Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12

PIRELLI STAR DRIVER BREEN WINS INAUGURAL WRC ACADEMY TITLE

Posted: February 22, 2012 2:48 PM

Irishman Craig Breen – one of the six Pirelli Star Drivers selected to contest this year’s inaugural WRC Academy series, which runs on Pirelli tyres – has won the title on the season-closing Rally GB.

Pirelli is the official tyre supplier to the entry-level class, which pitched 16 young hopefuls together on six asphalt and gravel WRC events this year. They drive identical Ford Fiesta R2s prepared by the British M-Sport organisation.

Breen won the class on the Rally GB, his second win of the season, but the result left him tied on points with Estonian Egon Kaur, who claimed the first three rallies of the season. Under the WRC Academy rules, a tie-break is decided by the number of stage wins, and with more stage wins than his rival, Breen was crowned champion. In order to win the title Breen needed to win the event and win as many stages as possible – which is exactly what he did, claiming a 500,000 Euro scholarship prize.

“I can’t find words to describe this moment,” said the 21-year-old. “For sure it’s the most amazing feeling to finally get here after all the effort we’ve put in all year, and for it to go down to the last stage of the last rally is incredible. The prize has given me most part of next year’s budget, and I can put my own budget to the following year, so it’s guaranteed two more years in the sport I love. I’m so grateful to Pirelli for this opportunity: what better prize could there be?”

As always, the Rally GB was characterised by cold weather conditions with mud and rain: perfect for the debut of Pirelli’s K6 gravel tyre, making its first appearance on the WRC Academy. This tyre is designed to heat up quickly, even in cold weather, and features a tread pattern design that allows it to bite through soft mud and find grip on the firmer surface below. Despite the difficult conditions, the drivers were able to push hard with only two punctures recorded – both the result of heavy impacts with rocks.

Rally GB brings to an end a remarkable debut year for the WRC Academy and particularly the six Pirelli Star Drivers – Fredrik Ahlin, Breen, Jan Cerny, Andrea Crugnola, Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor – who have had the cost of their seasons underwritten in a joint venture between Pirelli and the FIA: world motorsport’s governing body.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery said:
“It doesn’t get more exciting than this, with the result going down to the last stage of the last rally and the top two tied on points! Both drivers have been very impressive throughout the season, underlining our philosophy of bringing on young talent. Obviously for Craig to win as a Pirelli Star Driver proves the value of this unique scheme that we introduced in collaboration with the FIA in 2008. Rally GB provided a huge challenge again with difficult weather and slippery surfaces, but the drivers adopted the perfect strategy and the tyres were completely reliable. It's not just Craig and Egon who have impressed but all the drivers in the Academy, demonstrating that the future of the sport is in safe hands.”

All Roads Lead to Abbeyleix This Weekend

Posted: February 22, 2012 10:50 AM

All roads are leading too Abbeyleix for this weekend’s Birr & District Motor clubs annual tarmac stages rally. The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel sponsored event kicks off the first round of the Dunlop National, Loughran signs Midlands East and Top Part West Coast Rally Championships on Sunday morning.

There is a cracking entry list which consists of 5 World Rally cars and two Super 2000 cars in the top ten.

Blasting away at the front of the pack this weekend will be number 1 seed Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullay (Subaru WRC). Monaghan crew Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) are at number 2 with Carragaline’s Brian O Mahony/John Higgins making their 3rd appearance in a Mc Kinstry run (Subaru Impreza WRC )at number 3. Robert Barrable/Dermot O Gorman will make history this weekend being the first crew to tackle a Birr event in a Super 2000 rally car in their Skoda Fabia S2000 at 4. Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery will lead the first of the Group N production cars in a Subaru Impreza at no 5. The crew finished 3rd overall at last year’s event. Kerry crew of Thomas Fitzmorris/Fionn Foley will make their second outing in their newly acquired Subaru WRC S11 seeded no6. James Strafford/Amy Ryan will lead the 2wd cars in the class 14 battle at no 7 while English crew Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Subaru wrc) are the 8th car away. Clonmel’s Roy White (no9) has just fitted a 2.4 Montune engine to his Rover MG super 2000 while Shane Maguire (Subaru Impreza) completes the top ten.

