Ulster Rally - (Sat) 20 Nov 21

2021 ULSTER RALLY TO BE STREAMED LIVE

Posted: November 16, 2021 4:10 PM

For the first time this week, the Ulster International Rally will be streamed to a global audience. Rolling coverage is set to be broadcast on the event’s official website – www.ulsterrally.com – as well as its Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/Ulsterrally – for ten hours this Saturday.

Commentary and expert analysis from rally aficionados Xavier McCartan and Michael Patterson will accompany footage captured during the course of the rally using a blend of in-car and fixed position cameras. There will also be stage-end interviews with drivers and co-drivers, as well as reaction between each loop of stages from the service park back in Newry.

Event Director Richard Swanston confirmed the live streaming service will begin at 8.20am on Saturday and finish around 6pm.
“This announcement shows that the people involved with the Ulster Rally are always willing to introduce new concepts to enhance the event,” he explained.

“Live streaming is a great way for spectators to view the action from wherever they are, and to show the event to a truly global audience. Of course, with COVID-19 still very much here, we hope that by providing this service free-of-charge spectator travel is minimised and that it will benefit those who are unable to come along to the Ulster International Rally this weekend.

“A live streaming service is one way to broaden the reach and appeal of the Ulster Rally and if it proves successful this weekend then we will look to include it in the planning of future events.”

The live coverage complements the highlights package that will follow in the days immediately after the closed-road event, with this focusing on the British Rally Championship of which the Ulster International Rally is the final round.

CRONIN/GALVIN ULSTER TARMAC FINALE

Posted: November 16, 2021 4:01 PM

The 2021 British Rally Championship will draw to a close on Saturday, with the final round, the Ulster Rally, to be decided over nine stages in the Newry and Banbridge areas. The event will be the first all-tarmac rally of the year for the Hankook Tire crew of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin, who will be aiming to end the season on a positive note in their NPL Rally Hire-tended Ford Fiesta.

Buoyed by setting fastest time on the last stage of the previous round in Wales, Cronin is looking forward to the return to tarmac, his season so far having been gravel-focused. "We didn't do the opening round at Oulton Park because of the Covid quarantine restrictions at the time, and the Mull Rally wasn't on our schedule either, so the Ulster will be our only full tarmac event for 2021," said Cronin. "The last stage of the Cambrian was tarmac, but that was only 5 kilometres, and it was on gravel tyres. This is the 'real thing', and it's the nearest we have to a home rally this year."

The Ulster Rally follows the three stages, three times format regularly used in Ireland, with Service after each of the first two loops. "The route is largely unchanged from the most recent running of the event in 2019, so anyone who did that rally will have an advantage, the last time we were there was in 2017," Cronin noted. "It's a very competitive top ten, I expect the pace to be tremendous from the start."

The destination of the 2021 British Rally Championship will be decided on the Ulster between Welshmen, Osian Pryce and Matt Edwards. Pryce, BRC runner-up in 2013 and 2014, holds an eight point advantage heading to Northern Ireland, and Edwards must take maximum points if he is to secure a third title.

The Ulster Rally route will total 150 kilometres/93 miles, over the three loops of the McGaffin's Corner, Bronte Homeland and Shinn Bridge tests. Service will be at the Modern Tyres facility in Newry, with the Finish Ramp also located there.

There will be separate livestreams throughout the day on the British Rally Championship's webpage, ulsterrally.com and facbook.com/onthepacenote.

In addition to the primary support of Hankook Tire, Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin are also backed by M. O'Brien Group of Companies, Rentokil Initial, Cremin Coaches, Cronin's Centra, Cronin's Homevalue and M-Sport.

British Rally Championship showdown set for the Ulster Rally

Posted: November 12, 2021 3:30 PM

After six action-packed rounds of the 2021 Motorsport UK British Rally Championship, the thrilling fight for the coveted title all comes down to the final encounter of the season, the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally next weekend [20 November].

The stages around the Newry rally base will see the British Rally champion crowned on Saturday night, but standing in the way is over 93 competitive miles of merciless closed-road special tests with every passing corner ready to usurp any one of the title protagonists. Add into the mix the prospect of the latter stages taking place under the cover of darkness and it’s all set to be a gripping final blast of 2021.

And then there were two. Aiming for a record-breaking third BRC title in a row is Conwy driver Matt Edwards who heads to Northern Ireland with the number one on the door. But fellow Welshman Osian Pryce will be doing all he can to take his maiden British Rally Championship title and starts the event in the box seat thanks to an eight-point lead in the standings, on paper at least.

