Rally Launch Night a Major Success
The launch of the 2010 Safety Direct Galway International Rally was held in the Clayton Hotel Ballybrit. A number of special guest drivers were in attendance including newly crowned British Rally Champion, Keith Cronin, Tim McNulty, Gareth MacHale and Gary Jennings. MC for the night was Michael Lyster.
With the event launch now passed, and the ceremonial start less than two weeks away, excitement is building rapidly. The Galway Motor Club are delighted to have over 130 entries for the February event which is the first round of the newly announced Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Top seeds are last year’s championship runners up Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy in their 2006 Ford Focus WRC. The Dublin pair can expect stiff competition from number two seed, Tim McNulty, who has multiple champion co-driver Paul Kiely on board, and also current British Rally Champion Keith Cronin, who starts at number three. The event will also see the Irish debut of the new Ford Fiesta S2000, which will be driven by Billy Coleman Award winner Craig Breen. The top 20 entries for the event are as follows:
|
1 |
|
Gareth MacHale |
Brian Murphy |
Ford Focus |
|
2 |
|
Tim McNulty |
Paul Kiely |
Subaru S12B |
|
3 |
|
Keith Cronin |
Greg Shinnors |
Mitsubishi Evo 9 |
|
4 |
|
Aaron MacHale |
TBA |
Ford Focus |
|
5 |
|
Patrick Elliott |
Paul Goodman |
Subaru Impreza WRC S12 |
|
6 |
|
Kevin Barrett |
Sean Mullally |
Subaru Impreza WRC S11 |
|
7 |
|
Alastair Fisher |
Barry McNulty |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 |
|
8 |
|
Garry Jennings |
David Moynihan |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 |
|
9 |
|
Craig Breen |
Gareth Roberts |
Ford Fiesta S2000 |
|
10 |
|
Mike Bird |
Kevin Keane |
Subaru Impreza WRC S7 |
|
11 |
|
JJ Fleming |
Robbie Ward |
Subaru S12B |
|
12 |
|
Richard Cathcart |
Martin Brady |
Subaru Impreza N12B |
|
14 |
|
Alan Ring |
Adrian Deasy |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 |
|
15 |
|
Jer O’Donovan |
Sean Hayde |
Subaru Impreza N12B |
|
16 |
|
Anthony O’Halloran |
Charlie McEnery |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 |
|
17 |
|
Andrew Bushe |
Richard Hyland |
Citroen C2 |
|
18 |
|
Jonathan Greer |
Kirsty Riddick |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 |
|
19 |
|
Daniel McKenna |
Andrew Grennan |
Ford Escort Mk2 |
|
20 |
|
Barry Meade |
Johnny Hickey |
Ford Escort RS |
The event kicks off on Friday Evening, 5th of February with the ceremonial start in Oranmore village at approximately 7.30 pm. Further information can be found on the event website www.galwayinternationalrally.com.