This nine stage event kicks off Sunday morning with the cars leaving the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel car park from 9am with special stage one (Oldtown) starting at 10am. After completing stages 2 (Clough) and 3 (Harristown) the cars will return to the Rathdowney shopping outlet from 11am for the service halt.

Mechanical Scrutiny takes place at Oliver Stanleys garage Durrow from 2pm Saturday. Trailer Park will be opposite scrutiny with Parce Ferme in the car park beside the hotel.

There is a strong local contingent part taking in this event with Templemore crew Paul O Brien/John Kinihan (no38) competing in a newly built class 11 Honda Civic followed closely by Nenaghs Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde (Subaru Impreza).

The class 13 battle continues with William Cavanagh/Oliva Cowen,Eoin Woods/TBA , John Cavanagh/John Nolan and Kieran Guinan/Alan Higgins all driving Ford Escort Mk2s. Durrows Oliver Stanley/Edward Thompson will be out in their newly built Ford Focus, followed by Mark Kane also in a new car a Mk2 Escort. Nenaghs Davey Forde/Cecil Doak will be out in their class 15 Subaru Impreza. Ballacollas Mark Kirwin will be co-driving for Joey Carroll in a Citroen C2R2,while brother Brian will be driving his Peugeot 206. Borris-on-ossarys Frank Dwyer is swapping the passenger seat for the driver’s seat for this year’s rally driving his Ford Ka with Barry Foyle doing an opposite swap and Navigating for Tommy Kelly in a Honda Civic. Keith Murray will navigate David Fitzsimons in a class 13 escort with Robert Lewis returning to the stages after a two year absence. Athlone crew Aidan Cuniffe/Jason Walker are also making a return this year closely followed by Mike Garahy/Nial Keane in their Escort. Whitby Moynan is tackling the Historic category again this year with a new co-driver Pat Gubbins from Nenagh with Birr Crew Ray O Brien/Nicky Egan also competing in a Mini.

Finally help is also required and anyone intending on marshalling or helping out in any way is asked to contact (087-2156419 / +353 87-2156419).

Rally programmes will also be available in Rathdowney, Durrow and Abbeyleix from Friday. The club would also like to wish Clerk of The course Bill Ryan and his team the very best of luck in the running of the rally this weekend.

Remember safety first, Keep The Race In Its Place and please obey all Rally Marshalls.

Final Instructions / Scrutiny Slot Times

Posted: February 22, 2012 10:47 AM

Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12 - FINAL INSTRUCTIONS No 1
Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12 - Scrutiny Slot Times

Birr Motor Club

Marshall's Meeting Points

Posted: February 21, 2012 1:50 PM

SS1 Corcorans Bar, Rathdowney, 7.30 AM
SS2 SuperValu Car Park, Rathdowney, 8.00AM
SS3 Corcorans Bar, Rathdowney, 8.30AM

For more info contact 087-2156419 / +353 87-2156419

O'Connor Motorsport Pre Birr Press Release

Posted: February 21, 2012 1:37 PM

Limerick brothers Kevin and Johnny O’Connor are both planning on the making the trip to the Abbeyleix Manor Stages rally this weekend as a warm up for the forthcoming West Cork rally & round one of the Citroen Racing Trophy. Kevin will be performing 00 duties in his ex Marty Mc Cormack C2 Max while Johnny will be competing in the junior section driving the older version R2 that Kevin used to great effect in 2011.

Speaking on Monday Kevin said:
“This rally is purely a brief test for West Cork, I only drove this car once before in competition, so I still have a lot of learning to do, and it will also give Shane and I a chance to work together before the championship starts”. Kevin has 2009 winning CRT co-driver Shane Buckley co-driving for this season.

Older brother Johnny is also taking a learning approach:
“It’s my first time competing in a front wheel drive car and left hand drive, so we are in at the deep end! We have a bit of testing done and I am definitely getting more confident with it but no doubt it will take time” Johnny has his regular co-driver Gerard Conway in the hot seat this year.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: February 19, 2012 2:07 PM

