Galway International Rally - 3-4 Feb 24

New Cars / New Colours for 2024!

Posted: February 2, 2024 3:34 PM

2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 4

Posted: February 1, 2024 1:35 AM

The 2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally boasts an impressive lineup of drivers and machinery ahead of this year’s event, which takes place on 3rd & 4th February. There are over 130 crews due to start in what promises to be a very hard fought encounter with some very successful drivers from Ireland and the UK doing battle. 2023 Irish Tarmac Rally Champions Callum Devine & Noel O’Sullivan are top seeds in a VW Polo and will be looking to carry the momentum from last year’s series into this year. Number 2 seeds are Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes who won here in 2022 and finished second last year. Moffett will be making a switch from a Hyundai to a Citroen C3 for the event and it will be interesting to see how quickly he adapts.

Third seeds are Keith Cronin & Mikie Galvin in a Fiesta Rally 2 and marks the duos return to the championship for the first time since they won it back in 2016. Keith of course is a former winner of the event having tasted victory in 2013. Sam Moffett & James O’Reilly at four are in a Hyundai i20 Rally 2 and Sam will be hoping to be as quick out of the blocks as last year when he led the event over the early stages. Rounding off the top six are Jonny Greer & Niall Burns who as usual will have a Citroen C3 Rally 2 followed by Matt Edwards & David Moynihan in a Fiesta Rally 2. It will be former BRC champion Edwards’s first appearance in Galway, but he has been competitive on previous visits to Ireland.

Seventh seeds are Desi Henry & Stuart Loudon in a Citroen C3 Rally 2 who will be hoping for a long overdue change of luck in Galway. Ryan Loughran & Gareth Doherty at eight are also Fiesta mounted. Loughran who is noted for his exploits in a Ford Escort, showed some impressive form on a few occasions last year when moving to the Rally 2 car. Garry Jennings in a non-starter at nine so Declan Boyle will be next up as he continues to get uses to the Citroen. Jason Mitchell at 11 is another nonstarter so Mark Alcorn & Darren Currans (Escort Mk2) round off the top ten. Alcorn had a superb run in Galway last year and will be a strong contender for the modified category.

Outside of the top ten, several drivers will have something to say about the overall shakeup of the event including Kevin Eves, Gareth MacHale, Michael Boyle, Gary Kiernan & David Kelly who are just some of the chasing pack. Austin MacHale & Brian Murphy seeded at number twenty make a return to Irish rallying in a Ford Focus WRC. Austin has not been rallying competitively in over fifteen years while Brian has been competitive with Austin’s son Gareth over the past couple of years. The historic category is well supported, with last year’s historic winner Meirion Evans back to defend his title. Ray Breen, Ross Forde, Tom Clark, Duncan Williams and Ernie Graham amongst the entry. There are eight junior crews with top seeds being Galway crew Jason Gorham & Liam Egan in a Honda Civic.

There will be a ceremonial start at 7:30pm in Eyre Square on Friday evening, which will be an opportunity to see the crews and their cars up close. Overnight Parc Ferme is at Galway Racecourse and the first car is due away from there at 7:45 am on Saturday morning. The crews will go to service at Galway Airport before heading out to the days eight stages based around Headford with the first stage getting underway at Kilcoona at 8:54am.Other stages include Caherlistrane and Kilbeg with the cars servicing at Galway Airport after each loop. The first car is due back in Parc Ferme at 17:23 on Saturday evening.

Sunday’s action gets underway at 8:55am near Monivea with the Belville stage, followed by a stage at Colmanstown. These two stages will be attempted three times in all, with servicing at Galway Airport after each pair of stages. The first car is due back at the finish ramp at 16:30 at Rally Headquarters the Connacht Hotel.

Galway Motor Club would like to thank all those who have given their assistance including marshals, officials, residents, Gardaí, Galway County Council and Galway Flying Club, and want to wish all those attending the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Media Coverage:

• Results, regular updates and more detailed information will be available on the Galway International Rally Facebook page
• Galway Bay FM will be reporting from all 14 stages throughout the two days with updates and driver interviews
• Galway Motor Club has secured TV coverage with On the Limit Sports with programmes to be broadcast in the coming weeks.

