Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20 - POSTPONED

Update on the 2020 Moonraker Forest Rally - 27 Mar 20

Posted: March 27, 2020 10:52 AM

"On behalf the event C.O.C Gerard Seaman, and the Directors of the Munster Car Club L.T.D, we would like to sincerely thank those that had supported what was set to be an incredible running of the Moonraker Forest Rally, especially the competitors who had already submitted entries before the event was Postponed. We would like to reassure these competitors that their entry fees will be returned in full.

As released earlier, the ongoing situation regarding the worldwide spread of the Covid-19 Pandemic has put our sport in perspective, and we as an organising body are determined to work with Sponsors, Motorsport Ireland and most of all our valued Competitors on securing a new date for the 2020 Abbey Hotel supported event should it be both appropriate and safe in light of current Health Concerns.

At present, our ambition still remains to find a suitable date in 2020 for the Moonraker Forest Rally, but if this is not possible, we would like to assure All of our Sponsors, Rally Supporters and Competitors that the event will be back even bigger and better in 2021.

This is an incredibly difficult time for our Nation as a whole, and we wish the very best to each member of the Rally Family at this time. Keep your distance and help our wonderful Front-Line Health Professionals, who themselves are great supporters of Rallying in Ireland, to deal with the Covid-19 Pandemic."

Event Postponed

Posted: March 12, 2020 5:55 PM

“In light of the developing situation around the Covid-19 Outbreak, and following on from the Health Provisions outlined by the Taoiseach this afternoon, I, as Clerk of the Course, and with the support of Munster Car Club, have taken the prudent decision to postpone the 2020 Abbey Hotel Moonraker Rally.

This decision is a difficult one to make, but in light of the current outbreak, and in an effort to prevent further spread of Covid-19, I feel my decision is for the best. We apologise to all those that may have already made travel plans to the Ballyvourney area, and we sincerely hope that you will support the event once a later date has been announced.

I feel confident that an alternative date will be available for publication in the coming weeks.

Further Information will be available over the coming weeks, but make sure to check out www.munstercarclub.com, as well as Social Media Channels, for all the latest updates on a proposed new date.”

2020 Moonraker is Launched in Style

Posted: February 27, 2020 3:36 AM

The Munster Car Club Moonraker Forestry Rally, which takes place on Saturday March 28th, was launched last Saturday night at its Ballyvourney HQ. A large number of officials, Competitors and fans alike attended to hear an outline plan of this year’s event from Clerk of the Course Ger Seaman. Ger detailed this year’s rally which is to includes 60.6kms of what many believe to be among the best forestry rally roads in the country, along with the competitor friendly measures built into the Rally plan such as very low road section distances and a centralised service and Pairc Ferme all within walking distance of the Rally H.Q.

On the night, he also thanked the local community and business in and around the Ballyvourney area for their unwavering support of the event year after year. Seaman also offered his heartfelt gratitude to the event sponsors, and in particular to Michael and the Creedon family of the Abbey Hotel which is Rally H.Q, for making the rally a home from home for the forest rally community. He went on to thank associate sponsors Acesigns Cork who have worked with the Munster Car Club for many years, and indeed its managing director Neil Phelan is taking on the role of Deputy Clerk of the Course for the 2020 Moonraker. Ger also thanked his own family business Dan Seaman Motors, Ireland’s largest and longest serving Main Mitsubishi Dealers, for their financial support also and for coming on as Associate Sponsor this year.

Before Ger finished, he spoke about the safety of our competing crews, which is something that all organisers take very seriously in working out the rally routes. To this end, Ger announced that a number of Munster Car Club members have agreed, after discussion, that they would pay for, from their own back pockets, use of the newly implemented Vehicle Tracking Systems to be fitted to each competing car at no cost to the competitor on this year’s event. Seaman said at a time when budgets are very tight for competitors, and being a club made up of competitors ourselves, we felt that as a safety measure it was vitally important to have the tracking systems in the cars, but felt that crews should not have to pay for something that we feel will take the sport forward in regards of safety. Personally, Ger added, that he would like to publicly thank each and every club member that is paying for this for the safety of our competitors and hope to see these trackers on more events over the course of the next year.

The Abbey Hotel Ballyvourney Moonraker Forestry Rally takes place on Saturday March 28th and is the third counting round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship.

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: February 27, 2020 3:32 AM

Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20 - REGULATIONS
Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20 - ENTRY FORM

Launch Night - (Sat) 22 Feb 20

Posted: February 17, 2020 5:11 PM

Excitement Builds To 2020 Moonraker Forest Rally

Posted: January 7, 2020 4:11 PM

The countdown is well and truly on as The Munster Car Club, and Event C.O.C Gerard Seaman, are delighted to announce the initial details of the 2020 Moonraker Forest Rally, running from Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, on Saturday, March 28th.

The 2020 event has a lot of exceptional stages on offer to competitors, with the compact 60KM route being a real top class pick of fast, flowing and smooth Gravel roads, all within very close proximity of the centralised Service Park and HQ in Ballyvourney.

The Abbey Hotel, Ballyvourney, are hugely excited to come on board as Title Sponsors once more. The club wish to thank Michael & The Creedon Family for the support that they give to the event year after year, and the Hotel will function as Rally HQ for the weekend.

The 2020 Moonraker Forest Rally is Round Three of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship, and as such it is sure to attract some of the biggest names in Irish Rallying who are familiar with the wonderful stages within the Ballyvourney area. 2019 event winner Cathan McCourt used the Moonraker success as a springboard towards claiming the Forestry Crown, and the Omagh star is sure to be right in the mix again in 2020.

Gerard Seaman returns in 2020 to take the reigns as Clerk of the Course for a third time, but the former Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Manager has put together as usual an incredibly strong team around him for the event from the Munster Car Club. Some New Faces to join the team are Popular competitor and long-term supporter of The Munster Car Club Neil Phelan who has taken on the role of Deputy C.O.C, while also becoming an associate Sponsor through his business AceSigns Ltd Cork, while Orla Galvin Griffin has been appointed as Chief Marshal. Margaret Browne returns to the role of Entries Secretary.

The 2020 Irish Forest Rally Championship has introduced new Regulations in the area of Junior 1000 rallying, the ultimate entry-level championship for the budding stars of the future. The Moonraker Forest Rally will see competitors as young as 14 years of age tackle the full route, under the guidance and mentorship of some of the Sports most experienced Navigators.

The competitor has been at the core of all decisions made by the Moonraker Organisers, and a number of touches prove that. The Saturday March 28th event date was chosen to accommodate people finding time to travel and compete within a busy work schedule, while the tight and compact nature of the 4 Stage Locations massively cuts down on road mileage.

Further Information will be available over the coming weeks, but make sure to check out www.munstercarclub.com, as well as Social Media Channels, for all the latest info in the build up to March 28th, and the Moonraker Forest Rally.

Club Website

Posted: January 7, 2020 4:11 PM

Munster Car Club