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Ballina Motor Club's Young Rally Drivers Support SchemePosted: September 3, 1999 1:08 PM - 3548 Hits
As members of a Motor Club at official and competitor level, we are concerned at the lack of young drivers "taking a chance" and display their talent on a bigger stage. Posted: September 3, 1999 1:08 PM
We all know and admire the dedicated group who have worked their way up the rallying ladder to give us the very attractive international level of competition currently enjoyed in Ireland today. One just has to look at the variety of Supercars on show this weekend to realise that Tarmac Rallying is in a very healthy state indeed. But very few seem to be willing to try their luck and demonstrate their obvious skill to a bigger European audience. Also the Supercar route in Ireland is a very expensive road and one often wonders about the amount of raw talent behind the wheel in some cases. This Supercar, "A8", phenoma is now filtering down to the National level and people/competitors seem to think that more money equals success. But occasionally younger drivers in older, cheaper machinery prove this theory wrong. We are talking about the likes of John O€Dowd, James Foley, and in particular Rory Galligan from Oldcastle, County Meath, who in a pretty standard Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi, ran away with Class 7 in the National Series last year but much more impressively ran and finished in the top 10 on numerous occasions. These results are on record for all to see. This was endorsed in the Red Mills Championship and Rory€s achievement was recognised by the R.I.A.C. when he was awarded the Brian McGrath Memorial Trophy. Rory has now taken a big step. He could have stayed in Ireland and continue to shock the Red Mills regulars with his pace but he has decided to contest the Peugeot Super 106 Cup and test his talent against the best in Britain and Europe. This is a self-financed effort being done on a shoestring with no car dealer support and no official recognition or backing from Ireland. We, as members of Ballina Motor Club, feel that there is no recognition for up and coming talent and no sign posted avenue for a talented and proven driver to go down.
This group should be able to approach bodies like the Sports Council, National Lottery, Minister for Sport and the car distributors/dealers to come out and support our project. We can knock on doors as a group, and get attention. This is a project for the future. We feel that for rallying to progress we need to encourage our drivers to start younger, and if successful in Ireland, feel that a move to England would be the next logical step. Motorsport Ireland has said they will fully support and endorse a young rising rally star who will act as an ambassador for our sport.
We have proposed that Motorsport Ireland set up a Junior Championship, for contestants under 23 years of age that should include A 1600 cc car must be used and we feel that this should ideally be standard production. Drivers will have to register their results with Motorsport Ireland and it is hoped the championship will begin with the 1999/2000 forestry events and run to the end of the stages rallies season in October 2000. The winner will then be the first potential rally star of the future that will be endorsed and encouraged by Motorsport Ireland. Here clubs have the opportunity to recognize potential candidates and encourage their young members to have a go and aim for the big prize...A Works World Rally drive.
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