2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Timetable:

• Friday 2nd February 1pm to 6pm – Scrutiny at Galway Racecourse
• Friday 2nd February 7:30pm - Ceremonial Start in Eyre Square Galway
• Saturday 3rd February All Day – 8 Special Stages in the Headford Area
• Sunday 4th February All Day – 6 Special Stages in the Monivea Area
• Saturday & Sunday 3rd & 4th February – Service Park at Galway Airport
• Sunday 4th February 4:30pm – Finish at Connacht Hotel Galway

Traffic Diversions:
In order to facilitate the safe running of the event there will be temporary road closures on certain roads around the Headford and Monivea areas over the weekend. All road closures will be clearly sign posted and marshalled. Residents who live on the route have been informed of the times and Galway County Council has advertised temporary road closure arrangements and details. There will be additional traffic in the Eyre Square area from 6.00pm to 9.00pm on Friday 2nd to facilitate the Ceremonial Start, also near the Connacht Hotel.

Rally Programmes: The Official Rally Programme contains full listings of stage times, service area times, detailed Ordnance Survey Route Maps and all the information required to locate the many spectator access points. The Programme costs €15 and is available from the Connacht Hotel and from various Corrib Oil filling stations, newsagents and outlets in the city and county, listed on the Rally.ie website, and on the Galway International Rally Facebook page.

Road Safety:
The Corrib Oil Galway International 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. All competing cars will carry its logo and message, and signage to promote this road safety message will be visible. Gary Leonard, Clerk of the Course, encourages fans travelling to the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally to heed the message from the organisers to ‘Keep the Race in its Place’, to slow down, never drink and drive and to always wear a seatbelt. All spectators on the closed road stages must always obey the Marshals, as they will be implementing a comprehensive Safety Plan. A traffic management plan has been put in place with the support of the Gardaí.

CRONIN/GALVIN RETURN TO IRISH RALLYING FOR TARMAC TITLE TILT

Posted: February 1, 2024 1:32 AM

Former Irish Tarmac Rally Champion, Keith Cronin, will return to the series this year in a bid to reclaim the crown he previously won in 2016. The West Cork driver, who has concentrated on the British Rally Championship in recent seasons, is seeded at No. 3 for this weekend’s Galway International Rally, the opening round of the 2024 Tarmac series, and he will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally 2 throughout the campaign. Cronin will be guided is his quest by co-driver, Mikie Galvin, who was also alongside for the championship victory eight years ago.

The Galway opener boasts a very strong field, with six Tarmac titles recorded among the top ten seeds, and Cronin is quick to acknowledge how competitive it will be. “The pace last year was extremely hot, the likes of Callum Devine and Josh Moffett moved to a new level and drove each other on throughout the season”, he noted. “They did a lot of rallying, they were out on many of the National rounds as well”. Devine will be equipped with the same Volkswagen Polo which brought him to victory in the 2023 ITRC, while Moffett has entered his familiar Hyundai i20 R5 but is expected to be seen in a newly acquired Citroën C3 Rally 2.

Cronin too is making a switch, moving on from the Polo he used on British Championship events over the past couple of years in favour of the latest-spec Fiesta from M-Sport, Ford’s official rally partner. He is confident that it is the right decision: “On the two British rounds we did last year where Adrian Fourmaux was out in the Fiesta, even taking into account that's he's a professional, World-class driver, it was plain to see the progress that M-Sport had made with the car, and there were further upgrades later in the year, plus they did a test in Ireland after that to pin down the set up for our roads. While the Polo is still a very good car, and was from the outset, there is no longer any ongoing development of it, and there hasn't been for some years. I think the difference will show”. Cronin’s Fiesta will be run by Tom Gahan Motorsport, which is a continuation of the arrangement that was in place with the Polo.