Taking dropped scores into account, in simplistic terms Edwards and co-driver Darren Garrod need to take their Pirelli-shod Volkswagen Polo GTi to maximum BRC points if Edwards is to clinch a place in the history books. Standing firmly in his way though, Melvyn Evans Motorsport teammate Pryce and co-driver Noel O` Sullivan will be threading their Michelin rubbered Polo through the stages with precision and undoubtedly with more than one eye on the times.

If Edwards doesn’t take the top score, Pryce can afford to cruise home thanks to his impressive points tally accumulated over a season that has seen the Machynlleth driver finish on the podium on every round so far.

With two wins apiece to each of the protagonists, it’s a winner takes all scenario but one thing is for sure, the Volkswagen marque will secure their first-ever British Rally Championship title in the process.

“It’s the most straightforward final round of the British Rally Championship that I’ve ever had, as I’ve got to go and win it,” says Edwards.

“There are no variables, no ifs and buts – it’s a case of maximum points or nothing. And I feel good about it too because I go to the final round with a lot of confidence in the Polo. We proved in Mull that we have the speed and we know that we have the pace on asphalt to get the job done.“

“I’ve also gone well in recent years in Ulster. There is nothing going against me at the moment. Everything feels aligned and I see no reason why we won’t be able to score maximum BRC points in Ulster and come home with the title.”

Pryce is equally buoyant.

“The event seems right up my street,” he says.

“I feel I’ve come this far before in the championship and it has fallen from our reach in the final moments so I will do everything I can possibly do to make sure we take it this year. If it doesn’t happen it won’t be for the lack of trying. “

Pryce has twice been a BRC runner-up, and the plan is not to let that become a hattrick.

“Getting the first title would mean everything right now just because we have come so close in the past and never won it, and we all as a team have worked so hard for it this year.”

“Based on our performance on the Cambrian, I rate our chances quite high, but this event is a completely different challenge Should we find ourselves in the same rhythm, that will be a good place to start. The plan of attack has been the same all year and it doesn’t change now, we have had a good approach to every event this year and this is the one where we have to be on the ball from the very beginning.”

A stellar entry will line up to tackle the Ulster lanes and any one of the impressive field could hamper the title chase for Pryce or Edwards. Both Sam and Josh Moffett return to the BRC fold after a mid-season break although it’s unclear if they will be registering for points at this stage.

If anyone knows how to win titles, its four-time BRC champion Keith Cronin who makes his 2021 debut on asphalt in his Hankook backed Ford Fiesta Rally2. Continuing to develop the tyres throughout the season, Cronin and co-driver Mickie Galvin could well throw up some surprises during the day.

Cathan McCourt and Liam Moynihan impressed on the gravel of the Grampian Rally in August despite making their debut in a brand new Fiesta Rally2 and are well in line for a podium spot. Seb Perez bagged his first BRC podium at the Cambrian and will be looking to round out his season in style. His and co-driver Gary McElhinney’s recent WRC Spain experience will put them in good stead on the Northern Ireland asphalt and are M-Sport’s sole entry at the weekend.

Having made a stellar return to the stages at the Cambrian Rally, former Junior BRC front-runner James Williams will tackle the event in a Fiesta Rally2 to gain valuable experience in four-wheel-drive machinery for the future, ably co-driven by Dai Roberts.

With the Motorsport UK National Rally Title already sown-up in the hands of Garry Pearson and Niall Burns, it's Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy who lead the pack and sit well inside the top ten. The pairing has been a popular return to the BRC this season and a top five finish at the recent non-championship Tour of the Sperrins puts them in good shape for the Ulster.

James Wilson and Arthur Kierans have enjoyed a very busy competitive season and take their Hyundai i20 on asphalt for the first time since round one. Alan Carmichael contests his `home` event in similar machinery and is once again joined by Claire Williams.

Stephen Petch and Michael Wilkinson bring the noise in their Fiesta WRC after narrowly missing out on the National Title, with Jason Black and Karl Egan needing to score well to scoop third in the championship in their Toyota Starlet.

Junior BRC – World Rally Championship awaits the winner

It is arguably the best prize in rallying and it’s certainly worth keeping more than one eye on the Junior BRC battle this Saturday. Like its BRC top-flight cousin, two drivers are going head to head for the chance to scoop the title but the winner will also secure a drive in a Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing i20 N Rally2 at a round of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship. Impressive stuff.

