Killarney and District Motor Club Forestry Rally (Castleisland) - 20 Feb 22

Motorsport Ireland Statement Monday February 21st 2022, 6.12pm

Posted: February 21, 2022 4:13 PM

Motorsport Ireland is deeply saddened to confirm Eoin McCarthy as the driver who lost his life in a fatal accident which occurred at yesterday’s Killarney Forestry Rally.

Eoin, aged 22, succumbed to his injuries in Cork University Hospital yesterday evening. From Dunmanway, Co. Cork, Eoin was a member of Skibbereen and District Car Club. Eoin’s co-driver remains in Cork University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

As the governing body for four-wheeled motorsport in Ireland, Motorsport Ireland together with the event organisers and the relevant authorities, has begun a full investigation into the circumstances of the accident.

The thoughts of everyone at Motorsport Ireland and within the wider motorsport community continue to be with Eoin McCarthy’s family and friends, his co-driver, the organisers of the event, and other members of the motorsport community who were present at the scene.

Killarney & District Motor Club Statement - 20-02-2022 - 21:30pm

Posted: February 20, 2022 3:39 PM

"Killarney and District Motor Club regret to inform you that following an accident on SS4 of the Killarney Forestry Rally, a competitor succumbed to his injuries and passed away in Cork University Hospital tonight (Sunday).

May he Rest In Peace.

We extend our sympathies to his family and friends."

Irish Forest Rally Championship Press Release - Future Stars

Posted: February 15, 2022 11:39 AM

As the excitement hits fever pitch on Sunday morning, and as a full field of competitors sits giddy at the prospect of taking on the thrilling challenge of the opening round of the 2022 Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship, the Killarney Forestry Rally, the honour of leading the cars away and being the first to hit the stages lies with some of Ireland’s youngest Rally competitors, with the Junior 1000 Championship crews getting the ultimate opportunity to showcase their burgeoning talents to a large audience of spectators, media and rally followers.

The J1000 series has flourished since its inception, with the latest season of the competition now attracting a bumper fifteen entries for the first event, many of these being driven at high speed on controlled Rally Stages by drivers still too young to even apply for a Provisional Road License!

The J1000 formula was designed in the UK as a means to bring ever younger drivers into the rallying world, and to help encourage natural talent from an earlier age. The Irish Forest Rally Championship saw a massive opportunity to introduce the competitive structure to Irish shores in 2017, and their foresight has proved fruitful with an ever-growing interest in the series.

Open to drivers between the ages of 14 and 18 and conforming to a reasonably strict set of car regulations, designed to both reduce costs and encourage competition, no other rally championship in Ireland has a younger competitor base. Tyres, like a lot of the mechanical parts, are also strictly controlled, with a single control tyre being supplied by Ears Motorsport in Mallow, again another generous supporter of the championship.

For many of the drivers, the J1000 series marks the beginning of their Stage Rally careers. As such, a huge helping hand is extended by the Rallying Community, with plenty of help and guidance along the way. Key to this, and the biggest mentor of all, is the Navigator. While usually a busy role at the best of times inside a car, the Co-Driver in a J1000 car is vital.

The entry list for the Killarney Forestry Rally includes young talent from all four corners of the island. While some drivers like Jack Brennan (Kilkenny), Mossie Costello (Kerry) and Letisha Conn (NI) have experienced an Irish Forest Rally Championship round in 2020, the rest of the field will take to the start line for their first championship round.

or the youngest drivers who do not hold a Driving License, the Navigator handles the non-competitive sections of the event that will see the cars on the public road, such as between stages & on the way to Service Halts. As well as logistical support, Navi’s provide a helping hand in understanding stage timing, technical support and guidance on the various rules of the sport. Each navigator, as a means of offering maximum help, must be reasonably experienced and have completed several events beforehand.

Meeting and talking to any of the J1000 crews during a Rally event, the buzz and excitement of being able to launch a fully-fledged Rally Car down a fast and flowing Forest Rally Stage is contagious. The pressure of competition and early shyness is soo often replaced with a beaming smile come Service or at the end of the rally. With over 60KM of high speed action ahead this weekend, it’s no wonder that these youngsters are looking forward frantically to getting to the start of Stage One on Sunday Morning.

For many of the crews, the true aspiration is to progress to the higher echelons of the sport, and consistently the J1000 formula has been an incredible launch pad for some of the brightest talent that Rallying has to offer. Jon Armstrong, from Northern Ireland, began in J1000 in a Nissan Micra, and within six years was competing in the World Rally Championship at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R5, as well as becoming the 2018 WRC E-Sports World Champion and narrowly missing out on the Junior WRC title in 2021.