As regards predicting the outcome in Galway, a rally he won in 2013, Cronin is circumspect: “I wouldn't be making any promises about our result, I haven't been out on an event since May, many of the other lads were in action all year”. He also identifies three-time British champion, Matt Edwards, who is undertaking his first full ITRC campaign, as a particular threat. “He has had some great results in Ireland in recent years, he was second on the Donegal International last June, and he won the Ulster Rally a few years ago. He may not have done many events in 2023, but he's in and out of cars constantly with his set-up and tutoring work, he'll be on the pace straight away and I expect he'll certainly challenge for the win”.

Cronin’s return to the ITRC may have been somewhat unexpected, as it was widely believed that he would take another tilt at a fifth British title, but he must balance his sport with commitments to the family business, as he explained: “The Tarmac Championship suits me this year from a work point of view, three of the rounds are within about an hour and a quarter of home, the West Cork Rally obviously, and the Killarney Rally of the Lakes and the Cork ‘20’, so that reduces the time I have to be away from the business overall during the year. I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge, I haven't done the full Tarmac Championship since 2016, the year we won it. That was the first time the World Rally Cars couldn't score points, but they were still winning the events, so even though we had maximum scores there was no outright win, so it would be nice to take one or two this year. We did win out the Ulster Rally in 2017 when the Tarmac and British Championships overlapped, but we weren't actually registered for Tarmac points that season”.

The Galway International Rally gets underway on Friday evening (February 2nd), with a Ceremonial Start in front of the fans at Eyre Square in the city centre. There will be eight stages on Saturday in the Headford area, while on Sunday the action moves to the locality around Monivea, where there will be six further tests. The Service Park will be based at Galway Airport throughout the weekend, and the Finish Ramp will be located at the Connacht Hotel on the Dublin Road.

Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship campaign is to be supported by Lyons Motor Group, Shane Casey Electrical Services, M O'Brien Group of Companies, Pirelli Tyres, Keohane Seafoods, Cremin Coach & Mini Bus Hire, Cronin’s Homevalue Hardware, Cronin’s Centra (Ballylickey, Leap, Union Hall, Millstreet and Dundrum), Westlink Service Station, EARS Motorsport Ireland, M-Sport and Würth Ireland.

“I am delighted to welcome on board some new sponsors who will support our Irish Tarmac Championship campaign, and to welcome back some other loyal sponsors who have been with us over the past number of years”, said Cronin. “Lyons Motor Group joins us for the first time this year. It is a family owned business established over 35 years ago, with sites in Limerick, Tipperary, Galway & Cork representing brands such as Ford, Ford Commercials, Jaguar and Land Rover. Ken Lyons has been a rally competitor for decades, always driving Fords, while his son Keith is also a regular nowadays on Tarmac and National rounds, and he will be out in Galway as well in his Fiesta Rally 2”.

“Shane Casey Electrical Services is also one of our new partners. The company provides to the residential, commercial and industrial sectors across Cork and Kerry, and also specialises in calving camera CCTV installations, electric gates, and home entertainment system fit-outs. Shane is also a competitor, and he has been making good progress since he changed over to a Fiesta Rally 4 last year”.

“M O’Brien Group of Companies is another long-term supporter. The Group is a multi-disciplined service provider to the construction industry operating across the UK, and consists of M O’Brien Plant Hire, Ashvale Haulage, M O’Brien Civil Engineering, Lowery Demolition, Skyland Contractors and L.B. Silica Sands. Michael O’Brien is a fellow Corkman, who went to work on building sites in London in his teens and practised on the machines at lunchtimes. He later bought his first digger and progressed from there, and now employs over 700 people. Michael rallies a Ford Focus WRC on British and Irish events, I must ask him to give me a go in it one of these days”.

“We will be supported this year by Pirelli Tyres and its partner, EARS Motorsport Ireland. I have a long history with Pirelli, I drove its Subaru to my second British Championship title, and won two others plus the Tarmac Championship with its products. My most recent rally wins in Scotland were also on Pirellis. EARS Motorsport Ireland was established by the Moynihan family forty or so years ago, and remains one of the premier suppliers of motorsport tyres, helmets, racewear and equipment, with branches in Mallow, Co. Cork and Kesh, Co. Fermanagh”.

