2010 Tarmac Championship

Young Guns Awarded At Glittering Citroën ITC Awards Dinner

Posted: November 24, 2010 7:15 PM

Ireland's leading rally talent descended on Armagh City Hotel last week for the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship awards dinner.

The evening was very much a showcase for the up and coming stars of Irish rallying, with 22-year-old Trillick driver, Alastair Fisher, claiming the production category title.

Fisher also finished third overall in the series, just two points behind another young star, Craig Breen.

County Waterford's Breen, who is just 20-years-old, claimed second overall in the series with his Ford Fiesta S2000. It was his maiden season in the championship, and already he has his sights set higher for 2011.

In a separate competition, Breen won a fully funded drive in six rounds of the 2011 World Rally Championship behind the wheel of a Fiesta R2, in what is a new 'WRC Academy' series.

Experience gleaned from this year's Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship will certainly aid him in his quest to top the 2011 WRC Academy tables.

Other young drivers emerging from the 2010 Citroën Irish Tarmac Championship included Daniel McKenna, who finished the year with a Pirelli Star Drive nomination. He enjoyed some giant killing results in his modified Escort, before switching to Group N.

Robert Barrable and Marty McCormack were also among the 'young guns', with Barrable taking top honours in the Irish and UK Citroën Racing Trophy series, while McCormack secured a top placing in the French championship.

Topping the bill at the glittering Armagh awards dinner were newly crowned champions, Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy. MacHale, who is in his early 30s, followed his father's footsteps by winning the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship title.

Speaking at the awards presentation, TROA Chairman, Bobby Clinton, said:
"When the strength of the talented young drivers who were successful in this year's series are put alongside Kris Meeke and Keith Cronin, we may look back on the 2010 championship as the start of a new 'golden era' for Irish rallying."

The Modified Championship trophy was presented to Mervyn Wedlock, while Ray Cunningham picked up the Historic trophy. Numerous class prizes were also awarded, with both drivers and navigators rewarded for their efforts during the 2010 season.

"Thanks must go to Citroën for their sponsorship of both the series and the popular Citroën Racing Trophy," said TROA Chairman, Bobby Clinton. "We are also indebted to Tourism Ireland for their support and assistance with worldwide profiling of the championship through global television coverage which aired throughout the year."

With the 2010 Citroën Irish Tarmac Championship completed, already all eyes are turning towards the 2011 series.

Next year's championship sees the reintroduction of Scotland's Jim Clark Rally, but the series kicks off on 5 February with the Safety Direct Galway International Rally.

Due to the close proximity of the Circuit of Ireland and Killarney Rally of the Lakes, the number of scoring rounds has been reduced to five out of seven events. More details

Championship Points after Final Round - Cork 20

Posted: October 6, 2010 9:51 AM

Tarmac Championship Official Site

CHANGES TO 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP REGULATIONS

Posted: July 22, 2010 12:18 PM

The 2010 Ulster Rally event format has necessitated changes in the Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Regulations as indicated below.

The outcome of these changes will mean that the results of the WRC event will be used to allocate class 6 scores only, and the results of both events will be combined to allocate all Overall Championship and Category scores.

These changes to the Championship Regulations have been approved by Motorsport Ireland.

Citroën to sponsor the 2010 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

Posted: January 22, 2010 4:44 PM

The Tarmac Rally Organisers Association, (TROA) Ltd is delighted to announce that Citroën has agreed to become title sponsor of the 2010 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship!

The six-round series, which is regarded as Ireland's most prestigious rally championship, will be promoted as the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

Gary Savage, Citroën UK and Ireland Managing Director, said:
"Citroën is pleased to be sponsoring the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship which will spearhead our marketing drive into the Irish market. It is well known that the Irish people are very keen supporters of rallying and this initiative will allow us to develop our brand whilst playing on our significant rallying heritage and the success of the Citroen C2 rally cars."

Don Wilmont, Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Manager, said:
"On behalf of the TROA, we very much welcome Citroën on board as title sponsor of the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship. Having a partnership with a strong brand such as Citroën, which has been so dominant at the top of the FIA World Rally Championship, will not only enhance the profile of the Championship but also the profile of each of the individual events.

Combined with the new 2010 Citroën Racing Trophy series, which will offer almost €20,000 of prize money on each round of the Championship, this makes Citroën's support package the largest in the history of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship!

All six rounds of the 2010 Championship will once again be televised worldwide through Tyndall Productions' RPM television programme, thanks to additional financial support received from Tourism Ireland.

"The world of commercial television has been severely impacted in the current climate," Championship Manager Don Wilmont continued. "Television channels can no longer provide the support for television coverage of the Championship that we have enjoyed for the past 10 years. The profile and exposure provided by RPM is crucial for both the Championship and each of the events, and TROA is very grateful to Tourism Ireland for their support."

