Circuit of Ireland has received Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC)
Supporter Event status
Tyrone man Gordon Noble, a well known figure in Irish motorsport, has been
announced as Clerk of the Course for the Circuit of Ireland rally, taking
place on Easter weekend, 3 and 4 April.
With 25 years of experience of motorsport both on and off the track, Gordon
held the same position for last year’s WRC Rally Ireland event, and is
well-prepared for the April rally which is expected to attract up to 15,000
spectators each day.
He will be assisted by Tom Walsh, from Westport in Mayo, who was Clerk of
Course for Rally Ireland in 2007 when Gordon was his deputy.
With responsibility for meeting safety regulations for the 15 rally stages
over 270 miles across four counties and managing a team of up to 700
marshals Gordon doesn’t underestimate the challenge ahead of him.
He said: “I’m honoured to be asked to be Clerk of the Course for the biggest
cross-border sporting event in Ireland this year. It’s a great opportunity
to show off beautiful parts of the border counties and display a really
professional set-up.”
Gordon stressed that the event relies upon the commitment of the many
enthusiastic marshals. He appealed for their support in to make the rally
the most prestigious motorsport event in Ireland again.
“It is a huge responsibility and not a job I take lightly or underestimate
but with the support of Tom Walsh who brings a wealth of experience, and our
marshals it’s an event we hope will be a big success and one we can build
on.
“A lot of hard work is going in to reinvigorate the Rally and we hope that
it will be a stepping stone to even bigger things. There are lots of very
loyal rally fans but we want to welcome visitors outside the usual fan base
and bring big economic benefits to the area.”
Gordon, who works as a DRD engineer in Omagh, will be responsible for the
sporting side of the rally, ensuring that safety regulations set by the
world governing body of motorsport, the FIA, the British Motorsports
Association and Motorsport Ireland are met.
Gordon, who is originally from Kesh in Fermanagh, first became involved in
rallying in the 1980s in Omagh, and went on to be co-driver for Alastair
McCrae.
He also navigated for Trevor Cathers and the late Mark Fisher, who won
British and Irish titles during the 1990s and for Niall McShea when he was
2004 production World Rally champion.
Race Director Bobby Willis said: “I am delighted that someone with Gordon’s
reputation and standing in the rally community has agreed to join our team.
Competitors and rally fans alike will recognise that the vast experience he
brings will ensure a professionally run rally.”
The Circuit of Ireland has received Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC)
Supporter Event status in a major coup
for the organisers of the world’s second oldest rally.
Seen as a significant step to incorporating a round of the IRC into the
Circuit of Ireland format in 2011, the IRC Supporter status has not been
bestowed upon any other rally in Ireland or Scotland.
The Circuit of Ireland forms round two of the Irish Rally Championship.
Full details regarding this year’s circuit will be released shortly. More
information is at www.circuitofireland.net
Notes
The Circuit of Ireland
* Circuit of Ireland is an institution across the rallying world
* Second oldest rally in the world (est. 1931) owned by the
not-for-profit Ulster Automobile Club
* The Circuit is one of the biggest annual rallies in Ireland.
* In 2010 it will take place on 3-4 April in its traditional Easter
slot
* In 2009, Eugene Donnelly took the title in a Skoda Fabia WRC
* Rallying is one of the most popular spectator sports in Ireland –
faithful following north and south
The IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge)
* The current IRC champion is Tyrone driver Kris Meeke
* Eurosport Events is the promoter of the IRC and in 2010 will feature
12 stages across Europe and South America
* Subaru will join the IRC in 2010 and go head-to-head with other
manufacturers including Abarth, Honda, Peugeot, Proton, Ralliart, Skoda and
Volkswagen.