“We are of course also supported by the Cronin family businesses, our HomeValue Hardware store in Ballylickey, plus the Centra Shops in Ballylickey, Leap, Union Hall and Millstreet in Co. Cork, and our latest addition in Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, as well as the Westlink Filling Station and Daybreak Shop in the Cork suburb of Togher”.

“Cremin Coaches is one of my longest backers, and Mick Cremin has been much more than just a sponsor over the years, he has helped my rallying career in so many ways. Cremin Coaches offers tours of West Cork and the Wild Atlantic Way along the western seaboard, as well as buses of various capacities for corporate, club and private bookings”.

“Keohane Seafoods also remain with us for the 2024 season, it is great to have the support of such a progressive West Cork company. Drawing from over thirty years of experience fishing in the Atlantic, Michael Keohane and his sons Colman and Brian have built up a vast business, selling fresh and frozen seafood products which are available in Super-Valu and Centra shops, and in Lidl stores across Ireland, the UK, Europe and the USA. They employ well over 200 people and also have their own shop at the Kinsale Road in Cork”.

“M-Sport is known worldwide as the operator of Ford’s World Rally Team, and it builds the Puma Rally 1 cars at its main facility in Cockermouth, while the Fiesta Rally 2s and Rally 3s are produced at the company’s European base in Krakow, from where the Junior WRC programme is co-ordinated. M-Sport has also recently spearheaded the development of the Ford Ranger for the T1+ 4X4 Prototype Cross Country class on the Dakar Rally and other World Rally Raid events”.

“We also welcome on board for the first time, Würth Ireland, which has over twenty trade stores throughout the 32 counties, offering a huge range of products for the automotive sector and many other areas. Their extensive catalogue includes tyre fitting equipment, vehicle lifts, diagnostic hardware and software, workplace equipment, material processing supplies and metal fixings”.

