RALLY IDOL

Posted: May 9, 2006 9:47 PM

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09/06/05
Rally Idol begins its search for a Star.
The most rewarding scholarship in Irish Motorsport began its search for a star last week as the first 18 contestants in the 'Rally Idol' competition hit the gravel at Tipperary Raceway. The Rally Idol hopefuls were put through their paces by the XLR8Motorsport tutors and judges on a purposely designed and constructed Rally Idol track. Travelling from every side of the country meant an early start for some but it wasn't long before all agreed it was well worth it.

"What a Savage track!" remarked Neil Daly, one of 'Rally Idols' hopefuls. The track was designed to test every aspect of a driver's car control and ability with it's fast flowing gravel sections and tricky tarmac twists, coupled with tight and technical chicanes and junctions. Stiff competition amongst the drivers meant some heart pumping action as they battled it out on the gravel and tarmac course. " We're amazed with the standard of driving so far," said Andrew Purcell as he looks forward to an exciting final.

The first round of entries took place under the watchful eye of both motoring and mainstream press. Some of these journalists even took the brave step of being driven by 'Rally Idol' instructor Andrew Purcell on exciting and high speed demonstration laps of the course. Many if not all emerged from the car enthused and grinning widely at the whole experience, while all gave the track the thumbs up with its tight and twisty demanding sections that lead into fast and flowing sweepers.

Each 'Rally Idol' hopeful was brought out on tuition sessions in XLR8's rally car before their final assessment run. The main focus of the day was on improving driving technique. As the day progressed, pointers and encouragement were given by the tutors before each contestant was put to the test. Driving was marked under strict criteria with points being given for specific areas of driving. Judges then discussed each assessment run and made their decision about who would be invited back to the second round of the competition. Taking into account the points scored by each contestant.

The prize at the end of this competition is a scholarship to the value of €10,000, which XLR8Motorsport will spend on the winning driver to allow them to pursue their rally dreams in the 'Rally Idol' scholarship car for the 2007 season. This week sees a further round of entries for 'Rally Idol'. Persons who have already placed an entry will be contacted with their dates in the coming weeks. However, due to demand www.XLR8motorsport.com will continue to accept entries for the 'Rally Idol' Scholarship throughout the summer.

xlr8motorsport

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RALLY IDOL Scholarship Car – The fastest Civic in the woods!

• Purcell takes RALLY IDOL Scholarship Car to 4th

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XLR8 Motorsport have spent recent weeks fielding several enquiries from various drivers in relation to the Rally Idol and Drift Idol Scholarships and a result of exceptional interest have made the decision to open the Rally Idol competition to any driver regardless of age and experience.

No competition quite like this has ever been promoted within Irish Motorsport Circles. The winner of each competition will receive a Ten Thousand Euro Scholarship fund to assist them in their 2007 Motorsport Campaign.
For the Rally Idol the promoters will also allow the scholarship winner to use for all of their rallies the Rally Idol Scholarship Car. A capable car it is too, having recently finished as top 2wd car in the first round of the forestry championship. This really is an exciting opportunity and it’s a simple format.
There are 3 rounds in each competition where the entrants will be assessed to see if they have what it takes to be an Idol. Rally Idol will take place on both gravel and tarmac surfaces and tuition will be from some of Irelands most famous and successful rally drivers, including former and current National and ITC champions.
It’s an excellent opportunity to improve your rally skills while still being in the running to win the €10,000 scholarship and use of the Rally Idol car.

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08/03/06
Age and licence restriction lifted for Rally Idol

Full Details:

xlr8motorsport

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05/03/06

• Download Entry Form

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22/02/06
PURCELL TAKES RALLY IDOL SCHOLARSHIP CAR TO TOP 2WD HONOURS IN CARRICK FORESTS
As preparation for the Rally Idol Scholarships continues Rally Idol founder Andrew Purcell decided as a last minute exercise to take one of the newly sourced Rally Idol Scholarship cars for a shakedown run on the "Willie Loughman Memorial" Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally.

Having recently purchased the a Group N Honda Civic to use as part of the Rally Idol Scholarship Andrew made a late decision to take the car out into the woods and use the rally as a test session for the Civic ahead of the first Rally Idol round in mid March.

Co driven on the day by local man Adrian Keily the pair set some blistering times in the small Civic including a blistering run over the final stage Anner which netted a top 12 time from the 1600 Group N car and some fierce heights on the famous Anner jumps!