Car No. Driver /Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
2 Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
3 Brian O'Mahony/John Higgins (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
4 Robert Barrable/Dermot O'Gorman (Skoda Fabia S2000) [4]
5 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
6 Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery (Subaru Impreza N12) [4]
7 James Stafford/Amy Ryan (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
8 Steve Simpson/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRC) [8]
9 Roy White/James O'Brien (MG ZR) [15]
10 Shane Maguire/Martin McGarrity (Subaru Impreza N11) [4]
11 Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) [4]
12 Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
14 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
15 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
16 Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
17 Pat Donegan/Andrew Donoghue (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
18 Josh Moffett/Domhnall Lennon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
19 Trevor Mulligan/Declan Smith (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
20 Michael Conlon/TBA (Ford Escort Mk II) [13]
21 Michael Curran/Sean Hayde (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
22 Neil Williams/Eurig Davies (Ford Escort Mk II) [13]
23 Russell Woods/Gary Gallagher (Ford Escort Mk II) [13]
24 Padraic Cummins/Graham Kelly (Ford Escort Mk II) [13]
25 Conor Watters/Patrick McHugh (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
26 Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor (Ford Escort Mk II) [14]
27 James Coleman/Kaye Shanahan (Ford Escort Mk II) [13]
28 Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Peugeot 205) [13]
29 Sean Moran/TBA (Toyota Corolla) [13]
30 Peter Cummins/Donal Balfe (Darrian T90) [13]
31 Jason McSweeney/Denis O'Mahony (Honda Civic) [11]
32 Kieran Daly/Keith Moriarty (Citroen C2R2) [6]
33 Barry Ryan/Cathal McGrath (Ford Escort) [11]
34 Graeme Colfer/Brian Ward (Citroen C2R2) [6]
35 Peter Barrable/Paddy Robinson (Citroen C2R2) [6]
36 Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry (Ford Escort) [11]
37 Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary (Honda Civic) [11]
38 Paul O'Brien/John Kinahan (Honda Civic) [11]
39 Moss Fitzgerald/Alistair Wyllie (Toyota Corolla) [11]
40 Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde (Subaru Impreza) [4]
41 Frank Sweeney/Jane Cogan (Ford Escort) [13]
42 Eamon Dervan/Keith Gardiner (Ford Escort) [13]
43 William Cavanagh/Olivia Coen (Ford Escort) [12]
44 Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort) [13]
45 Patrick Kiernan/Darren O'Brien (Ford Escort) [10]
46 Joe Connolly/TBA (Ford Escort) [14]
47 Tommy Mason/Damien Fleming (Ford Escort) [13]
48 Pat Barry/Stephen O'Connell (Ford Escort) [14]
49 Larry Brady/Ann Brady (Ford Escort) [14]
50 Andrew Fanning/Derek Gibbs (Ford Puma) [6]
51 Gene Callan/Sean Brunton (Ford Escort) [12]
52 Eoin Woods/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
53 Kieran Guinan/Alan Higgins (Ford Escort) [12]
54 John Cavanagh/John Nolan (Ford Escort) [13]
55 Paddy O'Rourke/Tony Healy (Ford Escort) [13]
56 Liam Bowhan/Ged Kennedy (Toyota Starlet) [13]
57 Oliver Stanley/Edward Thompson (Ford Focus) [13]
58 Mark Kane/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort) [13]
59 David Forde/Cecil Doak (Subaru Impreza) [15]
60 Paddy McVeigh/Stephen O'Hanlon (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
61 Liam Higgins/Mike Ward (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7) [4]
62 Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
63 Willie Lawrence/Donal Ryan (Ford Escort) [13]
64 Joey Carroll/Mark Kirwan (Citreon C2) [11]
