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RALLY IRELAND (WRC) - 29 Jan - 1 Feb 09
Posted: April 28, 2009 9:31 AM - 95512 Hits
Round 1 - 2009 FIA World Rally Championship
- Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena win Rally Ireland 2009
Rally Ireland announce record attendance figures for 2009
Posted: April 28, 2009 9:31 AM
Rally Ireland has announced record attendance figures for the event which took place earlier this year in the North West of Ireland. The event saw approximately 285,000 people attend over the weekend of the 30th of January, which was the setting for the first round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2009.
The figures, which were confirmed by the Gardai and the PSNI, exceeded the attendance figures of 2007, which were 250,000. This was only the second time that Ireland had hosted the World Rally Championship following its debut in 2007 and it was the first time in over 30 years that the first round had been held outside of its traditional starting point of Monte Carlo. The event also had a record television audience in Ireland with over 600,000 people watching Rally Ireland on RTE over the course of the weekend.
John Naylor, Event Director for Rally Ireland, was delighted with the attendance. “This shows how big Rally Ireland was and how great the fans are. We set a high bar for ourselves as we wanted to match and if possible exceed the great job that was done in 2007 and I think we can safely say we have done that. Rally Ireland 2009 was a fantastic event and it shows that despite the inclement conditions we were able to put on a world class sports show. The fans really encompassed the spirit of the event and hopefully we will have a round of the WRC back in Ireland again soon for all of those who made this such a success.”
Rally Ireland 2009 travelled through seven counties in the north and south of Ireland; Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon. The event was won by five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb with his Citroen teammate Dani Sordo in second and Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen in third position.
Rally Ireland was run by Motorsport Ireland in conjunction with the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs (ANICC) with sponsorship from Failte Ireland and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The 2009 World Rally Championship is running through 12 rounds across the world and it will reach a global TV audience of over 800 million.
Even More Photos.....
Posted: February 5, 2009 9:00 PM
See below:
Full Results Package
Posted: February 3, 2009 11:12 PM
Full Results Package Zip File (5.6MB)
Mechanical problem denies Fordes Rally Ireland result
Posted: February 3, 2009 11:02 PM
Galway crew Ross and Arron Forde were unfortunate at the weekend as a mechanical problem denied them a finish on Rally Ireland (29 January – 1 February).
The Carnmore brothers were back behind the wheel of their Global Group Ireland-backed Suzuki Swift Sport for the Sligo-based tarmac event, the opening round of the 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC).
The pair, who were one of Ireland’s wild card entries in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC), were having a trouble-free run across the rain soaked asphalt surface over legs one and two on their WRC debut.
They were up to 27th overall and seventh in the JWRC when disaster struck unexpectedly with just four stages to go on the final day on Sunday.
On stage 16 – the Arigna test – the gearbox broke, forcing them out of the rally, and the team still remain unsure as to what caused the problem.
Up until then, the Fordes had been enjoying contesting their home event for the first time, pushing their lesser-powered Swift to the maximum against the higher-specification Super 1600 models they were up against in the JWRC category.
“We were gutted to be robbed of a finish on our home event by a mechanical problem,” said 25-year-old driver Ross. “We had been trying really hard, though we couldn’t make too much of an impact against the faster cars, but we were happy and on course for a good result.
“The weather was a bit crazy and there was lots of standing water on the first two days. When it dried up on Sunday we only managed to get one full stage in.
“The rally was fantastic and well organised. The JWRC crews were really friendly and were offering us loads of advice on settings and tyre compounds so it’s a credit to their series. I’d also like to thank the lads from Galway Mini Centre who serviced for us and did a great job even when drenched by the rain.”
Their new-look website www.rossforde.com, run by Avpro Worldwide, kept everyone up to date throughout the event as fresh information and action images were regularly added onto the site in a blog-style.
The Fordes will next be in action in round one of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK on the Cumbria-based Malcolm Wilson Rally on Saturday 7 March.
They are contesting the whole series this year as Ross’s prize for winning the 2008 Billy Coleman Award.
Rally Ireland Marshals - World Class.
Posted: February 3, 2009 10:07 PM
Message from Paul Goodman
Chief Marshal
Rally Ireland 2009
I want to express my many thanks to the marshals that supported Rally
Ireland over the weekend. The commitment of so many people to the
event was staggering and certainly opened my eyes as to what personal
sacrifices people make to run such an event. The FIA observers were
blown away with the numbers and dedication of the huge teams of
marshals that travels from all four corners of Ireland north and south
and stood out in the freezing rain for up to 12 hours at a time.
To give you an idea of the numbers, 2071 marshals signed on for the 14
different stage locations and 496 marshalled in the Service Park from
Monday to Sunday. In addition we also had 65 marshals at the
Ceremonial Start in Enniskillen, 25 manning the remote Refuelling
Zones on Leg 1 and Leg 2 with 40 at the Finish Podium. In Ballinamallard
alone we needed 225 and 213 in Donegal Town.
Some of the drivers also commented on how friendly and knowledgeable
the marshals were at the stage arrival controls, the starts and stop
locations and were amazed at the numbers required to run the event
compared to some of the other WRC rounds where closed forest complexes
only need a fraction of the numbers required.
Again many thanks to all who helped out over the weekend. You did
yourselves and Ireland proud.
More Photos
Posted: February 2, 2009 10:36 PM
If your link is not here: Contact Us
Citroën Total World Rally Team and Citroën Junior Team Press Releases
Posted: February 2, 2009 9:31 PM
Hirvonen nets podium for Ford in WRC season-opener in Ireland
Posted: February 2, 2009 9:23 PM
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen finished third on the opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Ireland today. The Finns, driving a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, overcame treacherous conditions after more than 48 hours of incessant rain flooded Rally Ireland's speed tests. It was the pair's 10th podium from the last 12 rallies.
Team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila recovered from a first day accident to finish 14th in their Focus RS WRC, sufficient to claim manufacturer points for Ford, which lies second in the standings. Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr were eighth in the team's third car, as five Focus RS WRCs finished in the top 10. It was the Abu Dhabi's driver first-ever point.
