Destiny awaits - Jonathan Pringle
Posted: August 28, 2015 7:13 AM
This weekend will see Jonathan Pringle and Martin Byrne's biggest weekend in their rallying careers to date with both the National Rally Championship Mark 2 challenge and the Border Rally Championship up for grabs.
The Bailieborough pairing will have to contest with fellow Cavan men Chris Armstrong and James Fulton in what could be billed as a winner takes all race from start to finish with both crews level on points heading into this weekend in the Mark 2 challenge. With the pair trading wins all throughout the year across the four corners of the country this weekend will be the culmination of 6 months of work by both teams.
Jonathan and Martin will have to keep one eye on the Border Championship runners as well with the result of a class win this weekend will seal a historic win for the Jones Engineering escort. With a string of maximum points hauls on all the rounds to date a class win would leave the overall championship out of reach of their rivals and mark a historic win with one round to go.
With a haul of maximum scores in the last 2 rounds the momentum would be very much with the Pringle team but in rallying anything can happen. The championship will be decided this weekend if one crew fails to finish but with good scores from both then the championship will go to the final round in Bantry, West Cork in October.
With a lot riding on this weekend?s result one thing is for certain, there will be a monumental battle between the two Cavan crews on the Galway roads this weekend.
You can keep up to date with Jonathan and Martin?s progress this weekend on their website www.pringlemotorsport.com twitter account @Pringlerallying and on facebook www.facebook.com/pringlemotorsport
All or Nothing! - Chris Armstrong
Posted: August 28, 2015 5:55 AM
The stage is set for an epic battle between Cavan rivals Chris Armstrong and Jonathan Pringle at this weekend's Galway Summer Rally.
Chris, a current Billy Coleman Award Nominee, is currently tied on points with Jonathan in the National Rally Championship Mark 2 challenge. The pair have had a feverish rivalry all year, beginning at the Birr Stages Rally where Chris took the first win. He followed it up with another win at the Midland stages in March, but Jonathan was nipping at his heels all the way.
The tables turned in Monaghan as Jonathan took the victory, but Chris replied at the next round in the Circuit of Munster to steal back more vital points. Next up was the Ravens Rock Rally based in Waterford. Chris?s championship aspirations took a knock after a heavy accident on stage one put him out of the rally. Jonathan scooped maximum points and closed the championship gap going into the Sligo Stages Rally on the seventh of July.
Since there was only two weeks between the Ravens Rock and Sligo, there was many late nights dedicated to repairing the car. It was a great achievement on the part of Chris's team to get him to the start line in Sligo. The car wore many battle scars but it didn't deter Chris, as he put in a sterling drive to finish a scant 3.6 seconds behind Jonathan. This has left both drivers tied on ninety two points going into the penultimate round the Galway Summer Rally.
"I am really looking forward to the event and to getting back in the car. It has been fully repaired now after the crash at the Ravens Rock and looks gorgeous in a new livery. I did a test in it during the week and it is handling better than ever, so I am really hoping the event goes well and we can get back out in front of the championship."
The result may not be guaranteed but there is sure to be a monumental battle between the two Cavan men! They will fight out tooth and nail over the Galway roads to be crowned the fastest Ford Escort MK2 in Ireland.
Follow Chris's progress over the rally weekend on his website: www.chrisarmstrong.ie, Twitter: @chris555a and on Facebook, facebook.com/chrisarmstrongrallying.
GALWAY SUMMER GETAWAY FOR TRITON SHOWERS CONTENDERS - Preview Courtesy of Triton Showers - proud sponsors of the National Rally Championship
Posted: August 28, 2015 5:51 AM
Outgoing national rally champion Declan Boyle heads an impressive and overflowing entry for the Galway Summer Rally, the penultimate round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. With fellow Donegal driver Donagh Kelly having clinched the title on the last round in Sligo, the battle for the remaining top three slots rests between the trio of Niall Maguire, Alan Ring and Roy White.
Boyle, who won the Sligo Rally, will campaign his state of the art Ford Fiesta WRC and is the favourite for event victory. His bid to become the first ever driver to record a straight hat trick of National titles was destroyed early in the season with punctures on the opening rounds in Abbeyleix and Roscommon ? at the time he led both events.
