Barrett keen to dissect new rules

Rally competitors can air their views on the raft of changes proposed in the Protection of Sport document at a meeting in Athlone on Sunday.

Several clubs have already expressed reservations about the document and now competitors can vent their feelings at the last meeting before the changes are discussed within Motorsport Ireland.

Kevin Barrett from the Irish Rally Competitors’ Association (IRCA) is hoping for a strong turnout from IRCA members even though the meeting clashes with the Autosport Show in Birmingham.

“In reality, like any rules, they have to be workable,” he said. “I’m not in agreement with all the changes, in particular to the one relating to pump fuel, the engine is a very valuable commodity [and] if this were to be implemented it could actually add to the costs.”

Barrett was also concerned about competitors being liable for the first €1,200 worth of damage to property. “We [IRCA] don’t think this is fair, that’s a sizeable sum of money.”

On the issue that the presentation of prizes begins no later than 7.30pm, Barrett remarked: “My view is that prizes should be presented at the ramp, if some competitors want to stay, then that’s fine, but this is an amateur sport and we all need to go to work the next day. It may not work for some clubs but it will work for competitors.”

Meanwhile, the Autosport Show at the NEC Birmingham continues today and will conclude on Sunday. In a bid to attract overseas entries, organisers of the plasticsbags.ie Willie Loughman Forest Rally (April 14), which will be based in Waterford, have taken a stand and clerk of the course Andrew Purcell said he was happy with the level of interest so far.

The Munster Car Club announced the second round of the series, the Moonraker Rally (March 3), will be based at the Lismore House Hotel.

It will use three stage locations — Scart, Coolatour and Newtown.

The event consists of some 60 stage kilometres with a total road and stage distance of 132 kilometres. Ironically, as clubs promote their events, we still await information regarding the opening round of the series being organised by the championships’ own sub-committee and due to take place on February 10.

The Galway Motors Club, organisers of the Safety Direct Galway International Rally (February 3), are confident entries will increase in the coming weeks. So far, they have received close on 70 entries, a figure on par with previous years, for the event which is the opening round of the Irish Tarmac championship.

The Galway organisers are confident they will have in excess of 100 crews for the event that will feature stages around Ballinasloe, although 2011 winner Tim McNulty has already stated he will not be among them.

The title ‘Circuit of Ireland’ will not be used for the second round of the Tarmac series, instead, the single day event on Easter Saturday will be called the Easter Stages Rally and will be based at a Down venue.

Organisers of the British Rally Championship, which gets under way with the North have confirmedCitroen will contest the 2013 series as an official manufacturer. Last year, the French outfit took victory in the manufacturers’ championship while Cork driver Keith Cronin won the drivers’ title in his Michael O’Brien-liveried Citroen DS3 R3.

Regulations for the Abbeyleix Rally, the opening round of the 2013 Dunlop National Rally Championship, will be launched this weekend.

There is just one competitive event over the weekend as the Hewison Autotest continues with the Midland Motor Club’s Autotest at the Mastertech Business Park in Longford.

The Monaghan Navigation Trial has been cancelled.