The three-day rally was based in Sligo, in the Republic of Ireland, but the rally snaked its way back and forth across the border into Northern Ireland. The asphalt speed tests covered a mix of flowing mountain roads and bumpy, narrow farm lanes. But perhaps the biggest challenge was the weather as continuous rain during the opening two days left standing water in many places and forced the cancellation of two tests on Friday. Drivers tackled 17 special stages covering 327.28km.
Such was the state of the roads that for much of the rally Hirvonen and Latvala used Pirelli's Sottozero winter tyre to provide better grip. More accustomed to being used in snow and ice, the tyre pattern nevertheless provided excellent traction in the rain-soaked stages. Only when the rain stopped and blue skies appeared for today's final leg did the Ford drivers revert to the standard soft compound tyre.
Hirvonen settled into third on the opening leg and challenged Dani Sordo for second until a power steering problem yesterday morning ended his hopes of moving up. With a comfortable margin over his pursuers, 28-year-old Hirvonen elected to ease his pace and settle for third. Nevertheless he won four of five today's speed tests, including a spectacular stage through the streets of Donegal town which was broadcast live on TV, to take his tally for the event to five.
"This is the more difficult of the two asphalt events in the calendar and six points is a good start to the year," said Hirvonen. "I'm pleased with that but would have been even happier with more. Conditions were quite extreme with so much water during the opening two days. Today there wasn't so much water, but it was just as slippery because the roads were muddy instead of just wet. It's a shame about our power steering problem because it meant I couldn't fight with Dani to the end."
Latvala powered into the lead on Friday's opening stage but lost control of his Focus RS WRC on the next stage and hit a rock. The impact broke his car's driveshaft and track control arm and he was forced into retirement for the day. He restarted yesterday under SupeRally rules and concentrated on rebuilding his confidence, maintaining a steady pace to climb from 25th to 14th to take vital points.
"I've had an up and down weekend," he said. "I felt I let the team down on Friday because I came here to get good points and I only scored a few. But the past is the past, and I hope I have learned from it and don't get so excited when I'm leading in the future. This weekend was a good experience in difficult conditions and two points is better than none. After my accident I concentrated on driving cautiously but it's hard to generate the same kind of feeling in those circumstances."
Al Qassimi hit a tree on the opening day but was overjoyed to score his maiden WRC point. "I've been pushing hard all week and to score my first point in such a difficult rally gives me a lot of confidence. We're trying to put Abu Dhabi on the rally map and being the first United Arab Emirates driver to score a WRC point has always been one of the goals. I'm happy I've been able to keep progressing and justify the faith shown in me. Hopefully I'll win more points before the end of the season," he said.
BP Ford Abu Dhabi team director Malcolm Wilson said: "Both drivers claimed fastest times on their least favourite surface and both have gained in experience and know-how in very difficult conditions. I'm pleased Jari-Matti fought back from his first day problems and delighted also for Khalid."
Ford of Europe motorsport director Mark Deans added: "This rally was all about maximising manufacturer points in an event which was less likely to favour our drivers. As we look ahead to the next round in Norway, I'm confident we can reverse that situation. To have five Focus RS WRCs finishing in the top 10 is a testament to its speed, strength and reliability. Of particular note was Khalid's impressive performance, securing his and his country's first WRC point."
Stobart treble up at Rally Ireland
Posted: February 2, 2009 9:17 PM
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team secured a superb triple points haul at the opening round of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Ireland.
The Cumbria-based team led the rally on the first day before seeing all three of its Ford Focus RS WRCs go on to bag top ten slots, and finished as the leading manufacturer team after a supremely tough event.
The first two legs were marked by a constant deluge of rain, making the already tricky stages even more difficult for crews as they battled through the standing water covering the dramatic Irish roads. However, conditions improved significantly on the final day of the rally, with the torrential rain giving way to bright sunshine and a cold wind drying out the tarmac.
The final leg tested competitors over five stages covering 68.86km. The overall distance was slightly reduced after the 27.90km Arigna stage, the longest of the rally, had to be shortened to 10.88km due to an unsafe bridge on the route.
Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud enjoyed their best rally on asphalt, running in the top four for the majority of the event. After SS15 Geevagh on the final day they were forced to concede the number four spot to the charging Chris Atkinson. However, the Norwegian pair switched from the Pirelli Sottozero winter tyre to the PZero dry weather tyre for the penultimate stage to try and find an advantage in their battle with the Australian - and powered to a scorching second-fastest stage time. At the same time Atkinson slipped up on his run, which meant Solberg and Menkerud took fourth and opened their points account for the 2009 season with an outstanding result.
Brits Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin maintained a steady pace throughout the weekend as they tried to avoid falling foul of the treacherous conditions. Having been pipped to sixth place late on day two by Sebastien Ogier they upped the ante on the opening stage of the final leg as they chased down the Frenchman, taking 14 seconds out of the reigning JWRC champion on SS15 Geevagh. However, their charge was halted by a small spin on the truncated SS16 Arigna and they had to be content with seventh overall.
Urmo Aava/Kuldar Sikk experienced highs and lows in their first outing for Stobart. They seized the lead and were sitting proudly atop the overall classification during the first leg having adapted better to the sodden conditions than their opponents. However, their hopes of a victory were dashed after they slid from the road and their car was beached in a ditch 6.6km into the 25.19km Aughnasheelan test. Despite this setback the Estonian duo went on to fight their way back up the field with a series of impressive stage times over legs two and three. On the final day they reeled in their nearest rivals to secure a top ten finish and manufacturer points for the Stobart team.
As a result Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team leaves Rally Ireland in joint second place in the manufacturer championship and looking forward to another strong outing in the next round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Rally Norway.