Josh Moffett to debut Citroen C3 Rally2

Posted: January 27, 2024 6:04 AM

Seeded Entry List

Posted: January 23, 2024 11:14 AM

1 Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
2 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
3 Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
4 Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Hyundai i20 Rally2) [RC2]
5 Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
6 Matt Edwards/David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
7 Desi Henry/Stewart Loudon (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
8 Ryan Loughran/Gareth Doherty (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
9 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [24]
10 Declan Boyle/TBA (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
11 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
12 Mark Alcorn/Domhnall McAlaney (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
14 Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Toyota Corolla) [14]
15 Gareth Machale/Ger Conway (VW Polo GTI R5) [24]
16 Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
17 Conor Murphy/Sean Collins (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
18 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
19 James Ford/Neil Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
20 Austin Machale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) [25]
21 Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5) [RC2]
22 Gary Kiernan/John McCabe (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
23 David Kelly/Dean O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
24 Frank Kelly/Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
25 Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
26 Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC5]
27 Cal McCarthy/Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
28 Ryan Caldwell/Shane Byrne (Skoda Fabia R5) [RC2]
29 Brendan Cumiskey/Arthur Kierans (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
30 Keith Lyons/JJ Cremin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
31 Ed O'Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
32 John Warren/Ruthann O'Connor (Toyota Corolla) [13]
33 Brian Lavelle/Dylan Doonan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
34 Richard Whelan/James Whelan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
35 Eugene Meegan/Declan Campbell (BMW M1) [14]
36 Paul Rowley/Darragh Mullen (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
37 Mickey Conlon/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
38 Stephen Greaney/Enda O'Leary (Ford Fiesta Rally5) [RC5]
39 Dylan Donoghue/John Burke (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
40 Allen Treacy/Eoin Treacy (Toyota Corolla) [13]
41 Fergal McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
43 Tom Holton/Stephen Reynolds (Ford Fiesta R5) [24]
44 Pat Kelly/Jonathan Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [20]
45 Stephen Bawn/Flemming John (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
46 Kevin Wilson/Katie Wilson (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
47 Jonathan Folan/Jason Ollerenshaw (Ford Fiesta) [20]
48 Jer O'Donovan/Alistair Wyllie (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
49 Keelan Grogan/Ayrton Sherlock (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
50 Jack Brennan/John McGrath (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
51 Casey Jay Coleman/Lorcan Moore (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
52 David Quigley/Dean Raftery (Honda Civic) [11F]
53 Des Lyons/Ashling McArdle (Honda Civic) [11F]
54 Aoife Raftery/Inês Veiga (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
55 Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
56 Frank Rafferty/Gavin Bird (Ford Fiesta) [20]
57 Duncan Williams/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
58 Meirion Evans/Anthony Osullivan (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
59 Tom Clark/Iarla McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [18]
60 Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Legacy RS) [19]
61 Ross Forde/Arron Forde (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
62 Cian Caldwell/Ryan Farrell (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
63 Joseph Kelly/Killian McArdle (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [RC4]
64 John Lynch/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5+) []
65 JF Shovelin/Dylan Baskin (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
66 Kevin Kelleher/Micheal Codey (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
67 Kevin Cole/Matthew Kirwan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
68 Ben McIntyre/TBA (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
69 James Bradley/David Byrne (Honda Civic) [11F]
70 Corey Eves/Pascal McCarney (Toyota Corolla) [13]
71 Justin Comer/Ava Comer (Ford Escort) [13]
72 Gerard Browne/Keith Harris (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
73 Ernie Graham/Anna Graham (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [19]
74 Hugh McQuaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
75 Maurice Meskell/Stephen Meskell (Ford Escort Mk1) [18]
76 Will Graham/James O'Brien (BMW M3) [19]
77 Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
78 Trevor Wilson/Paul Mulholland (BMW M3) [19]
79 John O'Donnell/Oisin Joyce (BMW M3) [18]
80 Paul McHugh/Katelyn McHugh (Honda Integra Type R) [22]
81 Mac Walsh/Steven Tinney (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
82 David Healy/Martin Byrne (Honda Civic) [11F]
83 Michael Cahill/Darren O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
84 Paul Crosby/Eoin Lennon (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
85 John Michael Kennelly/Behan Brendan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
86 John O'Reilly/Nick Sparks (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
87 Anthony O'Brien/Michael Laverty (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
88 Aidan Long/Anthoney O'Sullivan (Subaru Impreza 555) [15]
89 Andy Heekin/Darragh Lynch (Subaru Impreza) [15]
90 Victor Farrell/Padraic Millane (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
91 Adrian Cannon/Ivan Hernon (Ford Escort G3) [12]
92 Patrick Bonner/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
93 Adam Doherty/Michael Ward (Nissan Micra) [9]
94 Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
95 John O'Rourke/Kenneth Blanche (Opel Corsa Rally 4) [RC4]
96 Gerard O'Connell/Martin Casey (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
97 Declan Gannon/Ivan Gannon (Ford Fiesta) [20]
98 Ben Bowler/Patrick Bowler (Honda Civic Type R) [11F]
99 Jason Murphy/Rachel Brennan (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
100 Thomas J Shiel/John Kilmartin (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
101 Walter Dick/Meabh Griffin (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
102 Craig Macwilliam/Guy Macwilliam (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [18]
103 Andrew Johnson/George McMillen (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) [18]
104 Ian Davies/Gwynfor Jones (BMW M3) [19]
105 Peter McCullagh/Sean Brunton (Ford Escort Mk2) [18]
106 Noel Doyne/James Murtagh (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
107 Jonni McDaid/Tony McGovern (Talbot Samba GpB) [17]
108 Gearoid Leonard/Dylan Burke (TBA) []
109 Tomas Ryan/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
110 Conor Wilson/Kyle McDaid (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
111 Gerry Reilly/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
112 Colin Mullins/Shane Mullins (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
113 Jack Brunton/Jack Kelly (Ford Escort) [11R]
114 Eoin Cullinane/Darragh McElroy (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
115 Eddie Cogan/Ellie Cogan (Peugeot 106 Rallye) [10]
116 Ryan Justin/Gary Collins (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
117 Cathal Mullins/Darragh Mullins (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
118 Noel Murphy/Stephen Monaghan (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
119 Tommy Foley/David Doyle (Honda Civic) [11F]
120 Mike Dolan/Mitchell Sean (Honda Civic) []
121 Colm Connor/Brian Martyn (Honda Civic) [11F]
122 Daniel Ferry/James McGlinchey (Honda Civic) [11F]
123 Iarla Carty/Jack Carty (Opel Adam) [22]
124 Anthony Breen/Gillian Breen (Subaru Impreza) [15]
125 Adrian Quinn/TBA (TBA) []
126 Paul Creamer/TBA (TBA) []
127 Damien Connell/Jonathan Herwood (Honda Civic) [11F]
128 Seimi Browne/Oisin Gallagher (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
129 Chrisy Corry/Dwayne McPhillips (Ford Fiesta ST) [22]
130 Gerard Tuite/Brian Sharkey (Peugeot 205 RWD) [11R]