Winning four rounds of the series in 2021 would have been enough in lesser years to seal the deal, but not this time around. William Creighton and co-driver Liam Regan scooped wins at the Neil Howard, Mull Rally, Trackrod Rally Yorkshire and the Cambrian, but still are not leading the series.

Such is the impressive consistency of Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan, the pairing has scored on all but one round to enter a thrilling battle with Creighton for the title.

However, all Creighton needs to do is finish eighth or higher to take the title that he has twice been the bridesmaid too, and secure that potentially career-changing drive in the process.

“It would be fantastic for me and the entire team who have been behind me over the past few years to finally seal the championship,” says Creighton.

“We are in a good place in the championship but we must get to the finish of this event and pick up some points. The stages will offer plenty of challenges and it's quite a long event for a one day rally so there is a lot of work still to do so I don’t want to get ahead of myself."

“My plan will be to stay focused on what I have to do and not what others are doing around me. I am lucky enough to have my family business sponsor an element of the event so I hope it is an enjoyable day for everyone involved and that it’s an exciting BRC showdown.”

Kelly is upbeat about the weekend ahead too.

“ I’m feeling good about the event,” he says.

“We had a run out at the Kerry Winter Stages last weekend to get some miles in and help get our confidence up. Seat time is everything and it’s left us hopefully that bit sharper leading up to Ulster."

“Of course with drop scores, the odds are against us, we need to win and Will just has to finish as far as I know, but we have to remain positive and understand that it’s not over until it’s over. It’s a big challenge but I can’t wait! We came to this championship for challenges like this so I’m going to relish it. It would mean a lot to win the championship.”

“We came into the year with relatively less experience than some of the top guys, so to be considered a title fighter all the way to the last round is great in itself. When you look at some of the names who have won it in the past, you definitely aspire to be part of that list.”

Kyle White has been a star of the Junior BRC season and despite his debut year, has thrilled the crowds with his raucous Peugeot 208. He and co-driver Sean Topping could pull some surprises on Saturday if they can put the back luck of late firmly behind them.

Jason Dickson has taken to his new Fiesta Rally4 like a duck to water and is another to watch out for in the lanes. He and Martin Brady are increasing their pace event by event and will be relishing the challenge of the Ulster.

Johnnie Mulholland and Calum Maguire are already Academy Trophy champions so will be out for the experience on their home event, whilst Rupert Flynn returns to the BRC after tackling the Mull Rally in his Fiesta Rally4. Joseph Kelly and Shane Byrne claimed their first Junior podium in Wales last month and hope to take that form to the asphalt whilst Casey-Jay Coleman and Grace O' Brien also tackle the final round of the season.

The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally will bring the curtain down on a superb British Rally Championship season. Nine stages and 93 miles await.

BRITISH TITLES TO BE DECIDED ON ULSTER RALLY

Posted: November 12, 2021 3:26 PM

After six rounds and hundreds of stages miles, both the British Rally Championship and Junior British Rally Championship titles will be settled on the Modern Tyres Ulster International Rally.

Reigning British champion Matt Edwards kept his hopes of retaining the BRC1 crown for a third successive campaign alive at the penultimate event in Wales last month. Makeshift repairs to his car on road sections before the start of the last three stages staved off certain retirement, and allowed the Volkswagen Polo driver to complete the event and bag some precious points.

“It was the toughest few hours of my career so far I think,” said Edwards, who led the BRC field home on the 2019 Ulster Rally, “but looking back I am really proud of how we dealt with the situation. We kept cool and did what we needed to do. It is still all to play for; it is why I do this. Now it is all about how we can win in Ulster – the focus on that will never waiver,” he added.

Fellow Welshman Osian Pryce currently enjoys an 8-point buffer heading into the closed-road event in Newry once the dropped score rule is applied and will be assured of a maiden British Rally Championship title if Edwards fails to win on Irish soil next Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to the Ulster Rally,” said Pryce. “Although we won the event in 2013, this year’s rally is based in a different area, so the stages are all new to us. The plan is very similar to the Cambrian – aim to stay in front of Matt, or at least not allow him to win the event.”

The BRC1 trophy was whittled down from three candidates to two on the penultimate round when M-Sport Ford driver Matthew Wilson bowed out on the opener with mechanical damage.

