Walsh appointed clerk for rally

FORMER team manager to Billy Coleman, Mayo-based Tom Walsh has been appointed as clerk of the course for Rally Ireland’s debut in the 2007 World Rally Championship.

The event organisers have also announced the appointment of Belfast-born Fred Gallagher as deputy clerk of the course.

Walsh is a well-known figure in Irish rallying, not just for his role as Coleman’s team manager at the peak of the Cork driver’s success, but also for his work as coordinator for numerous international teams and in recent years, as chairman of the Irish Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA).

Originally from Limerick, Tom now lives in Westport where he is manager of the local Allied Irish Bank, he is a former member of the Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee and is very much involved with his local club, Mayo and District Motor Club.

Fred Gallagher is also vastly experienced, particularly as a co-driver from 1981-1991 and as recently in 1999.

He has three Safari Rally wins under his belt and has competed in almost 60 countries, from Ireland to the Ivory Coast.

He will maintain his position as clerk of the course at Wales Rally GB, where he has served for the last 12 years.

In addition, he has undertaken rally consultancy work in the US and Middle East and was strategy manager to the Nissan Rally Raid Team for the 2003 and 2004 Dakar Rallies.

He is also active as an FIA steward and delegate in the World Cross Country Cup.

Rally Ireland WRC will take place from 16th – 18th November 2007.

The FIA World Rally Championship has a global television audience of more that 800 million people in almost 200 countries.