campaign, Triton Showers is set to become an even more familiar name in motorsport. “

Triton Showers takes up the mantle previously held by Dunlop, who were title sponsors since the Millennium. Dunlop, who are no longer involved in the production of tyres for tarmac rallying, were very keen that the National Championship would attract another blue chip company prior to their departure. Indeed, the initial announcement of Triton Showers as sponsors of the National series was publicly endorsed by Steve Lynch, the Marketing & Public Relations Manager of Irish Dunlop at the presentation of awards for the 2014 series last November.

The Triton Showers series will come under the umbrella of the National Rally Championship Sub-Committee led by Richard Talbot, who has overseen the national series for almost a decade.
Commenting at the launch, Richard said,
“We look forward to the beginning of a new era in Irish motorsport where Triton Showers will be central to the core of our principles of ensuring that the National Rally Championship will continue to retain its place as the best supported series in Irish motorsport.”

He added, “One of the principal elements within the series is the constant tweaking of various aspects of the championship and we are delighted to announce that each round of the 2015 Triton Showers National Rally Championship will have a “Power Stage” akin to the World Rally Championship with the addition of extra championship points – three (3) for posting the fastest stage time, two (2) for second and one (1) for third. We believe that this will generate even more interest and as organisers of the Triton Showers series we are possibly the first national series to introduce this element.”

The Motorsport Safety Group N award along with the rally.ie award (highest placed two-wheel drive competitor in overall standings) will also form part of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship as will the Triton Showers Mk. 2 Ford Escort Challenge and the Triton Showers National Historic Rally Championship.

In response to the increasing number of Group R Cars in rallying, the championship organisers have also introduced a Group R Cup for the 2015 series.

Meanwhile, the Junior National Rally Championship will feature a major make-over that includes the introduction of a tyre deal for the overall winner courtesy of Triton Showers to the value of €2,000. In addition, the Triton Showers Junior Champion will receive a Test Drive in a Toyota GT86 R3 Rally Car courtesy of Brendan Kelly, Kelly’s Toyota, Donegal – (the car was on display at the launch today). The Triton Showers Junior National Rally Champion will also receive automatic qualification for the prestigious Billy Coleman Award.

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship will also be quite unique insofar as that the eight events this year will be replaced by eight different events in 2016 and although they will all embrace Triton Showers as the championship’s title sponsor, each event will also have its own flavour in promoting all that is best about its location.”

CHAMPIONSHIP POSTER

Posted: January 3, 2015 10:32 AM

Poster by Padraig Foran Rally Focus Media / Photo by Seamus Counihan

Launch of the 2015 Triton Showers National Rally Championship - (Sat) 10 Jan 15

Posted: December 26, 2014 11:09 AM

2015 National Rally Championship Launch - (Sat) 10 Jan 15

NEW REIGN AS TRITON SHOWERS SPONSOR NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: November 6, 2014 4:32 PM

The organisers of the Irish National Rally Championship are delighted to announce and welcome Triton Showers as title sponsor of Ireland's and indeed one of Europe’s most popular championships. The first of a three year deal comes into effect in 2015 that will also herald the introduction of a new biennial rota for the series.
Just weeks after the culmination of this year’s championship that concluded a glorious chapter under the Dunlop banner, the series organisers have attained the support of the blue chip Maynooth based company to continue what should be a seamless transition to sustain the series at the cutting edge of Irish motorsport.

Triton Showers are already very well known in motorsport circles. In the past they have underpinned events such as the Circuit of Ireland, the Lurgan Park Rally and the regional South-East Rally series. In addition, Triton Showers M.D. Kevin Barrett is an avid supporter of the National Rally Championship and has won the popular Galway Summer Rally and is also a former winner of the Mayo Rally. Triton Showers also supports Monaghan’s Niall Maguire, who remains the only driver to win the national rally championship on three occasions. Television coverage on TG4 and satellite channel Motors TV of this year’s Dunlop National Rally Championship was backed by Triton Showers.

Commenting about the new sponsorship arrangement Richard Talbot, Chairperson of the National Rally Championship Sub-Committee said,
“We are extremely pleased to have secured Triton Showers as the new title sponsor for the National Rally Championship. It continues the high profile support of the championship with a brand that is already well known within motorsport. I have no doubt that the synergy between Triton Showers and the National Rally Championship will stimulate even greater interest in the sport. To have concluded the deal so soon after the conclusion of this year’s championship that brought the curtain down on a truly magnificent association with Dunlop, illustrates the value of the National Championship as a marketable product.”

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship will be one of the few indeed, if not the only series to be able to rotate to eight different locations on a biennial basis due to the addition of Dublin based ALMC Rally and the Midland Rally in Roscommon that will join the series early next season.

Triton Showers Managing Director, Kevin Barrett has a wealth of experience, both as a competitor and a former member of the National Rally Championship Sub-Committee and the Irish Rally Competitors Association (IRCA). Those qualities will undoubtedly help to bring the series to new horizons. He said,
“Having been involved in rallying both as a competitor and an event sponsor, Triton Showers is aware of the huge popularity of the sport. The fact that the national series can offer such a splendid variety of locations allows us the opportunity to reach greater prominence throughout the four provinces of Ireland. The growth of the National Rally Championship was another key factor, its spectator audience spans all age groups and we are keen to build on its many qualities.”

Meanwhile, Alex Sinclair, Chief Executive of Motorsport Ireland remarked,
“This is the best news possible for the Vard National Rally Championship and rally sport generally going into a new year. I cannot say enough in terms of complimenting the team that have put this sponsorship together. Triton Showers is a wonderful product - and I speak from personal experience!”

Meanwhile, the official launch of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship will take place in early January, date and venue to be advised.

Championship Rounds

Posted: July 17, 2014 3:47 PM

Dates Provisional.

1. Birr - February 22nd (South)
2. Midland - March 29th (North)
3. Monaghan - April 26th (North)
4. Circuit of Munster - May 31st (South) June Bank Holiday weekend
5. Raven’s Rock (Carrick on Suir) - June 28th (South)
6. Sligo - July 12th (North)
7. Galway - August 30th (North)
8. Fastnet Rally (Skibbereen) – October 25th (South)

NEW ROTA SYSTEM ADOPTS BIENNIAL APPROACH

National Rally Championship Website