Juniors
301 Jason Gorham/Liam Egan (Honda Civic) [16]
302 Ronan Dorrian/Jason Tease (Honda Civic) [16]
303 Patrick Doherty/Dylan Boyce (Honda Civic) [16]
304 Cian Hynes/Cathal Fallon (Honda Civic EK4) [16]
305 Barry McIntyre/Brian Keohane (Honda Civic) [16]
306 Dylan Sheehan/Aaron O'Connor (Honda Civic) [16]
307 Jason Wilkinson/Ciaran McGinley (Honda Civic) [16]
308 Eoin Kelly/Darragh Kelly (Honda Civic) [16]

AOIFE RAFTERY AND INES VEIGA SET TO CREATE MOTORSPORT HISTORY IN GALWAY INTERNATIONAL RALLY

Posted: January 16, 2024 8:14 AM

2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 3

Posted: January 16, 2024 8:10 AM

Galway Motor Club held a well attended and successful launch of the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally on Friday night last in the Connacht Hotel. Amongst the attendees were the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Eddie Hoare, Cathaoirleach Galway County, Cllr Liam Caroll, as well as representatives of Corrib Oil, the Connacht Hotel and Rallying for Down Syndrome. The event was expertly compered by Michael Lyster of formerly of RTE.

Entries are still being received and the line up for the 2024 rally suggests it could be an competitive one, with current tarmac champion Callum Devine being joined by many other former champions. Among these are Josh & Sam Moffett, Declan Boyle, Garry Jennings, Keith Cronin, Gareth MacHale and one of the most legendary of all, Austin MacHale. Austin hasn’t been out competitively in over fifteen years but is relishing the thought of getting back on the Galway stages with Brian Murphy back alongside him on the notes.
“I have always liked the Galway event, the club, the people and the stages, and it will be great to get back out. I still believe we have the pace to finish in the top ten”.

Other drivers to have entered include former British Rally Champion Matt Edwards, Desi Henry, Jonny Greer and Gary Kiernan. The National section includes drivers such as Kevin Eves, Frank Kelly, Mark Alcorn and Conor Murphy. The Historics are also well supported with current Tarmac Historic Champion Duncan Williams being joined by last years Galway Historic Rally winner Meirion Evans, Tom Clark, Ray Breen, and local driver Ross Forde.

Galway driver Aoife Raftery is among the Rally 4 drivers in her Peugeot 208, and said
“I’m delighted to start the year on my home International and honoured to be Women in Motorsport Ambassador for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally”. Class challengers for Aoife include Casey Jay Coleman, Joseph Kelly, Ryan McHugh, Cian Caldwell and Billy Coleman Award winner for 2023 Jack Brennan. Local interest is maintained with Des Lyons, Justin Comer, David Quigley, Jonathan Folan and Richard Whelan to name but a few.

Rally Launch - (Fri) 12 Jan @ 8pm

Posted: January 4, 2024 6:10 AM

The launch of the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally 2024 will take place on Friday 12th January at 8pm in The Connacht Hotel.