Meanwhile, the Junior BRC trophy will return either to Moira in County Down with the current leader, William Creighton, or north west to County Donegal in the hands of Eamonn Kelly.
Creighton won last time out on the Cambrian to make it three straight class wins, while Kelly’s identical front-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta Rally4 car was stopped in its tracks by driveshaft failure.

“I’ve been taking it rally by rally and just focusing on trying to drive well and keep improving,” said Creighton, who has finished runner-up in the JBRC on two previous occasions. “We’re in a good place, but there is still plenty of kilometres to do and I am sure the Ulster is going to be a challenging event, so it’s important that I don’t take my eye of the ball,” added the 23-year-old.

In the simplest terms, if Kelly manages a second win of 2021, he would take 25 points plus five bonus points for playing his ‘Joker’ card. In that case, Creighton must finish eighth – or higher.

“When you count dropped scores, I think the odds are stacked against us,” said Kelly. “However, stranger things have happened in rallying and regardless of what happens I really want to go out and further prove that I can win such events, so it’s a no brainer. It’s flat out from the word go.”

Adding an extra dimension to the Ulster Rally are the Moffett brothers – Sam and Josh – as well newly-crowned Northern Ireland champion Jonathan Greer, four-time British champion Keith Cronin, and this year’s Cork 20, Donegal Harvest and Tour of the Sperrins victor, Callum Devine.

Looking ahead to the meeting, Event Director Richard Swanston said: “With two titles up for grabs, the 2021 Modern Tyres Ulster International Rally is shaping up very nicely. It promises to be a fantastic showdown and a fitting conclusion to this year’s British Rally Championship. Our preparations in Newry are on schedule to host what will hopefully be a very memorable event.

“Whichever driver ends up being crowned British and Junior British Rally champion on the 2021 Modern Tyres Ulster International Rally will have definitely earned it,” he added. “The stages, the weather, and driving in the dark add up to make this the most difficult round of them all.”

