Irish Motorsport Annual 2007

Posted: December 13, 2006 9:03 AM

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Published by Ashville Media and edited by Michael O’Carroll, the Irish Motorsport Annual has been awarded The Annual of the Year Award by the PPA Ireland, special recognition for the publication in its 30th year.

“The topics and opinions are as diverse and as refreshing as ever. The Irish Motorsport Annual 2007 has a lot to say and it says it clearly and succinctly through its 30 writers and 25 photographers.” That is the claim of Editor and founder Michael O’Carroll, as the longest-running sports Annual in Ireland, celebrated its 30th birthday with the prestigious PPA Ireland award..

The all-colour Annual deals with motor cycles, karts and the many branches of car sports, whether it is the exciting future of World Championship rallying in Ireland next November, the retirement of ace driver Austin MacHale, the lack of prizemoney in bike’s Short Circuit racing, the racing Irish at home and abroad, the amazing rallying achievements of the brothers Eugene and Charlie Donnelly or the fall-off of competitor numbers in karting.

“We have assembled an impressive line-up of writers and photographers. They have a lot to say about many aspects of the sport – some controversial, some critical, most constructive and all in the interest of a multi-fasceted sport that is growing steadily in popularity year on year. The Annual has always been opinionated. The 2007 edition is no different. It introduces new writers, fresh topics and innovative solutions.”

The Irish Motorsport Annual ’07 at €9.99 (£8.00) is outstanding value for money. It is now available in good bookshops and newsagents in all parts of Ireland. Copies may be had directly from Ashville Media, 57 -59 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 (tel: 01- 4322200)

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Annual Details
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is heading for Ireland in 2007; Michael Schumacher has departed Formula 1 stage left; Irish Road Racing in 2006 was dominated by an Australian; Eugene Donnelly became the most successful Irish rally driver ever; Christopher Evans, Niall Breen and Damien Faulkner won British championships. Those are just a few of the stories told in the 30th edition of the Irish Motorsport Annual (IMSA)

The Annual, first published in December 1976, has established itself over the years as a voice for the sport – all branches – and it has continued to fuel and motivate competitors and enthusiasts with opinions and ideas, and give public credence to its many stars through profiles, features, reports and well-written articles.

“We have always considered the Annual to belong to the sport and those within it. We tell the stories frankly and with enthusiasm. Over the years, and indeed in this edition, we introduce new writers and bring back many of those who matter so much to the sport - its many aspects and branches. This Annual, like those that have gone before, is intended to be read, re-read and retained as a reference,” said founder and long-time Editor Michael O’Carroll.

“The IMSA is unique in that it deals with the full variety that is Irish motorsport – cars, bikes and karts. It is also the longest running sports annual in Ireland and in the past 30 years it has established itself as a credible vehicle of opinion and policy matters about the sport. The many fine writers and photographers we have assembled for the 2007 edition have guaranteed a wide and interesting variety of editorial matter, and great value for money for readers.”

Among those who have contributed to IMSA ’07 are Vincent Hogan, Sammy Hamill, Mark Hamilton, Declan Quigley, Michael Lyster, Colm Doherty, ‘Plum’ Tyndall, Linda Keen, Anton Savage and the infamous Toby Incher who takes a satirical view of the sport and some well-known personalities. In all there are over 60 articles, features, profiles and opinion pieces in Annual ’07, as well as more than 300 high-grade photographs within the 184 colourful pages.

“Thirty years ago the cynics offered us a short existence. We are satisfied that they have been proved wrong. Thirty years we have spent; thirty wonderful summers with the length of one short and mild winter,” wrote Editor O’Carroll in his editorial. “At times we are critical, not to be sensational or divisive, but because we have been listening to the views being expressed at crossroads and track-sides. We have stood the test of time over thirty years and we have been resourceful and responsible.”

The 30th edition of the Irish Motorsport Annual is now available at good bookshops and newsagents in all parts of Ireland. It is excellently priced at €9.99 (£6.75) and copies may be had directly from: Ashville Media, Apollo House, Tara Street, Dublin 2. (Tel: 01-4322200 / +353 1 4322200 ).