Irish Forest series set to branch out

WITH the advent of a new title sponsor, Valvoline, organisers of the National Forest Rally Championship are hoping for a resurgence of the series as it gets underway next month.

The new sponsorship deal was arranged by regular competitor, Andrew Fanning. The Cahir driver remarked: “I knew the series was seeking a new sponsor and it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. With Valvoline onboard, we are hoping to raise the profile of all six events in the championship.”

Aware of the perception that drivers are reluctant to take their cars into the woods, Fanning claimed it was an unfair assessment, as clubs and those involved in the forests have put a huge amount of work into ensuring the forest tracks are suitable.

The fact the new series will have two qualifying slots for the Billy Coleman award could provide a welcome boost. It is hoped that drivers like Kenny McKinstry, who has interloped into various rounds in previous seasons, may return for some rounds in the new campaign.

Ford confirmed it will campaign the all-new Fiesta World Rally Car in next week’s Arctic Lapland Rally in Finland. Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala will split the driving duties over the two days (each with one day — five stages) as the final part of the squad’s pre-season testing schedule.

With a prize fund of €10,500 for each of its six rounds and a further €12,000 at the end of season, the Citroen Racing Trophy Ireland appear to be the top and indeed only one-make series of real substance within Irish rallying in 2011.

With Citroen withdrawing support for the Irish Tarmac series and with no backing from Citroen UK, CRT Ireland co-ordinator, Raymond Moore has managed to secure a new six-round calendar that does not include all rounds of the Tarmac series.

Instead, the series kicks off with the West Cork Rally in March and will be open to both the C2R2 Max and the new DS3 R3 rally car.

The prize per rally (based on the final classification) is €4,000 for 1st, €3,000 for 2nd, €2,000 for 3rd, €1,000 for 4th and €500 for 5th.

At the end of the season the overall winner receives €6,000, second place receives €4,000 and €2,000 for third.

The first of a two-part documentary on last year’s Donegal International Rally will be shown on BBC 2 NI at 9pm tomorrow night.

Each part, consisting of 40 minutes, follows the rally through the eyes of the drivers, their families, the organisers, volunteers and fans.

Scottish Rally champion, David Bogie (Mitsubishi Evo9) is the latest to register for the 2011 Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship. He plans to use the Snowman Rally as a shakedown for the opening round, Rally Sunseeker.

The prizegiving for the 2010 Jerry Murphy Tyres Munster Autocross Championship takes place in Mallow tonight where West Cork driver, Ian Stanley, will be the recipient of the overall award.

On the competitive front, the Hewison Autotest series continues with the Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club’s double header at the Industrial Park, Brown’s Road, Waterford tomorrow at 11am and on Sunday at 10.30am. Also tomorrow, the Garda Síochána Motor Club’s Sporting Trial at Bohernabreena, Tallaght begins at 11.30am.

The fifth round of the National Navigation Trial Championship, the Cork 1000 Shakes Navigation Trial, begins from the Cloughduv GAA complex tomorrow night at 11.15pm.

The leading duo in each category are (Drivers) Arthur Kierans, 58 points and Michael Carbin 48 points; Navigators: Evin Hughes 61 points and Ashley McAdoo 58 points.