Seeded Entry List

Posted: November 10, 2021 4:20 PM

1 Matt Edwards/Darren Garrod (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
2 Osian Pryce/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
3 Callum Devine/Brian Hoy (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
4 Sam Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
5 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
6 Jonathan Greer/Kirsty Riddick (Citroen C3 R5) [RC2]
7 Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
8 Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
9 Cathan McCourt/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
10 James Wilson/Arthur Kierans (Hyundai i20 R5) [N10]
11 James Williams/Dai Roberts (Hyundai i20 R5) [N10]
12 Alan Carmichael/Claire Williams (Hyundai I20 R5) [N10]
14 Philip Allen/TBA (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
15 Patrick O'Brien/Stephen O'Brien (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
16 Aidan Wray/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
17 David Kelly/Deanie O Sullivan (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
18 Seb Perez/Gary McElhinney (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
19 Stephen Petch/Michael Wilkinson (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [N10]
20 John Stone/Tom Woodburn (VW Polo GTI R5) [N10]
21 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) [RC2]
22 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
23 Emma McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
24 Ashley Dickson/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
25 Chris McGurk/Liam McIntyre (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
26 Joe Hegarty/David Turkington (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
27 Damian Toner/Denver Rafferty (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
28 Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet) [N6]
29 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
30 Brendan Cumiskey/Lorcan Moore (Ford Fiesta Rally 3) [RC3]
31 William Creighton/Liam Regan (Ford Fiesta Rally 4) [RC4]
32 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Ford Fiesta Rally 4) [RC4]
33 Kyle White/Sean Topping (Peugeot 208 R2) [RC4]
34 Jason Dickson/Martin Brady (Ford Fiesta Rally 4) [RC4]
35 Simon Chapman/Peter Foy (Proton Satria Neo Millington) [N8]
36 John Morrison/Peter Carstairs (Ford Fiesta R5) [N10]
37 Donall Sweeney/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
38 Marty Toner/Kyle Diffin (BMW 1M) [N7]
39 Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
40 Patrick McHugh/Pauric O'Donnell (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
41 Ed O'Callaghan/Kaine Treanor (Ford Escort Mk2) [N7]
42 John Devlin/John McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
43 Alastair Cochrane/Ian Kidd (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
44 Alexander Cochrane/Chris Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
45 John Gordon/Thomas Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
46 William Armstrong/Andrew Wedlock (Ford Escort Mk2) [N5]
47 Gary Cassidy/Thomas Treanor (Honda Civic EG6) [N6]
48 Gary McNamee/Brian Brady (Honda Civic) [N6]
49 Gareth Black/Connor Dunlop (Toyota Starlet) [N6]
50 Oliver Benton/Kyle Casement (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
51 William Carey/Jimmy Graham (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
52 Niall Carey/Ciaran Carey (BMW Compact) [N7]
53 Sam Adams/Michael Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [N5]
54 Jonny Cargo/David McElroy (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
55 Adrian Grant/Olivia Coulter (Toyota Starlet) [N6]
56 Ben Howlett/Simon Howlett (Peugeot 306) [N6]
57 Willie Bonniwell/Allan MacDougall (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [N10]
58 Gordon Cunningham/Charley Sayer-Payne (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) [N8]
59 Fintan McGrady/Stephen Jess (Ford Escort RS1800) [H1]
60 David Armstrong/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort RS1800) [H1]
61 Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (BMW M3) [H2]
62 Andrew Bushe/Ivor Lamont (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) [H1]
63 Peter Bennett/Simon Jones (Ford Escort MK2) [H1]
64 Barry Savage/Francis Jnr McMullan (Vauxhall Astra GSI) [N1]
65 Jody McManus/Des Sherlock (Ford Fiesta R2) [RC4]
66 Johnnie Mulholland/Calum Maguire (Ford Fiesta R2T) [RC4]
67 Joseph Kelly/Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta) [RC4]
68 Casey Jay Coleman/Adam Coffey (Ford Fiesta) [RC4]
69 David Riddles/Harry Johnston (Ford Escort MK2) [N6]
70 David Geraghty/Tommy Hayes (Honda Civic) [N6]
71 Richard Hall/Declan Campbell (Ford Escort RS1800) [H2]
72 Steven Armstrong/Philip Armstrong (Ford Escort MK2) [N5]
73 Ryan McArdle/Ronan Comerford (Ford Escort MK2) [N5]
74 Andrew McGaffin/Jane Collins (Ford Escort MK1) [N5]
75 Matthew McGaffin/Mo Downey (Ford Escort) [N5]
76 Liam McMullan/Christy McLaughlin (Honda Civic) [N4]
77 Gareth Deazley/Ashley Boulton (Ford Fiesta) [N4]
78 Derek Gurney/Alan Connor (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth) [N1]
79 Noel Vallely/Neill Vallely (Toyota Corolla) [N5]
80 Rupert Flynn/Darragh Mullan (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
81 Richard Weatherley/Shaun Layland (Ford Fiesta) [N6]
82 Shane Murray/Gary Hade (Ford Fiesta) [N3]
83 Colum Tennyson/Owen Magee (Ford Escort) [N6]
84 William McClurkin/Damian McCann (Ford Escort Mk2) [N6]
85 Colin Price/Ben Teggart (Toyota Starlet) [N6]
86 Tomas Crummy/Damian Murphy (Ford Escort) [N6]
87 Robert Erwin/Neil Ervine (Toyota Corolla) [N4]
88 Ryan Caldwell/Grace O'Brien (Opel Adam) [N4]
89 Jack Cairns/Kenny Bustard (Ford Fiesta R2) [N4]
90 John Adams/Noel Watt (Ford Escort Mk2) [H1]
91 Fabian McAleer/Steven Monaghan (Ford Escort) [H1]
92 Ben Walsh/James McNulty (Ford Escort Mk2) [N4]
93 Simon Gordon/John Henderson (Vauxhall Astra) [N6]
94 Keelan Maguire/Tony McGovern (Honda Civic) [N4]
95 Patrick Fitzpatrick/James McEneaney (Ford Escort Mk2) [N3]
96 Aodhan Gallagher/Conal McNulty (Honda Civic) [N4]
97 Kyle McBride/TBA (Honda Civic) [N4]
98 Danny MacBride/Daniel MacBride (Honda Civic) [N4]
99 Ryan Brennan/Nigel Brennan (Honda Civic) [N4]
100 Nigel Brennan/Rebecca Brown (Honda Civic) [N4]
101 Declan Farren/Doireann Tiernan (Honda Civic) [N4]
102 Conor Wilson/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta R2) [N4]
103 Aoife Raftery/Dylan Doonan (Ford Fiesta) [N11]
104 Dean McDowell/Terry Walkingshaw (Vauxhall Nova) [N4]
105 Gerard Gibbons/Chris Harley (Ford Escort) [N4]
106 Barry Fitzsimons/Patrick McMullan (Subaru Impreza) [N8]
107 Micheal Magee/John Magilton (Subaru Impreza) [N1]
108 Jonni McDaid/Chrissy Corry (Talbot Samba) [H1]
109 John McCullough/Rachael McCullough (Ford Escort MK2) [N5]
110 Owen Percy/David Percy (Ford Escort MK2) [H2]
111 Peter Curran/Thomas Nugent (Ford Escort Mk2) [H2]
112 Kevin Duggan/Keith Bovaird (Peugeot 206) [N4]
113 Angus Johnson/George McMillen (Vauxhall Corsa) [N3]
114 Eamon McLaughlin/Stephen Smith (Vauxhall Nova) [N3]
115 Malcolm Pedlow/Billy Regan (BMW 2002 tii) [H1]
116 Malcolm Johnston/Sam Magill (Skoda Felicia) [N3]