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Henning Solberg said:
“This is a big result for me. I worked really hard for this and it has been one of my best ever rallies. I used my head and did everything right, it’s a good feeling. The weather was very bad and that made the roads very difficult, but we made no mistakes and we have proved we can be fast on tarmac now. We had a good fight with Chris on the last day which was exciting for the fans. I’m happy to have got through it and get the points for the Stobart team.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Matthew Wilson said:
“It was a good clean run with no major problems in what were some of the worst conditions I’ve seen. The stages here in Ireland are great and I really started to enjoy them on the last day when they began to dry up. The fans here have also been brilliant all weekend. I’m happy to take points away from the first round of the season, which I’ve never done before, so it’s a good start.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Urmo Aava said:
“I’m very happy that we were able to lead a WRC event and get points for the team in our first event with them. This rally has been very important to us because we got a lot of time in the car, which we are still learning about, and this gave us good experience. The car went very well and we had no problems at all with it. One mistake cost us a lot of time but apart from that the rest of the weekend was good.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
“It’s been a dream start for the Stobart team and it was fantastic to see Urmo leading on the first day; he has fitted in well with the team and showed good pace all weekend. Henning’s drive here has definitely been his best ever for the team, and he put in a really controlled and measured performance in the adverse conditions. Matt has also performed well and we have seen a positive start to the championship for him, scoring points on his 50th event. All-in-all it’s been a great way to kick off the new season.”
Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler said:
“We have seen another fantastic result for the Stobart team at Rally Ireland and it is a superb start to the year. All three Stobart drivers showed outstanding ability in the atrocious conditions. It was a proud moment to see a Stobart car leading the rally during the first day, and we are delighted all three scored points this weekend. Congratulations must also go to Matthew as he celebrated his 22nd birthday and 50th WRC start at Rally Ireland.”
Shaun Gallagher Wins Group N in Rally Ireland.
Posted: February 2, 2009 6:19 PM
Donegal driver Shaun Gallagher once again displayed his superior skill by winning group N in Rally Ireland. The Irish team of Shaun Gallagher and Paul Kiely finished 13th overall. They completed the rally in a time of 3:09:41.9 hrs. The opening round of the World Rally Championship was based in the town of Sligo and saw all drivers taking on stages in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
Shaun Gallagher, Driver, Gulf World Rally Team Ireland remarked; “I am delighted to win group N in my home event Rally Ireland. It is great for the whole team to win this event as so much work and preparation has been done over the last three months. Having the lead last night was a missive confidence boost. I am looking forward to my next outing in the new Gulf Oil car. The stages were tricky throughout the event and I never really got to full pace as the water on the roads was very dangerous. I have to especially compliment my world class co-driver, Paul Kiely on a great rally.”
Dermot Fallon, Managing Director, Gulf Oil Ireland said;
“Shaun Gallagher has lived up to the great success associated with Gulf Oil and motorsport. We are delighted as title sponsors to get off to such a great start with Shaun and the whole Gulf Oil team. Our three year agreement will see us building on today’s success and giving the Gulf brand a very strong presence in both, Irish motorsport and the Irish marketplace. ”
Tommy Mullen, Chief Executive Officer, World Rally Team Ireland commented;
“ Our team has developed in leaps and bounds since we started two years ago. Now with Gulf Oil behind us I feel we have the ability to grow even further especially after winning group N in the opening round of the World Rally Championship. We will go back to the drawing board and regroup before we compete in another home rally in the coming months.”
J-WRC Ireland Round-up
Posted: February 2, 2009 6:16 PM
Audio Clips:
Posted: February 2, 2009 6:01 PM
Results
Posted: February 2, 2009 5:58 PM
1 Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) 2h 48m 25.7s
2 Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroen C4 WRC) 2h 49m 53.6s
3 Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 50m 33.5s
4 Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 54m 58.1s
5 Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot (Citroen C4 WRC) 2h 56m 17.6s
6 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroen C4 WRC) 2h 59m 09.7s
7 Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Ford Focus WRC) 2h 59m 49.5s
8 Khalid al Qassimi/Michael Orr (Ford Focus WRC) 3h 02m 33.6s
9 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 3h 03m 49.1s
10 Urmo Aava/Kuldar Sikk (Ford Focus WRC) 3h 04m 01.1s
11 Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) 3h 04m 35.4s
12 Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 3h 09m 23.6s
Group N Production class:
1 Shaun Gallagher/Paul Kiely (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 3h 09m 41.9s
2 Gary Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 3h 12m 37.8s
3 Paul Elliott/Brian Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 3h 38m 33s
Junior WRC class:
1 Aaron Burkart/Michael Kolbach (Suzuki Swift S1600) 3h 16m 41.5s
2 Martin Prokop/Jan Tomanek (Citroen C2 S1600) 3h 17m 28.8s
3 Simone Bertolotti/Luca Celestini (Suzuki Swift S1600) 3h 25m 41.6s
Class winners:
Ken Treacy/Martin Comerford (VW Polo)
Toni Kelly/Tony McDaid (Honda Civic)
Leaders After:
SS1 Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN)/Miikka ANTTILA (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2-3 Urmo AAVA (EE)/Kuldar SIKK (EE) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS4 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
Stage Winners
SS1 Jari-Matti LATVALA (FIN)/Miikka ANTTILA (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS3 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS4 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS5 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS6 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS7 Cancelled
SS8 Cancelled
SS9 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS10 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS11 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS12 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)/Jarmo LEHTINEN (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS13 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS14 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS15 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)/Jarmo LEHTINEN (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS16 Sebastien LOEB (F)/Daniel ELENA (MC) (Citroen C4 WRC)
SS17 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)/Jarmo LEHTINEN (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS18 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)/Jarmo LEHTINEN (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
SS19 Mikko HIRVONEN (FIN)/Jarmo LEHTINEN (FIN) (Ford Focus WRC)
When the going gets tough, the Rally Ireland volunteers get going!
Posted: January 31, 2009 3:09 PM
While most sane people in northwest Ireland were taking shelter from the driving rain last night that caused the cancellation of last night's stages of Rally Ireland, groups of volunteers were working in horrendous conditions to make sure today's event could continue.
On their own initiative, a crew of six marshals organised shovels, spades and 'any other garden implement they could find' to clear drains and ditches of standing surface water on this morning's course around Sloughan Glen in Co Tyrone.
The team toiled from 6pm till midnight in treacherous conditions. Afterwards, two of the group then worked through the night at scheduled, pre-event organisation.
"Having been stage manager at Sloughan Glen before, I know the stage better than I know my mother," said Simon MacRory, one of the marshal co-ordinators who helped clear the roads of six inches of water in places. "We used anything we could lay our hands on; we even dug out tracks to clear the water if there were not ditches or gullies for it to flow."
