J & J RALLYSPORT - Last Round Counts Posted: November 5, 2002 1:36 PM

J & J RALLYSPORT and ASA Marketing Group Press Release

John Foley and Jon Waterman head for Galway this weekend to look for a good result that will help them finish the Ford Focus Ireland Championship in at least 3rd position.

This weekends West 2002 plans to be action packed and filled with competition with four of the teams in the championship looking for a good result. With Colm Murphy/Ted Ahern Leading with 86 points, Oliver Stanley/Des Moran on 79, Hamilton Bell/Geoffrey Patterson on 76 points with a round to drop and John Foley & Jon Waterman on 68 points.

Dessie Keenan - Billy Coleman Award Finalist Posted: November 5, 2002 1:18 PM

Dessie Keenan, one of Irelands most exciting and dynamic young drivers from Monaghan, will contest the much sought after Billy Coleman Award this year, which is geared towards young Irish drivers. A popular driver amongst rally enthusiasts, he has shown that he can get first class results in either a rear-wheel-drive or his recently acquired front-wheel-drive ex-Super Cup Peugeot 106, on both gravel and tarmac surface events. It is this flexibility and ability that allows him to switch between a powerful 2.4Lt rear-wheel-drive MarkII Escort and a front-wheel-drive 1600cc Peugeot 106 and still take class wins and excellent overall positions that makes Dessie such an inspirational driver.

206 Super Cup Regs and Info Posted: November 4, 2002 12:52 PM

New Cup cars – Going Fast!

Peugeot Sport confirm that with the recent announcement in left hand drive 206 Super Cup cars being available, a rush to place orders has started.

“Just the next day we started receiving more calls”, Peugeot Sport rally co-ordinator Stella Boyles affirmed, “and already three of the ten have gone. We are delighted to have the Cup show so much interest again.”

2002 Cork MC Startrek Navigation Trial - 2-3 Nov 02 Posted: November 4, 2002 12:22 PM

Round 4 - 2002 Senator Eng. Munster Navigation Championship
Round 1 - 02/03 Senator Eng. Munster Navigation Championship

Results

Inishowen Gateway Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally - 20 Oct 02 Posted: October 21, 2002 8:45 AM

RallyNews by Brian & Liz Patterson Live from Donegal

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Doherty’s lead then disaster strikes
by Declan McCay
Local boys the Daniel and Michael Doherty were well ahead of the opposition, Niall Maguire, and in a commanding lead of over 10 after the first stage, during the first half of the Harvest Stages Rally, when disaster struck on the stage 3, forcing the Carndonagh crew out after a major off on the Mamore Gap stage.
The event was then lead by Maguire after this until the end of the event, adding to his dominant position this year.

Circuit of Ireland Retro - 11-13 Oct 02 Posted: October 14, 2002 10:50 AM

Autotest ace Eamonn Byrne of Delgany and his Dublin navigator Paul Phelan scored their second victory in succession, and their third altogether, in the Circuit of Ireland Retrospective Trial when the three day event finished in Sligo after a mixture of driving tests, navigation and regularity sections.

STRUCTURE OF RALLYING Posted: October 10, 2002 4:01 PM

Article below is published in this month's Bulletin from Motorsportireland - available to download at www.motorsportireland.com

The Rallies Committee, having considered all the submissions received, have decided to implement a number of changes to the structure of Stage Rallies from 1.1.2003. These changes are aimed at improving the lot of the novice or junior competitor who frequently finds it difficult, if not impossible to get an entry for an event.

O'DONOVAN UPHOLDS LOCAL HONOUR Posted: October 8, 2002 10:10 AM

Donal O'Donovan and Pat Lordan in the An Post SDS Toyota Celica were the top local crew in last weekend's Murphy Construction 2002 Cork '20' International Rally, coming home in fourth place despite having to contend with a dramatic fire late in the event. 

Peugoet 206 Cup - IRISH BATTLE AT FRENCH ROUND Posted: October 8, 2002 10:06 AM

Rallye Le Touquet 4th, 5th & 6th October 2002

Eleven British & Irish 206 crews made their way across the Channel for round 7 of the 2002 Peugeot 206 Super Cup - The Rallye le Touquet to contend the second to last round of the season.  It was thought that this may be the deciding round of the championship between Irish contenders Shaun Gallagher and Garry Jennings. However after a battle for first, Gallagher finished the rally ahead of strong contender Jennings.  Jennings now only has to finish inside the top 5 on the last round of the season to take the 2002 206 Super Cup title.

McHALE BACK IN ACTION FOR CORK 20 Posted: September 30, 2002 11:47 AM

Rathcoole's Austin McHale will be back behind the wheel of his Toyota Ireland Corolla WRC for this weekend's (October 5/6) Murphy Construction Cork "20" International Rally, the penultimate round of the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac Championship.

McHale and regular co-driver, Brian Murphy (Newbridge), will be back in action for the first time since their third placing in the Punchestown World Rally Experience in July, having missed both the Manx International and the Ulster Rallies due to business commitments.

Dungannon Motor Club Moonraker Rally Posted: September 26, 2002 4:05 PM

Round 5, ANICC Navigation Rally Championship Thanks to Patrick McCollum

Results

SAFETY REVIEW GROUP REPORT – SEPTEMBER 2002 Posted: September 25, 2002 3:01 PM

Report as published on www.motorsportireland.com

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Safety has always been of paramount importance in Irish Motorsport. It is vital if our sport is to continue to flourish that safety standards are not alone maintained but in fact improved.