65 David Geraghty/Lisa O'Dowd (Ford Escort) [11]
66 Stephen Carey/Breda O'Driscoll (Honda Civic) [3]
67 David Donoghue/Andrew Browne (Citreon C2) [11]
68 Alan Gibbons/David Gibbons (Honda Civic) [11]
69 Pa Bellew/Andres Reid (Ford Escort MkII) [9]
70 Colin Byrne/Brian Quinlan (Ford Puma) [9]
71 Roger Donnan/Pierce Doheny (Ford Puma) [6]
72 Alan Fair/Jarlath Conneely (Honda Civic) [6]
73 Billy Hayes/Pat Knox (Honda Civic) [3]
74 Paul Browne/Margaret Browne (Honda Civic) [11]
75 Anthony Tuttle/Sean Kiernan (Ford Escort) [13]
76 Ryan Loughran/James McCarville (Ford Escort) [11]
77 Johnny Curran/Mikey Walsh (Ford Escort) [13]
78 Stephen McCann/James McCann (EVO 7) [15]
79 Tommy Kelly/Barry Foyle (Ford Escort) [10]
80 Eddie Kennelly/Ciara O'Connell (Ford Escort) [10]
81 Dan Gorman/Luke McRedmond (Ford Escort) [13]
82 David Fitzsimons/Keith Murray (Ford Escort) [13]
83 John Hade/Sharon Nolan (Ford Escort) [13]
84 Brian Kirwan/TBA (Peugeot 206) [13]
85 Gerard Hodgins/Adian Kelly (Opel Manta) [13]
86 John Kenny/Peter Leahy (Ford Escort) [13]
87 Paul Lacey/Arthur Walshe (Ford Escort G3) [13]
88 Michael Dowling/David Dowling (Ford Escort) [12]
89 John Coughlan/Mark Parsons (Ford Escort MK I) [12]
90 Adrian Cannon/Pauric Keeney (Honda Civic) [2]
91 Justin Comer/Shane Reidy (Honda Civic) [6]
92 Jason Roycroft/Nicole O'Shea (Honda Civic) [2]
93 Rob Lewis/TBA () [2]
94 Michael Ormond/Paddy King (Honda Civic) [3]
95 Stephen O'Connor/Mark O'Connor (Toyota Corolla) [15]
96 John Collins/Jason O'Brien (Honda Civic) [7]
97 John O'Donnell/Philip McDonald (Peugeot 205 RWD) [10]
98 Fergal O'Connell/Mark Deery (Toyota Starlet) [10]
99 Aidan Cunniffe/Jason Walker (Peugeot 205) [10]
100 Frank Dwyer/Michelle Stafford (Ford KA) [5]
101 George Whelan/Noel McMahon (Honda Civic) [11]
102 Trevor Hutton/Tristen Hutton (Ford KA) [9]
103 Mike Garahy/Niall Keane (Ford Escort) [10]
104 Kieran Feeney/Stephen Greaney (Honda Civic) [6]
105 Sean O'Carroll/Ian Stanley (Ford Escort) [13]
106 Mike Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort) [11]
107 Martin McLaughlin/Danny McLaughlin (Ford Escort) [11]
108 Michael Conneely/Aisling Grimes (Honda Civic) [2]
109 David Cleary/Padraig Denton (Honda Civic) [2]
110 Paul McMahon/Cathal Quil (Peugeot 106) [6]
111 Brendan Dunne/Brendan Murphy (Honda Civic) [2]
112 Paul Horan/Ross Forde (Peugeot 106) [6]
113 Pat Faughnan/Amy Faughnan (Ford Escort) [11]
114 Anthony Breen/James Kelly (Subaru WRC) [8]
115 Paul Rowley/Gerard Rowley (Honda Civic) [2]
116 Michael McNamara/Graham Amond (Ford Escort) [11]
117 Shane Moriarty/Ella Ryan (Toyota Corolla) [11]
118 Paul Murphy/Fergal Heney (Toyota Corolla) [11]
119 Paul O'Connell/Bernard Geoghegan (Honda Civic) [11]
120 Stephen Healy/Enda Fallon (Toyota Corolla) [11]
121 John Feeney/Ann-Marie Carroll (Honda Civic) [11]
122 Kevin Bourke/James Lowry (Honda Civic) [11]
123 Matt Behan/David O'Brien (Peugeot 205 GTI) [10]
124 Con Mulcahy/Johnathan Keane (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
125 Richie Dalton/Gary Yeates (Honda Civic) [2]
126 John O'Keeffe/TBA (Ford Escort) [12]
127 Francis Kelly/TBA (Honda Civic) [2]
128 Ronan Lally/Brian Forde (Subaru Impreza) [11]
129 Albert Dalton/Anita Furlong (Peugeot 106) [9]
130 Sean Loftus/Stephanie Loftus (Honda Civic) [11]
131 Raymond O'Brien/Nicky Egan (Austin Mini) [9]
132 Denis Collins/Tommy Commane (Ford Escort) [17]
133 Whitby Moynan/Pat Gubbins (Austin Mini) [17]
134 David Dee/Rita Dee (Austin Mini) [17]
135 Philip McKibbin/Padraig Brick (Ford Cortina) [17]
136 PJ Dowd/John Young (Talbot Sumbeam) [17]
137 Patrick Coyle/Sean McCullagh () [11]
139 Michael Britton/Kevin Lamart (Ford Escort) [10]
141 Joe Moffett/Fintan Burke () [2]
142 Timmy Ahern/Conor Galvin (Peugeot 205) [10]
143 Liam Graham/Shane Kenny () [11]
144 Ben Denny/Larry Power () [10]