MacRory's team comprised his wife Roisin (who is also a marshal co-ordinator), Plunkett Boyle, Brian Wilson, Keith Mackey and John Boyle Jnr. They were complemented by a group of locals, lead by Ian Irwin.
Speaking to Rally Ireland this morning after a night without sleep, MacRory insisted it was all just part of what was expected to ensure the success of the event.
"It was a desperate measure but it was a desperate evening," he said. "It wasn't madness it was dedication. There is a rally running today so it was worth doing. It's possible it would have been called off otherwise, we don't know. What we do know is that we wouldn't have forgiven ourselves if we had sat in the house and did nothing. Lots of people were doing set-up - we just happened to be the guys with the shovels.
Course organiser Rosemary Walsh said their actions typified the spirit of rallying in Ireland.
"It was an incredible effort but it goes to show the passion that our thousands of volunteers have for this event and their commitment to making it a success," she said.
Pre Event News.
Posted: January 29, 2009 2:43 PM
Photo: www.rallyirealand.org
Hirvonen tops Shakedown timesHirvonen 01:38.0
Loeb 01:38.4
Atkinson 01:38.6
Sordo 01:39.0
Latvala 01:39.7
Wilson 01:39.9
Aava 01:40.9
Al Qassimi 01:41.2
H Solberg 01:41.4
Rautenbach 01:41.7
Ogier 01:42.4
G MacHale 01:44.3
Aaron MacHale 01:45.5
McNulty 01:46.2
Austin MacHale 01:47.1
Boland 01:48.0
Posted: January 29, 2009 2:30 PM
Rally Ireland Radio - Rally Ireland wired for sound!
Rally Ireland Radio is the service bringing independent radio listeners closer to the action this weekend.
A special feed of reports, interviews and audio is being distributed to Ireland's 30 independent radio stations direct from Sligo, and also to radio stations across Northern Ireland.
Will Downing, John Dier and Trevor Payne are Rally Ireland Radio's roving reporters for the entire week of Rally Ireland, round one of the 2009 World Rally Championship.
The service, provided free to radio outlets, kicked off on Wednesday with a special interview with Rally Ireland event director John Naylor.
The radio team can be contacted at
Audio clips on:
Posted: January 27, 2009 9:25 PM
Posted: January 27, 2009 2:33 PM
Gulf World Rally Team Ireland Launches 2009 CarGulf World Rally Team Ireland have today (Tuesday, 27 January 2009) launched their new 2009 Mitsubishi Evolution 9 in the lead up to Rally Ireland. The Irish pairing of Shaun Gallagher and Paul Kiely will contest their home event starting in Enniskillen this Thursday and continuing over the following three days with the finish in Donegal Town on the Sunday. The weekend will see the paring contest over 365 of competitive kilometres divided into 19 stages.
Shaun Gallagher, Gulf World Rally Team Ireland driver, said “I am very excited with Rally Ireland only a few days away. The car looks great and the set up feels right. My mechanics have been working nonstop over the last month to have everything at its best for my home event. When we were testing I really felt the hand of history on my shoulder rallying in the Gulf Oil colours. The blue and orange colours are famous all over the world, from Steve McQueen to Heinz-Harald Frentzenand and all the other greats who have raced under the Gulf Oil banner. The rally is going to be very competitive and it will not be easy for our national or international drivers. Finishing the rally and seeing the ramp on Sunday will be at the forefront of my mind from the get go. As we saw in 2007, Rally Ireland takes no prisoners and only thing I will say is, expect the unexpected!”
Dermot Fallon, Managing Director, Gulf Oil Ireland, commented; “Rally Ireland is going to be very competitive. The Gulf Oil brand has a strong international racing pedigree and we feel there is no better way to support Irish motorsport with our entry in Rally Ireland. We are delighted with our new partnership with World Rally Team Ireland and having Shaun Gallagher leading the team in 2009. We will be contesting a number of national events this year and we are considering competing in more rounds of the World Rally Championship. For now, our focus is on a strong finish in Rally Ireland.”
Tommy Mullen, Chief Executive Officer, World Rally Team Ireland remarked; “Our testing pre Rally Ireland went well and we are confident with the car set up. The weather will play a critical role in this year’s opening round of the World Rally Championship. It is a big move for Shaun back into four wheel drive but I feel is well prepared for it. We have gone under a full rebranding over the last few months and a lot of rally supports have said they are looking forward to seeing famous blue and orange of Gulf Oil on Irish tarmac in Rally Ireland.”
Posted: January 27, 2009 2:32 PM
Jari-Matti Latvala fit for Rally Ireland after Road Crash
Jari-Matti Latvala fit for Rally Ireland after Road CrashJari-Matti Latvala says he will be fit for Rally Ireland this Thursday after escaping unscathed from a car accident at the weekend.
The Ford World Rally team driver was testing in Monaghan ahead of the event and was returning to his hotel when a car travelling in the opposite direction lost control and crashed into him. "The other car started to swerve on the bumpy road and came on my lane," Latvala said today "I dodged to the left, it crashed into the side of my car and I ended up in a ditch”
"If I hadn't pulled to the left, it would have been much worse." Latvala escaped the crash with just neck and shoulder pains, but continued testing and will be fit to start the opening round of the World Rally Championship this week.
"In rallying you need to be able to forget the crashes quickly, so I have continued testing after Saturday," Latvala added.
Posted: January 27, 2009 2:31 PM
Rally Ireland stage shortened
Rally Ireland have been forced to make a late change to one of the five stages running on Sunday 1st February. Due to the recent deterioration of a bridge, organisers have had to shorten the popular Arigna stage. The bridge has already been closed for a number of weeks by Leitrim County Council.
"It's a pity for both the competitors and the spectators that we were forced to shorten the Arigna stage but unfortunately the matter was not within our contol. And despite our best efforts in recent days to ensure the running of the stage, it simply was not to be and we had no choice but to end the stage before it reached the bridge. However spectators can still look forward to what will be an excellent stage" said Clerk of the Course, Gordon Noble.
The length of the stage is now 10.8kms and will finish at Spectator Point G, in the Moneenatieve townland. Although Arigna has been shortened it will not impact on the times of any other stages which will run as originally scheduled.
