SHELL DONEGAL INTERNATIONAL RALLY TAKES A YEAR OFF

Posted: July 19, 2001 11:09 AM

Shell, the Rally’s main sponsor with Donegal Oil Ltd and Inishowen Oil Ltd, has also announced that it will continue to support the Rally for an extra year and disregard 2001 as part of it’s three-years sponsorship deal with the Donegal Motor Club.

When the postponement was announced in March, the Donegal Motor Club had hoped that the Rally could be staged later in the year. As a major contributor to the economy of the County, the loss will be felt far beyond the world of motorsport.

Clerk of the Course Mr. Charlie Reid commented:
“Over the past months we have been monitoring the situation closely. We went ahead with all the preparatory work we could but felt we needed at least 3 months lead-in time to put the event on. Aside from the restrictions in place due to the Foot and Mouth alert, which are now easing, we also considered the difficulties in assembling the large army of volunteers we need to run the Rally. Many plan their annual holidays around it, and we felt it would be unfair to them to delay a decision any longer. By tradition, the Shell Donegal International is a summer rally and we believe that if it is not possible to run it within the summer months then it is best left for another year.”

“The Donegal Motor Club has been impressed by the support of the people in the County for it’s earlier decision to postpone and, in particular, by a letter of thanks from the Chairman of the Irish Farmers Association in Donegal.”
Our title sponsors Shell, along with Donegal Oil Ltd and Inishowen Oil Ltd, fully support our decision. It is worth remembering that they plan activities of their own to coincide with the Rally and their patience while we waited to see if the Rally could take place is greatly appreciated by the Motor Club.”

“Our thoughts remain with the farming community in Donegal and we are heartened to see that we may have turned a corner, so to speak, in the fight against Foot and Mouth disease.”

Mr. Michael Forde of Irish Shell also commented:
“As sponsors of the Shell Donegal International Rally we share the disappointment felt by the Donegal Motor Club at the news of the demise of this years Rally. I have to say that we agree with the decision and are impressed with the responsible attitude shown by the Club in taking it. We know the amount of hard work that has already gone into the Rally but the welfare of the wider community must always come first. We feel it is the correct decision to take.”

“Our current sponsorship of the Shell Donegal International Rally is now in the second year, of a three year deal. However, we have reviewed the position in view of the exceptional circumstances that have arisen due to the Foot and Mouth crisis, and have offered to disregard 2001 as a counting year of our sponsorship. The Donegal Motor Club has accepted our offer and I am therefore pleased to confirm that we will continue as title sponsors of the Rally until 2003.”

Mr. Charlie Reid further commented:
“The announcement today by Shell that they will support the Rally for the next 2 years, and discount 2001 as one of the 3 they agreed to, is a wonderful gesture and a fantastic boost to the Motor Club. They did not have to do this but is it is typical of the type of support they have given us over the years. They have always been great friends and their help when we have needed it most has become a hallmark of what is now the longest continuous rally sponsorship in Irish motorsport.”

“On a brighter note, we have received clearance from Motorsport Ireland to organise a new type of event, called a ‘Mini-Stages Rally’, at the end of the year. As with our other events it will only take place if it is judged safe to do so. We hope the competitors who always support the Shell Donegal International Rally will therefore have some chance of a competitive outing in what has turned out to be a bleak year for rallying. It might also allow the Club to recoup some of the money already lost in preparing our biggest event of the year.”

“We will be submitting our plans to the relevant authorities shortly and hope that our response to the current crisis will help us attract the support we need from the community to salvage something from 2001.”

“While we announce with regret that there will be no Shell Donegal International Rally in 2001 the Motor Club members have not flinched from taking this decision. We enjoy great support in the County, especially from farmers, and that is more important to us than any one event. We will be back bigger and better in 2002 and will now have time to develop the Rally in other ways. While it will be a year off for the Rally, it will also be a year off for local businesses and especially local tourism. With this in mind, we hope to investigate new initiatives to further increase the value of our sport in Donegal.”

“I must also extend our sincere thanks to the media, local and national, for the coverage they have given our situation and look forward to their continued support.”

“To finish on an optimistic note, I would point out to rally fans everywhere that there are now only 330 days left to the Shell Donegal International Rally!”