A very satisfied crew of Purcell and Kiely returned to Parc Ferme where Andrew recounted the days action, "It was a brilliant result after what was meant to be just a days fun and a chance to put one of the Rally Idol cars through its paces, We knew that the car is capable of good results, but I never thought we could get top 2wd, especially on the first time out, Adrian did a great job on the notes and we tried KUMHO tyres today which worked very well on both the rough gravel and the mucky sections, I think we have shown the scholarship car to be a good contender as it worked faultlessly all day and brought us home trouble free to top 2wd"

Martin Brady the co founder of Rally Idol had a challenging day Co Driving with Pat Norris in the Rally Idol Impreza WRC. Martin guided Pat as he got back into the swing of the S5 WRC after a ten month lay off. The pair visited one or two ditches, staying for a handful of precious seconds each time, then losing a frustrating minute with a puncture but getting the rhythm right over the final stages to pull back to a satisfied 8th overall and 3rd in class.

Brian Lawlor, aka Stone Mad was another driver who supported the Rally Idol Scholarship on his new Evo 8.5. He and Peter Kavanagh drove at their customary mad angles while learning the art of sideways 4wd and took an excellent debut 7th o/a and 2nd in class 8

With the first result now chalked up for one of the Rally Idol Scholarship cars the focus now turns on finding a new Rally Idol to give the car future results.

The closing date for Rally Idol entries is looming fast, Ireland's newest and most innovative scholarship is gathering momentum, don't miss your chance to take part.

Full details are available on the Rally Idol Website, regional dates will be announced on the website soon, however closing date is 14th March, for full info go to WWW.XLR8MOTORSPORT.COM the entry forms are easily downloaded from this site and full contact details are available for the XLR8 Motorsport staff who are easily contactable and welcome any queries or requests for further information or to request entry forms by post. However entries are filling up fast and demand is increasing so don't delay as places are strictly limited.

xlr8motorsport

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IRELANDS RALLY IDOLS SUPPORT IRISH RALLYINGS BIGGEST SCHOLARSHIP.
IRELANDS RALLY IDOLS SUPPORT IRISH RALLYINGS BIGGEST SCHOLARSHIP. Just under one month ago XLR8 Motorsport launched an impelling new challenge for all young rally drivers with the Rally Idol Scholarship. Interest has been staggering in the first month and the concept has caught the imagination of the Irish Motorsport fan well in advance of the closing date. In fact interest is so high that word has swelled to as far Afield as Poland, budding drivers of Eastern Europe have realised that their Irish Counterparts have an unprecedented opportunity and our Polish friends don’t want to miss out.

However this week sees perhaps the most exciting news so far in the Rally Idol Scholarship, having heard of this new initiative several of Irelands top drivers have come forward to lend their support and expertise to the scheme. Drivers who are on board with the project include

• Eugene Donnelly
Reigning double Tarmac Champion & former Forestry champion
• Tim Mc Nulty
Current runner up in the Tarmac Championship
• Ray Breen
Reigning Dunlop National Champion
• Charlie Donnelly
Current National Championship runner up.
• Garry Jennings
Reigning Group N Tarmac Champion.
• Colm Murphy
Winner Group N on last 2 rounds of ITC Championship
• Roy White
Regular Grp N Pace Setter & star of Grp N on first Rally Ireland
• Ian Barrett
Current Runner up in Billy Coleman Young Driver Award
• Peter Wilson
Former Runner up in Billy Coleman Young Driver Award
• Graham Quinn
Grp N Driver-Former National Karting & Autograss Champion
• Andrew Bushe
S1600 FWD winner in Galway rally, in Peugeot Cup Car

This list of drivers brings to the scholarship the crème de la crème of talented drivers in Irish Rallying, the drivers are all current Rally Idols in their own right with skills and experience in a range of cars, right from the latest top WRC cars to the most recent development of group N machinery, and not forgetting the challenging front wheel drive entry level classes.

The above list of heroes will join in to the competition at various stages to asses, advise and tutor the many Rally Idol hopefuls who have entered the scholarship. Expert Drivers such as the Donnelly brothers, Cork 20 victor Tim Mc Nulty, and National Champion Ray Breen amongst others will be on hand over the running of the scholarship to impart the benefit of their considerable experience to the Rally Idol hopefuls. Nowhere else in Irish rallysport is such an opportunity available. Anyone can enter as a pure novice and be tutored by the best “one on one” that’s right you can be in a rally car with a rally champion sitting beside you as you drive and they tutor you in the ways and means of how to become a Rally Idol. While benefiting from this expert tutoring you are still in the running to earn a ten thousand Euro scholarship fund and a works rally drive in 2007. Then after 3 closely fought rounds the Rally Idol search will culminate with the un-precedented prize fund, a rally car for 2007 and the honour of being the inaugural Rally Idol.

The creators of the xlr8motorsport.com scholarships are Andrew Purcell current Dunlop National Champion and Martin Brady, both co drivers with a wealth of rallying experience. They have teamed together over the winter Months to devise and perfect this scholarship which for less than the entry fee of one rally will see the eventual winner receive over Ten Thousand Euro in financial support along with a fully fledged rally car and service crew to support their 2007 rallying.