2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 2

Posted: January 4, 2024 6:07 AM

The 2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally takes place over the bank holiday weekend, 3rd and 4th February next, and it is eagerly awaited by motorsport enthusiasts. A capacity entry is anticipated for the first major rally of the year and the event is the opening round of the 2024 Samdec Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and the second round of the Sherwood Engines Irish Historic Rally Championship. The Galway International Rally has retained its full weekend format and is expected to generate over 2,500 bed nights for the city and county which is estimated to generate more than €3m of revenue for the local economy.

Clerk of the Course, Gary Leonard, said
“Event planning is at an advanced stage. In a change from previous years, there will be eight closed road stages on day one, with a further six stages on day two, giving the maximum permitted 240 kilometers of competition to competitors.” In a new initiative for 2024, Galway Motor Club will highlight the increased involvement of Women in Motorsport, both as competitors and organisers. Galway rally driver, Aoife Raftery has had great success competing in Ireland, UK and Europe, as part of the Motorsport Ireland Academy, and she will be the rally’s Women in Motorsport Ambassador for 2024.”

The rally will get under way with scrutineering of cars at Galway Airport from 1.00pm on Friday 2nd February, followed by a Ceremonial Start in Eyre Square later that day at 8.00pm. Both will be ideal opportunities to see the rally cars and drivers prior to the start of the competition. The headquarters for the event is the Connacht Hotel, Dublin Road, Galway. The rally Service Park will be at Galway Airport on both days of the event. Admission to all events will be free over the weekend. Official Rally Programmes will be available in the week before the event.

Merion Evans from Wales won the 2023 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, co-driven by Jonathan Jackson, driving a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. The 2023 event was also the first counting round of the 2023 tarmac championship to provide a dedicated refuel zone and controlled fuel for championship competitors. This was recognized by Motorsport Ireland who awarded the “Presidents Award for Sustainability and Innovation” to the championship organisers at a ceremony in Dublin recently.

For 2024 Galway Motor Club have partnered with Rallying for Down Syndrome Awareness. David Mannion of R4DS said “Rallying for Down Syndrome are delighted to be associated with Galway Motor Club for the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally 2024. As a competitor and a member of Galway Motor Club for many years it is fantastic to get the support from the Clerk of the Course Gary Leonard and his team to raise awareness for Down Syndrome, as a dad to Ruby who has DS it is more special. It is a unique opportunity to use motorsport to show support, to send a positive message and try to change the old-fashioned stigma around Down Syndrome.”

During the Galway International Rally, R4DS will be fundraising for the new centre for Down Syndrome Ireland based in Swinford, which will be ran by DS Mayo. It is a house donated to Down Syndrome Ireland which will become a centre of excellence which DSI hope to open to people and families with Down Syndrome. All money raised will go towards providing services at the centre as well as completing the works.

2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 1

Posted: January 4, 2024 6:07 AM

Galway Motor Club are pleased to confirm that planning for the 2024 Galway International Rally due to take place on February 3rd & 4th is at an advanced stage. The event will run for the 46th time since its inception in 1971 and presents its own unique challenges to the countries top rally drivers. The fact that the rally takes place on a bank holiday weekend is sure to bring a sense of excitement and atmosphere to the West of Ireland next February. The 2023 rally was won by Welsh crew Meirion Evans & Jonathan Jackson in a VW Polo Gti R5.

Galway Motor Club are also delighted to welcome back Corrib Oil as title sponsors for the seventh time since they first came on board in 2016.The relationship between the rally and one of the most successful and respected businesses in Galway has been very beneficial for both parties. The rally headquarters will once again be the superb Connacht Hotel, which has proved to be a very popular location for competitors, officials and spectators alike for the past couple of years.

Gary Leonard will once again have the role as Clerk of the Course and the event will contain fourteen special stages over two days with centralised servicing. The Corrib Oil Galway International Rally will once again be the opening round of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and the second round of the 2024 ITRC Historic Rally Championship.

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Posted: January 4, 2024 6:01 AM

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