For more information on stage times
Posted: January 25, 2009 11:13 PM
Posted: January 25, 2009 10:22 PM
Ford Pre Rally Ireland Test
Posted: January 25, 2009 7:13 PM
RALLY IRELAND THE NUMBERS GAME
· 62.8 Million television viewers in 2007
· 250,000 spectators in 2007
· 25,000 Metres of rope
· 4,000 Prohibited area signs
· 3,000 Marshals
· 2750 Safety Marshals
· 1100 Barriers
· 600 Extinguishers
· 350 kilometres of gruelling stages
· 300 Whistles
· 290 Portoloo’s
· 176 Timekeepers
· 172 Communications Radio People
· 90 Cones
· 56 Media Marshals
· 50 Flood light towers
· 30 First Intervention Vehicles
· 35 Assistant Stage Commanders
· 26 Ambulances
· 24 Recovery Vehicles
· 20 Rescue Units
· 19 Stages
· 14 Stage Safety Officers
· 14 Stage Managers
· 11 Marshalls briefings nationwide in counties Carlow, Clare, Tipperary, Cork, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Tyrone, Monaghan, Cavan & Donegal
· 7 Counties where the rally takes place
· 4 Days of action
· 2 Governments who had foresight
· 1 First round of the World Rally Championship 2009
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:59 PM
RTE TV coverage of Rally Ireland
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:51 PM
Cathcart to return to Rally Ireland stages as part of Slowly Sideways demonstration
Enniskillens Richard Cathcart will once more take to the stages which saw him claim class winning success on the 2007 WRC Rally Ireland, but this time it will be the classic stages in a classic car. Richard is tackling the event as part of the Slowly Sideways demonstration. This is a group of rallyings finest and most timeless classic rally cars which drive the stages at exciting but conservative speeds before the main WRC cars as an entertaining display for the fans and as an opportunity for the owners of these classic rally cars to drive them in their natural environment
Richard will be using a very iconic classic, "H930-JHJ" the first ever produced works group A Ford Escort Cosworth. It is a car from his family's private collection and it has been lovingly preserved for many years still in its original works "tiger stripes" livery. Richard will be joined by regular co driver Martin Brady and they look forward to tackling the stages that suited them so well when they competed on Rally Ireland on its last occasion in a Group N Subaru where they set times that were fastest overall among the PWRC runners.
Richard commented, "I have bought a group N Subaru N12B from Prodrive with their support, but it wasn't going to be here in time to compete in the main rally and then Slowly Sideways invited me to include the Escort in the demonstrations and I thought it was a great chance and would be good fun, Im just looking forward to getting out in the Escort for the first proper time, I have driven it only briefly around the farm yard driveways and I know its a handful especially with the 7 speed box and no hydraulic handbrake but the car is in pristine condition and I know its ready for a good run on the stages, we are there to put on a bit of a show for the spectators with all these old classics and that's what we are going to do, Martin & I plan to go at a right old speed and keep it fun."
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:47 PM
Citroen Sport Previews
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:29 PM
Ford's bright sparks use experience to ignite 2009 WRC title bid
BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's young chargers plan to use the lessons learned last season to ignite their challenge in the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship which begins in Ireland next week (29 January - 1 February). Finns Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala raised their experience levels enormously as they turned what was expected to be a transitional year for Ford in 2008 into a concerted title bid in both the drivers' and manufacturers' series.
Now 28-year-old Hirvonen and 23-year-old Latvala, accompanied by co-drivers Jarmo Lehtinen and Miikka Anttila respectively, begin the 2009 campaign on Rally Ireland confident of stepping up their performance even further. Continuity is a key strategy of the team this season and the pairings will again have the record-breaking Ford Focus RS World Rally Car at their disposal. The car won four times in 2008 and has 36 WRC victories to its credit since the original model debuted in 1999.
Rally Ireland is one of just two all-asphalt events in the 12-round series and returns for its second appearance after a year's absence. However, the term 'asphalt' is a misnomer for this cross-border event which is based in Sligo, in the Republic of Ireland, but also ventures into Northern Ireland.
The route is a mix of flowing mountain roads and tight, twisty farm lanes. The latter are bumpy and narrow – often little more than the width of a car – with many surface changes. They are used by farmers on a daily basis and will be dirty. With rain highly likely in late January, they could quickly turn muddy and become treacherously slippery, so much so that a more gravel-based car set-up is likely to work better than a traditional asphalt specification. Ice and snow cannot be ruled out either.
Hirvonen, second in the drivers' championship last year, also led the team to second in the manufacturers' series. He was fourth in Ireland in 2007 and knows what to expect this year.
"Rally Ireland was difficult in 2007, but this year I feel it's going to be even harder," he said. "I think we'll experience ice in places and the roads are so incredibly narrow and fast. Cars cut the corners and pull mud onto the road so it can be dirty and slippery. It's going to be an interesting and challenging event to start the year. We have a two-day test before the rally so that should give us confidence going into the start. I want to be on the podium, but if there's any chance at all, I want to fight for the win."
"I'm feeling confident about the season ahead. I learned much from 2008 that I'm sure will benefit me this year. After a too cautious start, my speed increased during the second half of the season and that's how I need to start 2009. There are only 12 rallies so it's important to score on every rally. There is no room for zero points from events because there are fewer rallies to make up for it," added Hirvonen.
Latvala claimed his first WRC podium in Ireland in 2007 and has set his sights on a repeat. "Loose surface rallies are my preference, but I've said to myself that if I can finish in the top three on asphalt this year, that would be perfect. It will be a very tricky rally because the conditions will be so unpredictable and a neat, tidy and mistake-free drive will be rewarded," he said.
"Consistency is an area in which I want to improve in 2009. I want to eliminate the kind of ups and downs that I experienced at times last season. This time one year ago I was very nervous ahead of my debut in the Ford team. I went through so many things last year, gaining experience and learning about the mental side of the WRC, that I feel relaxed and confident for the new season. I have two targets – to help Ford regain the manufacturers' title and to fight for the drivers' title. It's not a target to win the drivers' title – that's different – but I want to be able to challenge for it," added Latvala.
Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive a third Focus RS WRC. The 36-year-old, who finished 15th in 2007, knows Ireland will be hugely different from the conditions he will experience during this weekend's opening round of the Middle East Rally Championship in Qatar.
"I’m sure Ireland will be wet and the asphalt is bound to be muddy and slippery. It won’t be easy for me, especially after driving in Qatar, but I'll rely on my pace notes, start steadily and aim to improve throughout the weekend. I've learned a lot in the past 18 months – now is the time to realise my potential. This season my goals are to keep improving and hopefully I'll be in a position to post top 10 finishes and get in the drivers' points," said Al Qassimi.
Team News
* Tyre partner Pirelli will provide two tyre specifications for the BP Ford Abu Dhabi drivers. The championship's control regulations dictate the use of just one pattern, but for Ireland they also allow an emergency tyre as extreme variations in road conditions are possible. The 'standard' PZero asphalt tyre will be available in soft compound and, in case of snow and ice, competitors can opt for Pirelli's Sottozero ‘Monte Carlo’ rubber. Each driver is allocated 42 PZero tyres for the rally (and six for the shakedown), of which 16 may be substituted with Sottozero tyres. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber in the event of rain or mud and each car can carry two spares.
* The team is in the middle of a four-day test in Ireland. Hirvonen started yesterday (Thursday) and will complete his programme today before Latvala takes over for Saturday and Sunday.
* Seven other Focus RS cars will start. Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud and Ford debutants Urmo Aava / Kuldar Sikk are nominated by the Stobart VK M-Sport squad, which has also entered Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin. Ireland's MacHale family will also be at the wheel of Focus RS WRCs. Father Austin and sons Gareth and Aaron are all entered, co-driven by Dermot O'Gorman, Brian Murphy and Killian Duffy respectively. Another car has been entered by Irish crew David James / Jim Crowe.
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:26 PM
Stobart set for Eire raid to kick off world rally season
The Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team will look to draw on experience as the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship season gets underway at Rally Ireland next weekend. It will be the first time the championship has started outside of Monaco since 1996, but the Cumbrian team’s previous outings at the event should see the ambitious outfit firmly in contention for a strong result.
Stobart achieved its first-ever tarmac podium in Ireland, as Jari-Matti Latvala secured third place when the event made its debut on the WRC calendar in 2007. The M-Sport-run squad will be hoping its current line-up of crews can push for podium positions in a similar fashion, having also already tasted success there in the past.
Stobart’s Matthew Wilson won the inaugural Rally Ireland in 2005 and the Englishman’s experience could be the key to success. This edition of the event will be Wilson’s 50th WRC start - an incredible achievement for a driver who will turn just 22, when the ceremonial start kicks the event off, on Thursday evening. He and co-driver Scott Martin are focused on replicating the kind of searing pace they showed in glimpses last season on a more regular basis in 2009.
Henning Solberg will be hoping his preparations for this year’s event will go more smoothly than on his last visit to the Emerald Isle. He ended up tackling the 2007 event with a replacement co-driver, after regular navigator Cato Menkerud was forced to pull out at the last minute when wife Charlotte gave birth to their second child. Solberg showed great improvement on tarmac last year, despite his relative inexperience on the surface, and the Norwegian will be hopeful of putting in a strong showing as one of the team’s nominated scorers.
Urmo Aava will be making his Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team debut in Ireland. The Estonian and co-pilot Kuldar Sikk are nominated scorers for Stobart and will be looking to settle in quickly by finishing the rally and securing crucial points for the squad. Aava’s seat in the iconic Stobart team is sure to enhance his already widespread popularity - as demonstrated when he was voted Driver of the Year by an overwhelming majority of visitors to WRC.com last month.
Rally Ireland has the honour of taking the place of traditional first round Monte Carlo due to the new rotation system introduced by the FIA. Stages take place in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and it is the island’s biggest sporting event with more than 250,000 spectators expected to take in the action. The ceremonial start will take place at Enniskillen Castle in Northern Ireland and will be followed over the course of the weekend by 19 stages through seven counties in the north-west; Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon.
Drivers will be challenged to their maximum by the fast tarmac featured on the stages, with rain, snow and ice all likely to have an impact on conditions and make the 366-kilometre event even more difficult and unpredictable. Teams must look for an optimum set-up to cope with the fast and bumpy conditions, which are unlike any other in the series calendar. They will also have the option of using a special snow tyre at the event in addition to the usual Pirelli P-Zero asphalt control tyre.
The Stobart team returns to the championship in 2009 looking to capitalise on its success in 2008 - when it was named Rally Business of the Year at the prestigious Motorsport Industry Awards. The Cumbrian outfit received the accolade in recognition of successfully maximising its investment in the FIA World Rally Championship - despite having a budget which is a fraction of the manufacturer-backed teams.
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Henning Solberg said:
“I don’t have a lot of experience on asphalt but when I competed on this rally in 2007 I was running in the top six on the first day, which was very good. It’s not a true tarmac rally because there is so much gravel and mud dragged across the road and I cope with these conditions better. The most difficult things about the stages are the high-speed sections and the unpredictable bumps, and it’s hard to get a good feeling with the car. We found a good setting on some tarmac events last year and with a test planned for Monday I’m sure we’ll start the rally with more confidence than before. I’d really like to start the year off well, and a finish inside the top six would be a good boost ahead of my home event in Norway two weeks later.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Urmo Aava said:
“When I did the recce in 2007 I found the most difficult part of the stage to understand was the grip. The tarmac is changing all the time and it is especially bad on the sections where there is grass in the middle of the road. For sure this will be a very difficult rally, maybe even more so than Monte Carlo, and in some places it’s like Finland but only on tarmac – with very high speed sections over crests. The plan is to find a good rhythm but it’s most important to get the car to the finish. This is not a rally we want to attack in. This year is an extremely good chance for me in the Stobart team. We have seen some difficult times lately with teams pulling out, so I know how lucky I am to be with a strong team and will definitely make the most of this opportunity.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford driver Matthew Wilson said:
“This is obviously a special event for me having won it in the past and now it’s my 50th WRC start so hopefully it will be kind to me. The time of year will certainly make the conditions very difficult and in 2007 there was a lot of mud dragged across the road as drivers cut corners over the grass. As the first event of the year, it would be good to start off with a decent result and our pre-event test on Monday will certainly help with that. It will be a good boost to my confidence to get some miles in the test rather than going straight into the shakedown on Thursday morning.”
Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Team Principal Malcolm Wilson said:
“It’s great to have the Stobart team continue in the World Rally Championship again this year, and personally I’m really pleased to have seen them receiving an award in recognition of their support and performance in the WRC. With six fresh events on the 2009 championship calendar I think this will work in our favour as it’s a clean slate for everyone. I’m also delighted Urmo Aava has joined the Stobart team and, even though Ireland is a difficult event, I really think there is potential for all three crews to finish inside the points.”
Posted: January 25, 2009 6:17 PM
Fordes set for first outing on Rally Ireland
Galway crew Ross and Arron Forde are ready to take on their home stages when they contest Rally Ireland for the first time next week (29 January – 1 February).
The Carnmore brothers will get behind the wheel of their Global Group Ireland-backed Suzuki Swift Sport to compete in the Sligo-based tarmac event, the opening round of the 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC).
They are Ireland’s wild card entry in the Junior World Rally Championship (JWRC) with driver Ross winning the 2008 Billy Coleman Award and being named the Young Rally Driver of the Year.
The pair warmed-up for the event by taking part in last weekend’s (16-18 January) Ballybrit-based Galway International Rally but unfortunately failed to finish.
They were making their debut in their recently acquired two-litre Honda Civic Type R and after taking some time to get the handling set-up right, were up to 19th overall and third in class three before disaster struck on stage ten, the first on Sunday.
After coming down a mountain on the icy roads, on the exit of a square right, they slid onto a five-foot bank and pierced the radiator on a hidden rock. They continued for a mile before realising they had a problem as the car got warm and on stopping, realised the water had gone. Without wanting to damage the engine they were forced to retire.
“The car was going really well and we’d sorted the handling out,” 25-year-old Ross said. “We were in a good position and then we just got caught out with the treacherous conditions and that was it.”
The Fordes will have little time to wait before getting back out onto the stages when they take to the unfamiliar territory of Rally Ireland.
“I’m really looking forward to competing on my home event and to be the JWRC wild card entry is fantastic,” Ross added. “Most of the stages will be fairly new to me, I may have done a few before, but it’s relatively unknown to me.
“I just can’t wait to get out there, it will be my first event at WRC standard and we’ll be giving it our best to get a decent result.”
They will start at number 60.
Posted: January 20, 2009 11:28 AM
Carsport Rally Ireland Special
The first round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, Rally Ireland, kicks off in Enniskillen on Thursday 29th January. CarSport, Ireland’s best selling motoring and motorsport magazine has just published a special preview edition for the event.
This edition of CarSport, on sale now at all leading newsagents and forecourt shops, includes route maps, stage start times, the complete entry list and a profile on all the top WRC drivers. There are also special details of the official start in Enniskillen on the evening of Thursday 29th and the spectator super special in Donegal Town on Sunday 1st February. The PSNI and Garda have also issued advice to anyone travelling to the event and this is all essential reading for rally fans.
The last Rally Ireland in November 2007 attracted around 250,000 spectators and a similar number is expected to descend on Tyrone, Fermanagh, Cavan, Sligo and Donegal at the end of the month.
Elsewhere in the magazine is an in-depth interview with Ireland’s rally star, Kris Meeke from Dungannon, who has just signed a works deal with Peugeot. Meeke will compete in the 2009 IRC World Championship in a 207.
Posted: January 19, 2009 4:06 PM
Solberg disappointed to miss out on Rally Ireland
For the first time since Rally de France in 2000, legendary rally driver Petter Solberg will miss a World Rally Championship event when Rally Ireland begins at the end of the month.
With Subaru’s unexpected exit from the Championship at the end of last year, Solberg has been left without a drive for the first round of the World Rally Championship in 2009, which takes place in the North West of Ireland.
The 2003 Champion must now look to secure a car to race in Norway but is disappointed not to be making an appearance at the season opener. “I am very disappointed not be to competing in Rally Ireland. I did not choose this situation but I know I have a lot of fans in Ireland and it means I will not get a chance to meet them or race for them.”
Solberg has fond memories of Rally Ireland 2007. “It was a very good rally and there was a great atmosphere in Ireland for it, especially as it was the first time. Unfortunately the weather was not the best but the fans were great and the organisation of the event was excellent.”
Solberg’s former Subaru teammate Chris Atkinson has found a home with Citroen for 2009 but the Norwegian is still working on securing a drive for his home rally in February. “We are working hard on it, it is getting close but nothing has been finalised yet so I am hopeful that it will happen soon.”
With Solberg on the sidelines for Rally Ireland it will give him a chance to assess who he believes will be challenging for honours this year. “At Rally Ireland we will get a chance to see who will be challenging this year. I believe Loeb will be close again but it will be interesting to see how the top four perform in Ireland. There is also some great talent coming through and people should be watching Sebastien Ogier this year as he had a great year last year.”
With Rally Ireland only 10 days away Solberg hasn’t given up all hope of competing just yet, “If somebody gives me a car for Ireland I will race!” he said with a smile.
Posted: January 15, 2009 10:18 AM
Atkinson samples C4 ahead of Irish assault
Posted: January 15, 2009 10:18 AM
Citroen Pre Rally Ireland Test
Posted: January 13, 2009 4:57 PM
Rally Ireland Marshals Wanted - Irish Competitor Family called to arms
From Paul Goodman,
Chief Marshal
Rally Ireland
As you all know we are just 3 weeks away from staging Round 1 of the 2009 World Rally Championship with Rally Ireland starting from Enniskillen on Thursday the 29th of January. As Chief Marshal I have spent the past three months recruiting nearly 2,500 marshals from the four corners of Ireland, north and south.
We are in good shape to fulfil our Safety Plan requirements for the event and we have been receiving massive support as usual from motorclubs the length and breath of the country.
However there is an additional pool of people we want to resource as Marshals for the event…….Competitors !
