Daniel McKenna Moves To Toyota For Donegal
Posted: June 11, 2015 9:56 AM
Irish Junior World Rally Championship star Daniel McKenna is looking forward to a new challenge this month after it was announced he will drive a Toyota GT86 in the forthcoming Joule Donegal International Rally.
McKenna, a former winner of the national section of the event, has tested the car ahead of the rally and believes the car has the potential to be competitive. Speaking this week McKenna said; 'The Toyota GT86 is a very well balanced car and I'm really pleased by the strides we have made in testing in the last few weeks. Having driven Mark 2 Escorts and having won the national rally in Donegal in the past, I know what it takes to be competitive and I believe the GT86 could surprise plenty of people. David Greer Motorsport and Brendan Kelly have created a brilliant car, which is still being developed and it's great to be part of such an exciting project. I'm very grateful for Brendan for asking me to come on board for this event. Donegal is a special rally, this is a special car and hopefully, I can produce a special performance.'
Brendan Kelly of Kelly's Toyota Letterkenny is also looking forward to the weekend and is delighted to have a driver of Daniel's calibre involved in the project. 'Daniel has good pedigree in Donegal and has proved to be quick in every car he has driven to date, so naturally he was on the top of our driver wishlist for the Toyota GT86″ said Kelly. 'Daniel's feedback on the car in testing has been invaluable to the project and we are more than hopeful the car will raise a few eyebrows on the event. As a Toyota dealer, it will be great to have a car competing on my local event that looks just like a road car in my showroom. I'm not placing any pressure on Daniel to get a result, we all know what he is capable of. Donegal will be a great test for the Toyota GT86.'
The 2015 Joule Donegal International Rally will get underway on Friday June 19th and the GT86 will have to face 20 gruelling stages over the weekend before reaching the finish ramp in Letterkenny on Sunday afternoon.
Rally Launch - (Tue) 9 Jun 15
Posted: June 4, 2015 9:13 AM
The 2015 Joule Donegal International Rally Ireland is fast approaching. With all figures associated with the rally at full capacity it is set to be one of the largest events in the rally?s 44-year history.
The Donegal Motor Club has announced that it is hosting a pre-rally press conference and Rally Forum at An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny on the 9th June at 7.30 p.m.
This event is open to all members of the press and public and will be a great opportunity to meet the team involved in the running of the event, along with meeting some of the top competitors and personalities that will be tackling the event which starts from An Grianan on the 19th June.
With expected attendance figures set to exceed 75,000, accommodation is at a premium with many hotels and B&Bs reporting being fully booked since early February. The now-added attraction of Irish Tarmac Champion and Donegal native Declan Boyle, who is set to debut his ?works? specification 2015 Ford Fiesta World Rally Car at number 1, has seen a late rush for places as many are keen to see this ?500,000 pocket rocket in action. The car will be the first of its kind in Ireland and 1 of only 4 in private hands world-wide, so expectations will be high.
A detailed Organiser?s Rally Guide for visitors and competitors has now gone live online at donegalrally.ie, listing the key services and features in the region including accommodation, restaurants, travel and essential services.
Full details of the entry list and Rally Guide are also available on donegalrally.ie
The Organisers are repeating their call for marshals to make contact to assist with the running of the event in a safe manner, if you are over 18 years old and would be interested you can contact Chief marshal on 087 7566 863 or +353 87 7566 863
Seeded Entry List (28/5/15)
Posted: May 29, 2015 3:05 PM
Time and Distance Schedule
Posted: May 29, 2015 3:02 PM
Regulations now available
Posted: May 5, 2015 1:59 PM
New three year sponsorship deal for Donegal International Rally
Posted: April 10, 2015 2:43 PM
Ireland's premier rallying event, the Donegal International Rally, has secured a new headline sponsor.
Joule, which is one of the country's leading manufacturers and designers of energy efficient hot water cylinders and solar heating systems, has agreed to sponsor the rally for the next three years.
The value of the sponsorship deal has not been disclosed but Joule, says it is making a considerable investment in its brand awareness in Ireland. The sponsorship announcement was made at Rally School Ireland's purpose built motorsport facility at Scotstown in County Monaghan.
Over 180 drivers from all over Ireland and the UK will participate in the Joule Donegal International Rally, which will take place from the 19th to the 21st of June.
It is estimated the Rally, which is the only 3 day rallying event in the country is worth up to '25m to the local economy.
The Clerk of the Course, Eamon McGee said it was fantastic that a young and dynamic Irish company such as Joule was partnering with the rally.
We are delighted that Joule has agreed to sponsor the Rally for the next three years. The Joule Donegal International Rally is the biggest annual sporting event in the northern half of the country and we could not continue to stage an event of this magnitude without a title sponsor like Joule. The signing of a new three-year deal is a massive vote of confidence in the event and a real shot in the arm for Irish rallying.'
We are thrilled to be working with such a forward-looking company, and this news will come as a huge boost for the entire North West and for rally fans everywhere. Joule is an ideal partner for us with great people who are fantastic to work with. We can now look to the future with real confidence and mid-summer's night in Donegal can't come quickly enough for us."
Joule Chief Executive Ian Barrett said the company was delighted to sign a sponsorship deal with the Donegal Motor Club. "Since the early seventies this event has enjoyed a reputation as Ireland's leading rally. As an Irish owned and managed company we know how important the Rally is to the local economy, to the tourism sector and of course to rallying fans. We are looking forward to working closely with the DMC and building on the success the rally has enjoyed over four decades" Barrett said.
Joule, which is one of Ireland's largest manufacturers of solar panels, tube systems and hot water cylinders, also sees the sponsorship as a way of raising its brand awareness in Ireland. 'The Joule Donegal International Rally is a flagship event and we see our partnership with the rally as an excellent way of getting our name out in the market and of informing consumers about our range of highly effective and cost efficient products' Barrett concluded.
Club Website
Posted: April 10, 2015 2:42 PM
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