BOURKE GETS SUPER 1600 CHANCE

Posted: November 19, 2003 11:11 AM

The car willbe sponsored by Martin's company Midland Tyres of Borris-in-Ossory who also supported Aiden this year.

Bourke intends to contest the Irish Tarmac & British Rally championships and will be co -driven by regular partner Robert Nolan.

It has been an incredible year for the Tipperary man. 6 wins secured class 2, while outright Group N victory in Carlow & 4 top 5 results in the showroom category saw him finish 4th in group N, humbling more powerful 4wd machinery. He also finished an astonishing 13th O/all & first 2wd car in the Dunlop national series. These results must surely make him one of the favourites for the Billy Coleman award, the results of which will be announced shortly. The 27 yr old is eagerly looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the Super 1600 monster and will conduct a series of tests in the very near future.
He says " I am extremley grateful to Martin & Midland Tyres for giving me this opportunity and I only hope I can repay some of his faith in me by giving him 100% commitment for next year".

If this years results are anything to go by, Aiden Bourke & the Midland Tyres Clio will be some spectacle in both Ireland & the UK in 2004 !!.

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BOURKE'S CLASS ACT
03/10/03
Tipperary driver Aiden Bourke clinched his 2nd National Championship class victory with a devasting drive to 20th o/all & 1st in class 2 in the Galway Summer Rally last sunday. Co Driven by Robert Nolan, the Honda Civic crew tied up their championship class with two rounds remaining. This is their 2nd National crown having won class 1 in 2002 in a suzuki swift.

It has been a super year for them, winning class 2 in Ballina, Carlow, Circuit of Munster, Ravens Rock, Stonethrowers, & Galway rallies. Drive of the year had to be in Carlow where they won Group N outright and finished 12th o/all. Having acquired the ex Martin Kirwan Civic earlier this year, their flamboyant style has been the talk of many spectators and fellow competitors throughout the season to date. At the moment they are 11th o/all in the Dunlop National Series and leading 2wd car. Aiden also leads the Ferodo Bonus scheme run by DMR with 2 rounds remaining, for a 1st prize of £1000 stg.

His results this year has seen him emerge as a leading contender for the Billy Coleman award for young drivers. The Tipperary pair will be in action again in Clare on Sept 21st.