The 2010 Citroën Irish Tarmac Championship starts in two weeks time with the Safety Direct Galway International Rally. The first car will leave the start ramp on Saturday 6th February, and more details will be announced in due course on

Tarmac Championship Official Site

2010 Fiesta SportTrophy Ireland to follow Tarmac Championship Rounds

Posted: January 5, 2010 4:34 PM

2010 Fiesta SportTrophy Ireland

RECORD PRIZE FUND ANNOUNCED FOR NEW CITROEN RACING TROPHY IRELAND 2010!
TROPHY TO FOLLOW TARMAC CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted: December 23, 2009 11:00 PM

Citroen Racing has announced their prosperous plans for the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland 2010. In these times of mild economic depression in Ireland, the Citroen Racing Trophy 2010 breaks the mould, promising the largest prize fund in Irish rallying for the 1600 cc Citroen C2 R2 Max cars. Co-ordinator of the series, Raymond Moore of Charles Hurst Citroen is very much excited at the prospect of 2010.
“This coming season the prize funds for both the Citroen Racing Trophy UK and Ireland, have been significantly upped, and indeed offer the same generous rewards for the competitors. We will also be aligning the new Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland with the 6 rounds of the new Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, starting in Galway in February and I think this will provide the crews an opportunity to contest Ireland’s premier rally series.” In 2009 Donegal’s Adrian McElhinney took the honours in the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland and in total €53,675 was handed out to Irish crews in prizes, but 2010 promises to be even more enticing!

Indeed the new prize fund thanks to the support of Citroen Racing, Total, Citroen UK and Ireland and BF Goodrich offers the C2 R2 Max crew’s serious rewards for their overall position in class R. First place in class R for a C2 R2 Max on each round will receive €5000, €4000 for 2nd, €3000 for 3rd, €2500 for 4th, €2000 for 5th, €1500 for 6th, €1000 for 7th and €500 for eighth place in Group R, representing serious cash rewards totalling a staggering potential €19,600 on each round! Added to this the best 5 of 6 rounds count for the Citroen Racing Trophy series, with the champion receiving €10,000 of Citroen Racing parts vouchers, €6000 for second and €3000 for third in the series, it stacks up to the biggest prize fund ever offered in Irish rally-sport. Registration for the Citroen Trophy is 1300€, which includes two proper Citroen Racing race-suits, shirts and jackets for the crew, and of course technical support from the world’s leading rally team. A further sensational prize scheme is also to be announced in the coming weeks for C2 Super 1600 drivers in the Irish Tarmac series.

The Citroen C2 R2 Max is the car to use in the Trophy however and this 195 horse power front wheel drive rocket is available to buy new from Citroen Racing as a kit for a special reduced price of 29,900€ in left hand drive, and 31,400€ in right hand drive for Trophy competitors, making a discount of 5000€ from the normal price. Alternatively Max upgrade kits are available for existing Citroen C2 R2 owners for €10,500, making it another way to enter the series with a second hand older machine.

As expected interest in the new Irish Trophy is high with reigning champion Adrian McElhinney expressing an interest. David Carney from Mayo is building his new Max, Donegal’s Joe McGonigle has recently upgraded his ex Shaun Gallagher C2 R2 to Max specification, whilst Mark Kane and Paul Manton are considering the same option. Andrew Hockridge may contest some Irish rounds, as may 21 year old fast female Molly Taylor. Limerick’s Mark Sheehan has expressed an interest in the series, and of course British Citroen Racing Trophy winner Marty McCormack will probably be seen on selected rounds.

Newly built cars and second hand cars are available and co-ordinator Raymond Moore would be happy to help. “It would be great to see more drivers and cars in the championship, and maybe try and find the next Kris Meeke! I think the C2 R2 Max has already proven around Europe that it can be a giant killing little car, which is also fun to drive.”

CITROEN RACING TROPHY IRELAND

Changes to Irish Tarmac Rally Championship 2010

Posted: September 14, 2009 2:41 PM

The Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) have announced a number of changes to the format the 2010 Irish Tarmac Championship.

In light of the current economic conditions the 2010 Championship will consist of six rounds:-Galway 5/7 February, Circuit of Ireland 2/4April, Killarney Lakes1/2 May, Donegal 18/20 June, Ulster 20/21August and the Cork 20, 2/3 October.

The Championship will adopt the FIA R1-R4 class structure with an additional class catering for World Rally Cars (WRCs). It was also agreed that with effect from 1st January 2012 that WRCs would no longer be eligible to score overall Championship Points.

50% bonus points will be introduced on the final round, the Cork 20, for both the Historic and modified sections. In addition following the introduction this year of a successful “Modified Challenge”, additional class awards will be made available in the modified section in 2010.

The TROA are committed to implement a phased introduction of new structures in line with the FIA Regional Rally Sporting Regulations by 1st January 2012.

The Isle of Man International and Jim Clark Rallies, remain full members of the TROA. The number of counting rounds for the 2011 Championship will be reviewed in the light of the introduction of these new structures.

Championship Rounds

Posted: September 14, 2009 2:39 PM

1. Galway Rally, 5-7 February 2010
2. Circuit of Ireland, 2-4 April 2010
3. Killarney Rally of the Lakes, 1-2 May 2010
4. Donegal International Rally, 18-20 June 2010
5. Ulster Rally, 20-21 August 2010
6. Cork 20, 2-3 October 2010

Tarmac Championship Official Site