Juniors
Car No. Driver /Navigator (Car) [Class]
J1 Christopher Snow/Sean Brunton (Honda Civic) [16]
J2 David Fleming/Kieran Doherty (Honda Civic) [16]
J3 Dean Raftery/Ollie Ward (Honda Civic) [16]
J4 Patrick Horan/Patrick Baker (Vauxhall Nova) [16]
J5 Leon Galvin/Ger Foley (Ford Escort) [16]
J6 Derek Butler/Aaron O'Regan (Honda Civic) [16]
J7 Richard Moore/Richard Cleary (Honda Civic) [16]
J8 John O'Connor/Ger Conway (C2R2) [16]
J9 David Carmody/Mark O'Sullivan (Honda Civic) [16]
J10 Darren Noonan/Niamh Ryan (Honda Civic) [16]
J11 Stephen Faughnan/Brian Brady (Honda Civic) [16]
J12 Bernard Foley/Paul Towmey (Honda Civic) [16]
J14 Damien Boyle/Joseph Boyle (Honda Civic) [16]
J15 Barry Brady/Sean Brady (Honda Civic) [16]
J16 Colin Roche/Sarah Whelan (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J17 Anthony Keating/Kevin Enright (Ford Escort) [16]
J18 Padraig McCarthy/Eoghan McCarthy (Honda Civic) [16]
J19 Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston (Peugeot 205) [16]
J20 Jill White/Grace O'Brien (Honda Civic) [16]
J21 Bobby Hennessy/Sarah Jane Stamp (Honda Civic) [16]
J22 Michael Fitzgibbon/Tom Ryan (Honda Civic) [16]

