Motorsport Ireland to clarify regulations

As the Irish rallying season begins to wind down with just three events remaining, including the popular Banna Rally and the Killarney Historic Rally, some rules are set to be clarified for the 2013 season.

Some regulations, especially those related to rallying, are ambiguous while others are not being implemented properly. However, Motorsport Ireland chief executive Alex Sinclair has vowed the governing body will address that situation in the coming months. .

Meanwhile, the work of the “Way Forward” committee is set to come to a conclusion around next March according to Motorsport Ireland president. Joe Corcoran. The group has convened some 21 meetings, during which time they have focussed on the structure and interaction of the various committees. It is envisaged their work will also lead to a greater clarification of duties. An officials’ seminar is planned for later this month in Athlone.

Three Irish co-drivers are involved in this weekend’s Cyprus Rally, the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Bangor’s Michael Orr partners Yazeed Al Rajhi in a Ford Fiesta S2000, Mayo’s Killian Duffy co-drives for Abdulaziz Kuwari (Mini WRC) and Mallow’s David Moynihan calls the notes for Briton Harry Hunt (Citroen DS3 R3), who is hoping to win the IRC 2WD Cup.

Meanwhile, Norwegian, Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia S2000), a regular in the Irish Tarmac series a few seasons ago and a former winner of the Fastnet Rally, is set to become the first back-to-back champion in the IRC series. He has an unassailable lead heading into the final round in Cyprus which gets underway this evening with a stage through the streets of Pafos. However, to accommodate the start of the hunting season on the island, tomorrow’s original schedule now becomes Sunday’s schedule, with Sunday’soriginal route taking place tomorrow.

The Waterford Airport Industrial Estate is the venue for Sunday’s Carrick on Suir Motor Club’s Rallysprint. Eighty competitors compete over the 2.2km track that’s a mixture of gravel and sealed surfaces. Proceeds from the event are being donated to the Waterford Hospice. While the venue is the same as last year, the route is reversed and should lead to more exciting action for spectators. Some of the leading entries are Paul Mulcahy (Toyota Starlet), James Coleman (Ford Escort) and Billy Coogan (BMW M3). The event starts at 10.30am.

The second round of the National Navigation Trial Championship and the Munster Navigation Trial series dovetail on the Cork Startrek Navigation Trial that begins from Stuake Community Complex at midnight tomorrow night. Elsewhere, the Limerick 4x4 Trial at Shanahan’s Quarry, Barna, Newcastle West starts at 11am and the Westmeath and District Autotest at Forest Park Industrial Estate in Mullingar begins at 11.30am.

Midleton’s Daragh O’Riordan’s winning margin of three minutes and 32 seconds on last weekend’s Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally in Bantry represented his third biggest win of the season as he completed a unique quartet of victories never previously achieved by any driver. Last March, he won the West Cork Rally by over four minutes; in May, his Rally of the Lakes victory over Darren Gass was two minutes and 25.4 seconds while his Orchard Motorsport Cork “20” International Rally victory margin was also in excess of four minutes.

Meanwhile, Denis Cronin’s retirement on the Fastnet Rally was due to a transmission failure. Originally, it appeared he had crashed and the confusion arose from the fact that his car was pushed off the road not far from the stage start.

The presentation of awards for the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship takes place at the Clonmel Park Hotel, Clonmel tomorrow night where Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings will be presented with top award.

Next week’s Banna Rally will determine the outcome of the Top Part West Coast rally Championship that rests between Limerick’s Colm Murphy (Subaru) and Tyrone’s Frank Kelly (Escort).