Events up and down the country rely weekend after weekend on the goodwill and expertise of the countries ‘hardcore’ marshal groups. I think it’s important that well known and respected competitors like yourselves demonstrate that you have a solidarity with them and will stand with them in helping make Rally Ireland a fantastic success again in 2009.
You may have already signed up to help on one or more of the stages through your own motorclub and if so thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the end of the month. If you haven’t already signed up to help please consider giving a few hours of your time over the weekend.
To give you some idea of the numbers we require in terms of marshals we need approximately 700 on Leg 1, 600 on Leg 2 and a staggering 900 on Leg 3. Add to this a requirement to man the service Park for 24hrs per day for 4 days you see the mammoth task ahead of us.
In 2007 the Gardai estimated that 25,000 spectators watched the Donegal Bay stage and 35,000 were in Mullagmore of the final televised stage. These are the sort of numbers we expect to encounter in 2009 so we will rely heavily on experienced Motorsport people on the ground to help us.
I’m appealing to each and every one of you to come and help out on the weekend.
You can contact me directly by mobile or email address if there is something you can do for us and I look forward to hearing from you.
tel: 087 666 7622 / +353 87 666 7622
email: chiefmarshal@rallyireland.org
Posted: January 12, 2009 9:20 AM
Ireland’s fastest woman to take on World Rally stars at Rally Ireland
Toni Kelly is preparing to take on the world’s fastest drivers at Rally Ireland at the end of the month as the only female entrant in what will be Ireland’s biggest sports event in 2009.
The 20-year-old from Letterkenny in Donegal took up rallying three years ago and has been setting records ever since. Toni began racing quad bikes when she was only 6 and began competing at 10 where she was coming in the top three in most of her races.
She began rallying properly in 2006 at the age of 17 when she got her rally licence and became the youngest Irish competitor to get an international rally licence. In her first rally she came 7th. In 2007 Toni took part in Rally Ireland but was unlucky not to finish the event.
This year she is the only female entrant and it is not something that phases her. “I don’t mind it at all. To be honest it is nice that I am different from everyone else. I suppose it gives me a chance to represent all the girls in a World Championship event.”
She has been competing now for three years but feels now she has earned the respect of her fellow male drivers. “At the start I think they used to wonder was I just here for a laugh. Now they realise I take this very seriously and we are all one big rally family so I ge on great with everyone I meet at all the rallies.”
In 2008 Toni came 11th in the Circuit of Ireland Rally and finished 2nd in her class in what is one of Ireland’s most prestigious rallies. However Rally Ireland is a big step up and one she can’t wait for. “I am really excited about Rally Ireland now. With everyone talking about it, it is really start to hit home that I am competing and it is only around the corner so I just can’t wait now.”
Like any sport there are plenty of sacrifices to be made but this is something that she has come to terms with. “Rallying has taken over my life and it is something I live for. I don’t mind any of the sacrifices I have to make because this is what I love to do more than anything else and when someone even starts to talk about rallying I get excited!”
Rally Ireland 2009 begins on the 29th of January until the 1st of February and will travel through seven counties in the north and south of Ireland, including Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon.
Posted: January 9, 2009 10:15 AM
Boyle World Rally Festival - (Fri) 30 Jan 09
With less than four weeks to go before the start of Rally Ireland 2009, the Boyle World Rally Festival have today announced their programme of events. Former Formula 1 racing supremo Eddie Jordon tops the bill when his band Eddie and the Robbers take centre stage on Friday evening for a free concert.
Posted: January 9, 2009 9:35 AM
Amended entry list
There have been a few changes to the entry list due to assignment of numbers for Ford and Citroen by FIA.
Some Co-drivers also updated.
No Driver /Co-Driver (Car) [Class]
1 Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (Citroen C4 WRC) [A8]
2 Dani Sordo/Marc Marti (Citroen C4 WRC) [A8]
3 Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
4 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Antilla (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
5 Urmo Aava/Kuldar Sikk (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
6 Henning Solberg/Cato Menkerud (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
7 Chris Atkinson/Stephane Prevot (Citroen C4 WRC) [A8]
8 Conrad Rautenbach/Daniel Barritt (Citroen C4 WRC) [A8]
9 Khalid Al Qassimi/Michael Orr (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
11 Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroen C4 WRC) [A8]
16 Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
17 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
18 Gareth McHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
19 Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
20 Aaron McHale/Killian Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
21 Gareth Jones/Clive Jenkins (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
22 Austin McHale/TBA (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
23 Ray Breen/Martin Brady (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
24 Michael Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
25 Stephen Murphy/Michael J Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) [A8]
31 Aaron Burkart/Michael Kolback (Suzuki Swift S1600) [A6]
33 Simone Bertolotti/Luca Celestini (Suzuki Swift S1600) [A6]
34 Luca Griotti/Corrado Bonato (Renault Clio) [A7]
35 Yoann Bonato/Benjamin Boulloud (Suzuki Swift Sport) [A6]
36 Hans Weijs/Bjorn de Gandt (Citroen C2 S1600) [A6]
37 Kevin Abbring/Erwin Mombaerts (Renault Clio RS) [N3]
38 Martin Prokop/Jan Tomanek (Citroen C2 S1600) [A6]
60 Ross Forde/Arron Forde (Suzuki Swift Sport) [N2]
61 Niall McShea/Marshall Clarke (Proton Satria Neo S2000) [S2000]
62 Gary Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
63 Shaun Gallagher/Paul Kiely (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
64 Seamus Leonard/Gerry McVeigh (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
65 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
66 Paddy White/Graeme Stewart (Ford Focus WRC) [A8]
67 David James/Jim Crowe (Ford Focus) [A8]
68 Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta ST) [N3]
69 Derrick Jobb/Thomas Nugent (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
70 Toni Kelly/Tony McDaid (Honda Civic Type R) [A7]
71 Paul Elliott/Brian Doherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4 ]
72 Rory Byrne/Jeremy Patterson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [N4]
73 Ian Hynes/Des Sherlock (Honda Civic ) [N3]
74 Steve Graham/Tony Graham (Vauxhall Astra Rally D) [N3]
75 Kenneth Treacy/Martin Comerford (Volkswagen Polo) [N1]
Posted: January 8, 2009 3:53 PM
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