The winner of Rally Idol will earn themselves this full supported drive in an Irish Rally championship in 2007 and it will be a full "works" style drive with XLR8 Motorsport providing the necessary rally car and more importantly the scholarship will provide and cater for entry and running costs. Where else can be earned for less than the outlay of an entry fee for one Irish Rally? The winner will have to qualify over 2 rounds which will take place in regional heats around Ireland. The first regional heats will be based in the Tipperary Rosegreen Raceway and then further regional heats will be held at the Watergrass Hill track. Drivers will be tutored and tested on both gravel and tarmac surfaces. Instruction will be given by a who’s who of Irish rallying talent as the different well know Irish rally drivers with proven talent and stature will coach the drivers while all the time watching for that spark of talent that a Rally Idol must posses. And who better to spot that talent than experienced rally winners themselves. The winner will be crowned the inaugural RALLY IDOL and receive the full scholarship drive in the 2007 season.

Full details are available on the Rally Idol Website WWW.XLR8MOTORSPORT.COM the entry forms are easily downloaded from this site and full contact details are available for the XLR8 Motorsport staff who are easily contactable and welcome any queries or requests for further information or to request entry forms by post. However entries are filling up fast and demand is increasing so don’t delay as places are strictly limited.
xlr8motorsport

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11/02/06

• Rally Idol & Drift Idol capture public imagination
  Two new and innovative Motorsport Scholarships have captured the imagination of the Irish Motorsport enthusiasts. Recently launched on www.xlr8motorsport .com the two separate competitions, are different in method but both culminate in an un-precedented prize fund of over ten thousand euro for each winner. Rally Idol caters for the discovery of a new talent in Irish rallying and Drift Idol is designed to unearth and support a fresh talent in the fast emerging Motorsport phenomenon that is drifting.
  
  The winner of Rally Idol will earn themselves a full supported drive in an Irish Rally championship in 2007, it will be a full "works" style drive with XLR8 Motorsport providing the necessary rally car and importantly the scholarship will provide and cater for entry and running costs. All this can be earned for less than the outlay of the entry fee for one Irish Rally. The winner will have to qualify over 2 rounds which will take place in regional heats around Ireland. The first regional heats will be based in the Tipperary Rosegreen Raceway and then further regional heats will be held at the Watergrass Hill track. Drivers will be tutored and tested on both gravel and tarmac surfaces and instruction will be given by well know Irish rally drivers with proven talent and stature. To enter you don't need to have competition experience, its open to all, Rally Idol staff will provide you with everything from the car to the helmet, it is real arrive and drive excitement and all will benefit from tuition and practice on the day. The winner will be crowned the inaugural RALLY IDOL and receive a full scholarship drive in the 2007 season.
  
  The Drift Idol scholarship is in association with Flat 2 the Mat Magazine and this un rivalled opportunity will also offer the opportunity for one talented driver to prove themselves as a Drift Talent and earn the inaugural DRIFT IDOL scholarship. The Scholarship prize is again in excess of Ten Thousand Euro and it will be structured prize which will allow the winner to compete in 2007 in a competition of their choice with the financial backing of the Drift Idol Scholarship. The Drift Idol competition will follow a similar format, regional heats will be held with Rosegreen Raceway being the first regional heat. Drift Idol allows you the chance to come in any car and gain from the expert tuition and practice you will receive on the day and then having honed your skills you are given the chance to impress the judges and prove that you are the Drift Idol amongst the masses.
  
  Demand for a place on round one heats is substantial and therefore Entries must close for both scholarships on 14th of March 2006. The entry forms can be downloaded from www.xlr8motorsport.com. Full entry criteria are available on the website also. Don't miss this is a rare opportunity to showcase your talent and earn yourself a full prize drive for your 2007 Motorsport. Further competition information will be available on www.xlr8motorsport .com in the coming weeks.
  
  

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  31/01/06
  Welcome to Rally Idol, Irelands newest and most innovative Motorsport Competition.
  
  Have you got what it takes to be crowned Irelands newest Rally Idol?
  
  If so read on as here is the most exciting opportunity for all people young and old to step up and see if you can become a RALLY IDOL.
  
  Rally Idol is a competition open to all drivers over the age of 16, man or woman, no previous rally experience is necessary, giving you the chance to go from amateur to Idol in a number of months.
  
  The format of the competition is that it will take place over 3 rounds.
  There is no age limit to this competition, all we ask is that you can drive and that you personally have the drive to become Irelands newest RALLY IDOL
  
  More Details from:
  xlr8motorsport