Top Gear Sprint Challenge - DATE CHANGE - 26-28 Nov 10

Ireland’s Leading Motorsport Champions Included in Line-Up for Top Gear Festival Sprint Challenge

Posted: October 15, 2010 3:30 PM

Organisers of Ireland’s first Top Gear Festival Sprint Challenge confirmed details today of the 40 successful competitors who will participate at the event, which takes place 26th – 28th November at Citywest.

The impressive line-up includes many of Ireland’s 2010 Motorsport champions in both saloon and single seater cars including; Gareth MacHale, the Irish Tarmac Rally Champion in his Focus WRC Tommy Graham, Irish Rallycross Champion in his Escort WRC, Derek Tohill, European Division 2 Rallycross champion in his MK 7 Fiesta, Joe Foley Irish Time Attack Champion in his 550BHP Mitsubishi and the current holder of the Billy Coleman Award for the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop Young Rally Driver of the Year Craig Breen in his Ford Fiesta S2000.

They are joined by a host of other current and past champions, selected by the organisers from the hundreds of entries received from all over the country for the inaugural Top Gear Festival Sprint Challenge.

John Morris from Mondello Park who co-ordinated the selection process said: “The quality of entry is astounding .It contains no less than 10 current or past champions from all sectors of Motor Sport and a wide range of incredible cars. The Top Gear Festival Sprint Challenge is a unique event and the first relay sprint of its kind. Competitors are driving for themselves and their team and it should be a fantastic spectacle”

The successful entrants will be one of a 4 car team and in total 10 teams will compete in the event. The organisers will select the teams and will balance the cars using BHP/weight ratio and drive-train configuration. It is believed that this will ensure a close competition to win the ultimate prize - The Top Gear Festival Sprint Challenge Cup, which will be presented on the final day of the Festival.

Tickets for the Festival and more details at:

Top Gear Festival (Ireland)

Entry List

Posted: October 15, 2010 3:20 PM

Rallycar
Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC 2000cc) Multiple Irish Tarmac Rally Champion
Adrian Kiely (Subaru Impreza 4WD 2000cc) Past Irish Forestry Rally Champion
Eddie Kinirons (Ford Focus RS 2000cc)
Peter Cummins (Darrian T90 2000cc)
Peter Greene (Ford Escort Mk2 2300cc)
Gareth McHale (Ford Focus WRC) 2010 Irish Tarmac Rally Champion
Craig Breen (Ford Fiesta S2000) Current holder of the Billy Coleman Award for the Motorsport Ireland Dunlop Young Rally Driver of the Year

Rallycross
Tommy Graham (Ford Fiesta 4wd 2000cc ) 2009/2010 Irish Rallycross Champion
Nigel Spendlove (Lotus Exige1800cc 255bhp)
Michael Coyne (Vauxhall Nova 2200cc 300bhp) 2009 Irish Rallycross Champion
Mark Carroll (Toyota Starlet 2000cc 350bhp)
Derek Tohill (Ford Fiesta MK7 2000cc) D2 2010 European Rallycross Champion
Declen Kelly (Ford Fiesta MK6 (4x4)2000cc 380bhp)
Lawrence Gibson (Metro 6R4 3500cc 550bhp)
Lloyd Spendlove (Lotus Exige1800cc 250bhp)
Michael and /or Andrew Morris (Subaru Impreza 2000cc 450bhp)

Race Saloon
Martin Tracey (Ford RS500 2000cc 600bhp)
Paul Gray (Porsche 911 RS 3200cc 280bhp)
Philip Jones (Porsche 996 3600cc 500 bhp)
Barry Rabbitt (Honda Integra1800cc 250bhp ) Frontrunner in ITCC
John Whelan (Peugeot 306 xs1998cc 260bhp)
Keith Colmey (Lotus Elise type R 2000cc 230bhp)
Alastair Kellett (Fiat Punto Abarth1800cc 160bhp) 2010 Irish Fiat Abarth Champion

Race Special
David Heavey (Leastone F5JH001 1000 cc 0bhp)
Albert Clasby (Stryker/Kit CarRaw1800cc 156bhp)
Paul Heavey (Spire GTR1 1200cc 170bhp)
Paul Yeomans (Stryker 1800cc 163bhp)
Richie O Mahony Jnr (Supercar RT2000 2000cc 241bhp)
Mark Twomey (Global GT Light 600cc 100bhp)
Race Single Seater
Anton Savage (Formula Sheane 1800cc 139bhp )
Brian Hearty (Formula Sheane1800cc 140bhp) Past Multiple Champion in Irish Formula Vee & Formula Sheane
Kevin Sheane Jnr (Formula Sheane1800cc140bhp) 2010 Irish Formula Sheane Champion

Time Attack
Dean Reilly (Mitzsubishi Evo 2300cc 480bhp)
Joe Foley (Mitzsubishi Evo 6 2200cc 550bhp) 2010 Time Attack Champion
Neill Dunne (Nissan Silvia 2200cc 450bhp)
Chris McConnon (Honda Civic1800cc 262bhp) 2010 Time Attack Club Class Champion
Jason Carolan (Honda Civic 1800cc 232bhp)
Keith Quille (Honda CRX 1797cc 198bhp)

Hillclimb
Rory Stephens (Radical SR3 1500cc 430bhp)
John Byrne (Honda Jedi 1000cc 160bhp)
Simon McKinley ( Formula Lant RT2 2400cc 290bhp) 2010 Hillclimb Champion

Date Change - 26th-28th November 2010

Posted: August 25, 2010 2:28 PM

This Event will now take place from 26th-28th November 2010

Calling all Motorsport Competitors

Posted: July 20, 2010 10:07 AM

It’s Official – This year’s All New Top Gear Festival 2010 is proud to introduce the Top Gear Sprint Challenge which will take place at the Citywest Event Centre from the 24th-26th September this year. Top Gear Festival 2010 would like to invite Ireland’s top racing and rally competitors to enter into the Top Gear Sprint Challenge to win the ultimate prize - The Top Gear Sprint Challenge Cup.

Your team will get a chance to put your vehicle to the test on our purpose built Top Gear race track designed and managed by none other than Ireland’s premier race circuit, Mondello Park. Your team will also receive space in the Top Gear Track Paddock.

From the entries received 10 relay teams will be created by the organisers of Top Gear Festival 2010 and will consist of the best of Irish Motorsport, including:

• Top Rally Cars and Rallycross Vehicles
• Single Seater Racing & Hill-Climb Cars
• Saloon & Sports Racing Cars
• Time Attack Cars

Each individual team will be made up of 4 cars and will be the equivalent in bhp/weight ratio to their competition, ensuring a fair and competitive race. Any model, spec and design of competition car is eligible to enter.

All entrants must complete the official entry form which is available on the Top Gear Festival 2010 section of the Mondello Park Website. There is no entry fee and all entries must be sent to: The Competition Secretary, Top Gear Festival 2010, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. The closing date for entries is 31st July and entrants will be advised thereafter whether or not their application has been successful.

This is a tremendous opportunity for competitors to have a great weekend and gain valuable exposure for your sponsors in front of 45,000 plus visitors. All cars entered will receive four festival tickets, four weekend paddock passes and discounted (25% off) Top Gear Live Theatre Show 2010 tickets.

For more information please contact John Morris at Mondello Park on 045 860200 or see:

Mondello Park Racing Circuit

For more information on the Top Gear Festival 2010 please visit:

Top Gear Festival (Ireland)