In Sligo he took a fine victory as Kelly concentrated on landing the prestigious Vard Memorial Trophy.
The battle for second and third is still very much in the balance, former triple national champion Monaghan?s Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) holds the advantage at present although with dropped scores taken into consideration there is just five points separating the trio.
Maguire best haul of points - 19 ? was in the Midland Rally, since then he has switched to the ex-Boyle S12B Subaru WRC and is still adapting to his new acquisition.
For Roy White ? third overall in 2013 and runner-up to Boyle (by a single point) last year - another top three finish for the Clonmel driver will be a fine achievement in his MG ZR. The bonus points from the Power Stage could play a deciding role.
Kerry?s Alan Ring (Subaru WRC) missed the last round in Sligo, his best performance was in the Midland Rally where he annexed twenty points - a similar performance in Galway would boost his bid to finish second in the Triton series.
Meanwhile, Welsh driver Steve Wood, a regular in last year?s series, netted third in the recent non-championship round - the Clonmel based Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally. Kevin Barrett in the Triton Showers liveried Subaru WRC will be aiming to secure a top five championship finish.
The top ten also includes Tyrone?s Paddy McVeigh in the ex-Patrick Elliott Subaru WRC, he has made only sporadic outings this season; former national champion Peadar Hurson (Subaru WRC), whilst seeded at number eight, could be amongst the main contenders for event victory; Monaghan?s Daniel McKenna will campaign a Ford Fiesta R5 as Motorsport Safety Group N leader Aidan Wray edges closer to claiming the showroom category of the Triton series.
Elsewhere, Donegal?s Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) is the highest seeded two-wheel drive entry, he faces opposition from the Escorts of Gary McPhillips, Gary Kiernan, Jonathan Pringle, Chris Armstrong, Ed O'Callaghan, Pat Donegan and Mike Quinn in what should be a fascinating contest. In the race for supremacy in the Triton Showers Mk. 2 Escort Trophy, Cavan pair Armstrong and Jonathan Pringle are on equal points with two rounds remaining. British driver Simon Chapman (Proton Satria) is also on the capacity entry.
The top Galway driver is Billy Coleman Award winner Dean Raftery, who is listed to drive a Citroen DS3 R3, the local challenge also features Paul Curley (Subaru WRC), Tom Flaherty (Escort) and Stephen Greaney (Ford Escort).
In Group N, Trevor Bustard, Shane Maguire, Pat Kirk and Neil Tohill, all in Mitsubishi Evo IX?s and Paul Barrett (Subaru) are Aidan Wray?s opponents.
Aside from Daniel McKenna, the Class 5 entry also features the Mitsubishi EvoIX of Wexford?s Graham Scallan, who has won the class in the Triton Showers National Rally Championship; the Ford Fiesta R5 of Kilkenny?s Joe Connolly - he debuted the car on the Stonethrowers Rally while Enda McCormack and Paul Rowley both return from the USA to drive their Skoda Fabia S2000?s. The organising Galway Motor Club has some 50 crews in reserve.
There Junior entry is also over subscribed, it will be led away by defending champion Roscommon?s Cormac Phelan (Citroen C2 R2) with the principal opposition coming from the Honda Civic?s of Stephen Reynolds and Padraig Deasy, Colin Roche (Toyota Starlet) and Gary McNamee (Honda Civic).
Popular public address motorsport commentator, the legendary Dougie Hughes (The Voice of Irish Motorsport) will return to the Triton Showers start and finish ramp proceedings.
Daniel McKenna to Drive Ford First Fiesta R5
Posted: August 12, 2015 4:05 AM
Daniel McKenna will drive the P1 Rally Rentals Ford Fiesta R5 on the Galway Summer Rally.
Kevin Glynn to co-driver
Galway Motor Club gears up for big Summer Rally!
Posted: July 31, 2015 7:30 AM
Photo: Joe Travers
Preparations are well advanced for the 4x4 Exporters Galway Summer Stages Rally.