Safety extends to everyone involved in the sport from competitors and officials to the media and spectators. We can never be too vigilant.

Earlier this year there were a number of accidents that happened both in rallying and hillclimbs. The Motorsport Commission decided to set up a Review Group to look into those accidents and to report on how safety procedures might be strengthened. Their report was adopted by the Motorsport Commission at it’s meeting of 19th September.

Below is the report of that Review Group. It sets out a series of specific recommendations to strengthen the safety aspects already in place for these branches of Motorsport in the light of these events.

Motorsport - An Introduction to Stage Rallying. Posted: September 25, 2002 8:43 AM

Training Associates is run by Joe Downey , Deirdre Gallagher, Alan Binley , Noel Devlin

Training Associates have put this rally programme together with the assistance of DIT Bolton Street.

A ten week course plus examination will be presented by Training Associates in conjunction with DIT Bolton Street, Dublin 1, commencing with registration on September 30th 2002 at 7pm.

This evening course is designed to give the participant an insight and an appropriate base of knowledge into Motorsport with particular emphasis on stage rallying. The course also aims to create an environment, which promotes the necessary skills and rules of the sport in an interactive and enjoyable fashion. Participants have the opportunity to study to an appropriate depth , many key area and aspects of stage rallying and are encouraged to use the benefits of the Programme to further their involvement in the sport.

GMR head south for Cork 20 Rally! Posted: September 25, 2002 8:35 AM

The next event on the calendar for Group Motors Rallying is the Cork '20' Rally, based at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork. Held over the weekend of 4 - 6 October, the GMR team of Kieran O'Neill and Dairmuid Falvey, backed by Good Fellas and Kit Kat, will tackle a total of 16 special stages in and around Cork.

Monaghan DRUMLIN Night Navigation Trial - 5 Oct 02 Posted: September 23, 2002 10:19 AM

Round 1 - 2002/03 Night Navigation Trial Championship

Regulations are now available for the opening round of the 2002/03 Night Navigation Trial Championship, the Monaghan Motorclub "Drumlin" Trial

Ford Focus Championship - Round 3 Clare Stages Rally Posted: September 23, 2002 10:08 AM

MURPHY SCORES MAIDEN VICTORY

Colm Murphy from Athea, Co. Limerick scored his maiden victory on the third round of Irelands premier one make rally championship, the 2002 Ford Ireland Focus Rally Championship, at the Clare Stages Rally.

Colm in the Kingdom Fast fit/ Guerin Crash Repairs/O'Keefe Haulage Ford Focus once again was involved in a ding-dong battle all day with his great rivals Oliver Stanley (Durrow) and Cathal O'Reilly (Cavan). With the first stage of the day cancelled, Oliver Stanley in the Perry Motors Ford Focus set fastest Focus stage time on the second and opening stage of the day; despite the cautious start the Athea crew set second fastest time. However disaster struck as Colm increased his pace on stage three, he ran wide at a very fast corner clipping a bank, damaging his front suspension. Limping off the stage luckily Colm was able to head into service and get his car repaired in time to resume the battle.

World Cup Rally - A COUNTRY A DAY FOR IRISH RALLY CREW Posted: September 19, 2002 3:58 PM

Dublin duo aim for World Cup Rally success

Martin Taylor and Peter Gallagher will be aiming for a repeat Irish success on the 2002 World Cup Rally next month when they compete in the London to Athens event. Starting from Blenheim Palace in Britain on October 5th, the Dublin duo will tackle the 4,300 kilometre marathon rally which will take them across 12 countries in 12 days to the Greek finish on October 16th.

IRISH BEAUTY BEATS THE COMPETITION TO BE THE NEW rallyXS PIRELLI GIRL Posted: September 17, 2002 3:06 PM

Juliet Ward, the gorgeous rally fanatic from Cork has been voted the first ever Irish winner in the 2002 rallyXS Pirelli Girl competition.

Juliet, 21, made it through to the finals from thousands of entries, where she competed with 22 other stunning contenders at the exclusive Stoke Park Golf Club- famous for 007 James Bond's game of golf with arch villain Goldfinger.

The brainy law graduate wowed judges as she went through a series of photo shoots, interviews, tests and tasks and was picked to be one of the final six to be voted for by the readers of rallyXS and News of the World - who voted on line, by phone and via SMS text messaging.

Fisher Foundation Posted: September 17, 2002 2:34 PM

www.fisher-foundation.com

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The closing date for applications requesting funding from the Fisher Foundation is fast approaching. (Monday 14th October.) There are two separate awards that can be applied for.
1. The Fisher Foundation Rally Safety Awards.
2. The Fisher Foundation Young Driver Training Award.

PRESS STATEMENT - Wexford Motor Club Posted: September 17, 2002 7:47 AM

Today, 14th September 2002, during the running of a stage of the Wexford Stages Rally a competing car was involved in an accident near Ballycullane, Co. Wexford. A number of spectators were injured and were taken to Wexford General Hospital.

They are currently in the hospital and are receiving medical attention. It has been confirmed by the hospital that none of the injuries are life threatening.

A full investigation is now underway and the result of this investigation will be available for consideration by the Motor Sport Commission (Ruling Council) at their meeting on Thursday 19th September 2002.

Issued by Wexford Motor Club @ 5.30pm on Saturday 14th September 2002.