Midland Stages Rally - 2 Mar 25

Press Release 2

Posted: February 15, 2025 10:30 AM

Midland Motor Club held its Rally launch on Sunday 9th February at rally HQ the Longford Arms Hotel attended by a huge number of rally enthusiasts and supporters. Club Chairperson Vincent Collins welcomed all to the launch and spoke in particular about Jeremy O’Connor (former rally clerk of the course & club member) who sadly passed away in June 2024 and what he meant to the club, as an official and a friend also, Jeremy’s family attended the launch.

Cyril Rollins Clerk of the course gave a brief outline of the event and thanked all sponsors, in particular Orlagh Reynolds from the Longford Arms Hotel and Paul Rowley from Admore Air Conditioning. Inspector Declan McGlynn spoke briefly about the role of the Gardai on a week-end of the rally and they will have a high profile on the roads during the rally weekend. He wished the organisers well and asked that rally fans drive safely and enjoy the rally. All championship sponsors were in attendance for the launch giving their support for the rally.

With only 3 weeks to go the 2025 Triton Showers National Rally Championship roars to life with the Jeremy O’Connor Longford Arms Hotel Stages Rally, on March 2. All eyes will be on World Rally Championship driver Josh McErlean, driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2 alongside codriver Eoin Treacy. Fans will have the chance to meet the duo at the ceremonial start, hosted at the Longford Arms Hotel, on the eve of the event. The ceremonial start commences at 6pm outside the rally HQ where the top crews & top local crews and their cars will be interviewed by well known sport journalist Sean Moriarity.

The unofficial entry list, that includes over 40 Rally 2 cars entered to date is a who's who of national and international rallying talent with entries coming from as far away as Australia, USA, Scotland, England and Wales. Can anyone stop reigning champion Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2) as he aims for a fifth consecutive title? His brother Sam also Hyundai mounted, Daniel Cronin (making his delayed debut in his new Citroen C3 Rally2 after the Galway Rally postponement), and Eddie Doherty will be doing their best to halt his progress. Former British champion and Irish Tarmac Rally Championship contender Matt Edwards in another Hyundai also adds to the mix on his second visit to the Midlands. Declan Boyle, a former national champion, returns in a Skoda Fabia Rally2, while Doherty will be pushing hard for a win in his own Skoda.

Robert Barrable makes a welcome return to the national scene in either a Ford Fiesta or Skoda Fabia, and local driver Tommy Doyle (Hyundai) will be hoping to make his mark. Desi Henry, known for his route safety notes expertise with McErlean in Monte Carlo in January, adds another layer to an already competitive entry list in his Citroen. Michael Boyle whose first win cannot be far away, Gary Kieran (now getting to grips with his Ford Fiesta Rally2), Kevin Eves, and local ace Shane Quinn are all ones to watch. Edwards' Hyundai teammate, Cathan McCourt, also joins the fray.

The modified class promises fireworks too, with Gary McPhillips (Ford Escort), Kevin Gallagher and Barry Morris (both in Darrian T90s), and Mickey Carbin (Ford Escort) leading the charge. Home turf advantage could play a role for local drivers like Keelan Grogan from Leitrim (Peugeot 208 Rally4), Stephen Faughnan, Longford (Ford Escort), and returning American ex-pats Paul Rowley and Enda McCormack. Sister and brother team Aoife and Dean Raftery are also on the entry with Aoife making her delayed Rally3 debut in a Ford Fiesta, and Dean chasing National championship class honours in a similar machine. Relatively local racing driver Morgan Dempsey trying his hand at rallying adds even more interest to the oversubscribed entry list.

Rally Launch - 9 Feb @ 3pm

Posted: February 6, 2025 8:33 AM

Rally Launch this Sunday 9th February in The Longford Arms Hotel at 3pm.
All welcome

Sportity

Posted: February 6, 2025 8:29 AM

On Line Entry / Regulations

Posted: February 1, 2025 6:45 AM

Available at:

Shannon Sports IT (EVO On line Entry) - Login Page

Josh McErlean/Eoin Tracey to compete in the Jeremy O’Connor Midland Moto Stages Rally

Posted: January 15, 2025 1:10 PM

M-Sport Ford driver Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Tracey have been confirmed to compete in the Jeremy O’Connor Midland Moto Stages Rally, set to take place on March 2, 2025.
Josh, a former Billy Coleman Award winner and member of the Motorsport Ireland Academy, is competing in all 14 rounds of the 2025 World Rally Championship in an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 car. Speaking this week, he expressed his excitement about tackling the Longford roads, where he will be behind the wheel of one of Paul Rowley’s Admore Air Conditioning Corp, Ford Fiesta Rally 2 car.
Fans will also have the chance to meet the world championship contender on Saturday evening at the ceremonial start at the Longford Arms Hotel, where people of all ages can get a closer look at McErlean and his car.

Details

Posted: January 15, 2025 1:08 PM

Midland Motor Club is looking forward to the 1st round of the Triton Showers National rally championship, once again based around Longford town on the 2nd of March. Rally HQ is the Longford Arms Hotel and Cyril Rollins will take on the role of Clerk of the Course. The 2025 event will be counting rounds of the:

• Motorsport Ireland National Irish Rally Championship
• Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship
• Hugo Loonam Motors Midland East Rally Championship
• Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series
Dacia Sandero Challenge Cup

The club are delighted once again to have The Longford Arms Hotel along with Admore Air Conditioning as main sponsors of the event. Associate sponsors are Shane Quinn Rallying and Enda McCormack Contracting.

The weekend will kick off with a ceremonial start on Saturday evening 1st March in Longford town.

Event Poster

Posted: January 15, 2025 12:56 PM