Time and Distance

Posted: February 19, 2012 2:06 PM

Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12 - Time and Distance Schedule

Entries Received

Posted: February 13, 2012 3:21 PM

Driver /Navigator [Class]
Adrian Cannon/Pauric Keeney [2]
David Cleary/Padraig Denton [2]
Michael Conneely/Aisling Grimes [2]
Paul Rowley/Gerard Rowley [2]
Richie Dalton/Gary Yeates [2]
Rob Lewis/TBA [2]
Michael Ormond/Paddy King [3]
Andrew Slattery/Shaun Forde [4]
Liam Higgins/Mike Ward [4]
Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill [4]
Paddy McVeigh/Stephen O'Hanlon [4]
Colm Murphy/Don Montgomery [4]
Eugene Meegan/Brian Sharkey [4]
Frank Dwyer/Michelle Stafford [5]
Graeme Colfer/Brian Ward [6]
Justin Comer/Shane Reidy [6]
Kieran Daly/Keith Moriarty [6]
Paul McMahon/Cathal Quil [6]
Roger Donnan/Pierce Doheny [6]
Anthony Breen/James Kelly [8]
Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley [8]
Pa Bellew/Andres Reid [9]
Trevor Hutton/Tristen Hutton [9]
Aidan Cunniffe/Jason Walker [10]
Fergal O'Connell/Mark Deery [10]
John O'Donnell/Philip McDonald [10]
Alan Gibbons/David Gibbons [11]
Anthony Hand/Emmet Sherry [11]
David Donoghue/Andrew Browne [11]
George Whelan/Noel McMahon [11]
Jason McSweeney/Denis O'Mahony [11]
Martin McLaughlin/Danny McLaughlin [11]
Michael McNamara/Graham Amond [11]
Mike Costello/Paddy Costello [11]
Moss Fitzgerald/Alistair Wyllie [11]
Paul Browne/Margaret Browne [11]
Paul Murphy/Fergal Heney [11]
Paul O'Connell/Bernard Geoghegan [11]
Shane Moriarty/Ella Ryan [11]
Stephen Healy/Enda Fallon [11]
Edward Kennedy/TBA [11]
John Feeney/Ann-Marie Carroll [11]
Joey Carroll/Mark Kirwan [11]
Gene Callan/Sean Brunton [12]
John Coughlan/Mark Parsons [12]
Michael Dowling/David Dowling [12]
William Cavanagh/Olivia Coen [12]
Dan Gorman/Luke McRedmond [13]
David Fitzsimons/Keith Murray [13]
Eamon Dervan/Keith Gardiner [13]
Eoin Woods/TBA [13]
Frank Sweeney/Jane Cogan [13]
Ger Hodgins/TBA [13]
James Coleman/Kaye Shanahan [13]
John Hade/Sharon Nolan [13]
John Kenny/TBA [13]
Johnny Curran/Mikey Walsh [13]
Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne [13]
Neil Williams/Eurig Davies [13]
Oliver Stanley/Edward Thompson [13]
Paddraic Cummins/Graham Kelly [13]
Paul Lacey/Arthur Walshe [13]
Peter Cummins/Donal Balfe [13]
Sean O'Carroll/Ian Stanley [13]
Tommy Mason/Damien Fleming [13]
Willie Lawrence/Donal Ryan [13]
Russell Woods/Gary Gallagher [13]
Sean Moran/TBA [13]
Camillus Bradley/Crawford Henderson [14]
Michael Curran/Sean Hayde [14]
Pat Barry/Stephen O'Connell [14]
Pat Donegan/Andrew Donoghue [14]
Trevor Mulligan/Declan Smith [14]
Joe Connolly/TBA [14]
David Forde/Cecil Dwoak [15]
Stephen O'Connor/Mark O'Connor [15]
Anthony Keating/Kevin Enright [16]
Bernard Foley/Paul Towmey [16]
Colin Duffy/Sam Johnston [16]
Colin Roche/Sarah Whelan [16]
Darren Noonan/Niamh Ryan [16]
David Carmody/Mark O'Sullivan [16]
Dean Raftery/Ollie Ward [16]
Derek Butler/Aaron O'Regan [16]
Jill White/Grace O'Brien [16]
Padraig McCarthy/Eoghan McCarthy [16]
Patrick Horan/Patrick Baker [16]
Richard Moore/Richard Cleary [16]
Denis Collins/Tommy Commane [17]
Philip McKibbin/Padraig Brick [17]
Whitby Moynan/Pat Gubbins [17]
Billy Hayes/Pat Knox [TBA]

Press Release

Posted: January 13, 2012 11:08 PM

Sunday 26th of February 2012 is a date for your diary. Its sees the return of the Birr & District Motor clubs annual tarmac stages rally to Abbeyleix. Clerk of the course Bill Ryan and his hard working team are putting the finishing touches to months of preparations into this ever so popular event.

The club are delighted to welcome the Manor Hotel Abbeyleix back on board as main title sponsors of this event and we thank them for their support since we moved the rally to the town of Abbeyleix back in 2010.

Again this year were are privileged to be hosting the first round of the Dunlop National Rally championship, which this year has introduced a new section into their championship consisting of a MK 2 championship for all their counting rounds. We will also be round one of the ever so popular Loughran signs Midlands East and Top Part West Coast Rally championships.

This year’s event is almost similar to that of last years. There will be 3 Special stages, all of which will be competed on 3 times, two 20km stages and a 17km stage. Rally Headquarters will be the Manor Hotel in Abbeyleix with parce ferme in the hotel car park.
Mechanical scrutiny will be held on Saturday 26th of February in Durrow beside Oliver Stanley’s garage on the Cork rd, with trailer park across the road. On Sunday morning the crews will be servicing in the car park of the Brand Central Shopping Outlet in Rathdowney.
Entry fee for the main field is €495(9 stages), Juniors+Historics €250(6) stages with a total of 150km approx road miles.

The Regulations for this event can be downloaded below.

The 26th of February is fast approaching so get those entries in. For more information log onto www.birrmotorclub.com or contact 087-6931369 / +353 87-6931369

Regulations / Entry Form

Posted: January 13, 2012 10:51 PM

Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12 - REGULATIONS
Birr Stages Rally - 26 Feb 12 - ENTRY FORM

Flyer / Details

Posted: December 21, 2011 12:16 AM

Club Website

Posted: December 21, 2011 12:11 AM

Birr Motor Club