This is the first rally sponsorship by the Galway based 4x4 and luxury car exporting
company. It will all happen over the weekend of 29th and 30th August next. As
Round 7 of the Triton Showers National Championship, Round 4 of the Top Part
West Coast Championship, and additionally, for 2015 also included in the Sligo
Pallets Border Rally Championship. A full entry of 160 of Irelands top line rally
drivers is therefore guaranteed. The rally headquarters will be the Clayton Hotel,
Ballybrit, Galway. Associate sponsors of the event are Athenry based company
Bluebird Care, and DHKN, Chartered Accountants.
The event was launched in the Clayton Hotel on July 16th by His Worship Mayor of
Galway City Councillor Frank Fahy and the Mayor of the County Peter Roche
The Clerk of the Course is Mark Parsons, Galway Motor Club President, an
experienced organiser and rally competitor. The 2015 event will run to a full
weekend format with Scrutiny, Ceremonial Start and entertainment on Saturday 29th
August. The Sunday route will then cover 9 special stages in the East Galway area.
Official Rally Programmes with full time schedules and detailed maps and full entry
lists will be available in the week before the event.
The rally format will bring a welcome boost to visitor numbers to Galway County.
The event generates a requirement for approximately 1000 bed nights in the area
over the weekend.
Mark Parsons, Clerk of the Course, said "Galway Motor Club is indebted to the staff
of Galway County Council, An Garda Siochana, Failte Ireland, the Road Safety
Authority, our sponsors, the 300 volunteer marshals from all over Ireland, and most
of all the residents along the route for their assistance with temporary road closures
to ensure the safe running of the event."
The Galway Summer Stages Rally is an event that is sanctioned by the FIA under an
official Permit issued by Motorsport Ireland, and supported by the RSA ? The Road
Safety Authority of Ireland. The ?Keep the Race in its Place? campaign is extremely
successful in talking to predominantly young people who follow motorsport. The
Galway Motor Club is eager to remind everyone of the need to drive safely at all
times ? hence the message "Keep the Race in its Place". All competing cars will carry
this logo and message. A comprehensive traffic management plan has been put in
place with the support of the Gardai.
The 2014 Galway Summer Rally was a great success. Donegal cousins Declan and
Brian Boyle were winners with Hugh Hunter and Andy Marchbank from Wales
finishing second, both driving Subaru WRC cars. The Galway Summer Rally attracts a
large entry from Galway Motor Club members, all vying for the prestigious Conroy
Cup. The cup has been presented annually since 1989 to the highest placed car
crewed by club members. Current holder of the cup is Neil Pearse from Loughrea,
who was navigated by Enda O Leary in his Honda Civic, when winning the cup in
2014.
The launch of the 2015 event took place on Thursday, 23rd July, at the Rally
Headquarters, the Clayton Hotel in Ballybrit, Galway.
The club is also delighted to have Ability West as its partnered Charity for 2015
Ability West provides quality services and supports to over 530 individuals with
intellectual disability in over 55 locations throughout Galway City and County.?Their
mission is to provide an individual and holistic service to each person availing of their
services, with each person supported and valued within an environment which
promotes their overall autonomy, health and wellbeing and enables them to reach
their potential.
Event Flyer
Posted: July 24, 2015 7:34 PM
Galway Summer Rally joins the Border Rally Championship
Posted: July 21, 2015 6:30 AM
The committee of the Border Rally Championship are delighted to confirm that Sligo Pallets will return as title sponsors for the 2015 Border Rally Championship. This partnership, which began in 2011, has seen the Championship grow in stature and entrance levels increase over the previous years. It is hoped this trend will continue in 2015.
The Championship will revert to a six round series in 2015 with the addition of the Galway Summer Rally in late August. It was felt by many crews that there was too long of a gap between Sligo & Donegal ,so Galway in late August was the ideal candidate to fill this void. The committee look forward to welcoming Galway to the fold this year. Due to the new round, competitors will now count their best four scores from six events. Classes will be as per 2015 Motorsport Ireland regulations.
Club Website
Posted: July 21, 2015 6:24 AM
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