Entries Received

Posted: October 7, 2021 3:41 AM

www.rallyscore.net/#/entry-list/1565?Modern-Tyres-Ulster-Rally-2021

On Line Entry / Regulations

Posted: September 30, 2021 1:10 PM

On Line Entry System by RallyScore

ULSTER RALLY TO HOST BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE

Posted: March 28, 2021 10:33 AM

November’s Ulster Rally will bring the curtain down on the 2021 British Rally Championship, with the Newry-based event acting as the sixth, and final, round of the mixed surface series. After an enforced delay, the British Rally Championship moves into gear in early July, with registered crews having to negotiate a total of five rounds in England, Scotland and Wales before they can begin to make plans for the short trip across the Irish Sea to the Ulster Rally.

The British Rally Championship was called off in June of last year after just one round due to the coronavirus health pandemic, with this also leading to the Ulster Rally being cancelled.

However, all stakeholders are confident a full campaign will take place this season given the speed at which the vaccine programme is currently being rolled out across the four nations.

Promoted by Northern Ireland Motor Club Limited, the Ulster Rally has been a mainstay of the British Rally Championship for many years – and organisers are pleased the tie-up is continuing. “The Ulster Rally is delighted to welcome the British Rally Championship back to Northern Ireland, and to our event, later in the year,” said Event Director Richard Swanston.

“Hopefully, the fight for the many titles will come down to the last round and where better for the drivers to battle it out for the overall British Rally title than the tricky roads of Ulster? “The weather has always played a big part – and had a big say – in our event, and with the Ulster Rally taking place in mid-November this year, I am confident that theme will continue.

“Plans are progressing well for the 2021 instalment of the Ulster Rally and I am sure it will provide a dynamic and exciting twist for all involved with the British Rally Championship.”

This is the first time the Ulster Rally is being held outside of its traditional August slot, and the British Rally Championship’s Manager believes the unpredictable climate in Northern Ireland in early winter will add another layer of intrigue to the UK’s blue riband rally series.

“The Ulster Rally is always a tough event that succeeds in serving up a short, sharp, shock of intense competition,” said Iain Campbell. “Just how the challenge will change with the November date, we will have to wait and see.

“But as a constant on the British Rally Championship calendar, we look forward to this being our final 2021 round – something that is also new for the Ulster Rally,” he added.

NOVEMBER DATE FOR ULSTER RALLY

Posted: February 27, 2021 2:42 AM

Northern Ireland Motor Club Ltd is delighted to announce that following a one-year hiatus, the Ulster Rally is set to return on the weekend of Friday 19th and Saturday 20th November.

As with most outdoor sporting events last year, the 2020 instalment of the Tarmac classic had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 health pandemic. But organisers are confident the roll-out of the vaccination programme against the respiratory disease, which is set to be largely completed by the end of this summer, will allow the Ulster Rally to be staged safely.

“Due to COVID-19 and the current restrictions, the preparations required for an August date could not be completed,” explained Event Director, Richard Swanston. “We will continue to monitor the situation and tailor our plans to suit as we work towards the November date.”

On the issue of spectators being allowed to attend the closed-roads event, Swanston added:
“If restrictions are such that the attendance of spectators would be illegal, and would pose a risk to the community we are operating in, then we’ll review the viability closer to the time.
“In controlled areas such as service parks, again, restrictions at the time will dictate how we operate. It’s very fluid at the moment but we have a date and we’re working towards that.”

The 44th Ulster Rally will be run out of Newry in 2021, with further details concerning the stages, the event HQ and the service park all to be announced in due course by organisers.

Event Website

Posted: February 27, 2021 2:42 AM

Ulster Rally