With a healthy field of entries and a varied range of cars, the Junior 1000’s are an incredibly determined group of competitors with big aspirations, and well worth catching out on the stages. What is for certain though is that you very well will be watching the future stars of Irish and potentially World Rallying!

Seeded Entry List

Posted: February 15, 2022 11:35 AM

Killarney and District Motor Club Forestry Rally (Castleisland) - 20 Feb 22 - SEEDED ENTRY LIST

Rally Programmes

Posted: February 15, 2022 11:31 AM

Sponsors announced for Killarney Forestry Rally

Posted: January 26, 2022 4:18 AM

Killarney and District Motorclub and the organising committee are delighted to announce two main sponsors for the upcoming Killarney Forestry Rally which will take place on Saturday, February 20th.

C Wharton Plant Hire Ltd. and Castleisland Tyre Centre have come on board to sponsor the event which will be based in the Castleisland area. As previously announced, all profits made from the rally will be donated to the Irish Community Air Ambulance, who provide a vital service to people in emergency situations.

Speaking at a recent trip to the Air Ambulance HQ in Rathcoole, Cyril Wharton, owner of C Wharton Plant Hire Ltd. said
“I have been a member of KDMC since I was 18 and have been competing in tarmac rally’s for 30 years. I ran the forestry rally as Clerk of the Course in 2006 and I am delighted to see the rally return to our club. I started our new tool hire company in May of last year and are delighted to give something back to rallying and promote this new forestry event in association with the Irish Community Air Ambulance”

Also speaking was Niall Murphy, owner of Castleisland Tyre Centre, said
“I've been following rallying all my life and would have a good interest in the sport. I would have sponsored ads in the programme for the Rally of the Lakes previously to coming on board with the Forestry event. I'd know a good few people in the club and as all these are volunteers and customers of mine. When I was first told about this event and that it would be run around Castleisland and that the proceeds were going to the Air Ambulance I wanted to be part of it. I feel this service is a must, and especially with the work we do daily, we might need this service too one day. I'm delighted to be part of it with Cyril and Killarney and District Motorclub.”

The rally will take place in the Mount Eagle area just outside Castleisland and will consist of 63km competitive stage kilometres over 6 technical stages. Speaking at the recent visit to the Air Ambulance HQ, Clerk of the Course Dermot Healy said “It was a very easy decision to choose the Air Ambulance as a beneficiary to the upcoming rally. Donie Lucey, who is a former Chairman of the club is big into the sport and the members of KDMC agreed that it was the perfect cause to donate all profits to. Entries are filling up fast and as of this weekend we have over 60 entries received so far. I am overwhelmed by the support from the people of Castleisland and a big thank you to Cyril and Niall for coming on board as event title sponsors”

Dan Keane, Chairman of Killarney & District club has said
“I am delighted to welcome the Forestry rally back to Killarney in 2022. Dermot Healy and his team are planning what will be a fantastic event and I hope both crews and spectators attend in large numbers. Dermot has two fantastic sponsors on board, who without their generous support, there would be no rally.”

Be sure to follow our social media channels as we will have plenty of rally related content to come over the coming weeks.We will have plenty more exciting news items to come so watch this space!

On Line Entry

Posted: January 19, 2022 6:07 PM

Shannon Sports IT (EVO On line Entry)

Sportity Password

Posted: January 18, 2022 4:44 AM

"The club will once again be using a Sportity channel for the upcoming Killarney Forestry Rally. The app is free to download from the App or Google Play store and when prompted on the app, use the password 'killarneyforestry'. All competitor information will be posted here and on our online rally noticeboard"

FORESTRY RALLY TO RETURN TO KILLARNEY IN 2022

Posted: January 8, 2022 7:15 AM

Killarney and District Motor Club are delighted to announce the return of the Killarney Forestry Rally in 2022.

The event, which was last run in 2007, will be the opening round of the Forestry Championship and will take place on Sunday, February 20th.

KDMC revels in the challenge of running a fantastic Forestry event in 2022. The decision to run the rally was taken by club directors before a unanimous decision came from club members in support of the event.

The club has come to the decision to donate all profits from the event to the Air Ambulance. A number of worthy charities were mentioned in the decision making process. Former KDMC chairman Donie Lucey is one of the leading men behind setting up the fantastic service which is hugely important to the rural community in Kerry, hence making it an easy decision to choose this fantastic cause.

The club is excited to take on what is a new challenge to many members and together with the Clerk of the Course, the team will ensure to raise the bar in forestry rallying in Ireland. Dermot Healy, COC for the event, says he will leave no stone unturned to ensure a maximum donation can be given to the Air Ambulance Service.

More details to follow so watch this space and save the date!

Club Website

Posted: January 8, 2022 7:14 AM

Killarney and District Motor Club