NAPA Auto Parts to sponsor Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
NEW SPONSOR: Richard Gouldbourne,NAPA Auto Parts, Colman Hegarty, chairperson Tarmac Rally Organisers Association, Kevin O'Riordan, treasurer TROA, Mark Nolan, NAPA and Sean Hayde, manager TROA. Picture: Martin Walsh.
Organisers of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship have secured their first title sponsor for several years with the announcement that NAPA Auto Parts is to underpin the seven round series that begins with the Galway International Rally on the first weekend of February next year.
The launch took place at the Killarney Racecourse on Saturday morning last where the chairman of the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association, Colman Hegarty revealed that the Circuit of Ireland, the Ulster Rally and the Cork ‘20” Rally are all two-day encounters next year.
NAPA Auto Parts are a North American based outfit and have some 300 shops in Britain and others in mainland Europe and has recently ventured into the Irish market with a growing number of outlets.
TROA manager Sean Hayde said; “This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting journey, one that promises to elevate our championship to new heights.
"Their involvement underscores the growing prestige and appeal of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship on both a national and international stage.
"Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in rallying, delivering unforgettable moments and fostering the next generation of rally champions.”
Both the West Cork Rally and the Donegal International Rally are three-day events once again and along with the other five two-day events the series has no other major changes.
The points structure remains unchanged while there are no plans to introduce tyre restrictions akin to the British Rally Championship.
At the awards ceremony for this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship that took place at the Avenue Hotel Killarney on Saturday night, ITRC champions Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin were presented with the Fisher Perpetual Trophy in memory of the late Bertie, Mark and Emma Fisher.
The three-handle trophy was presented to the TROA in 2003 by Kieran McAnallen and family in 2003.
The rounds of the 2025 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship are: 1: Galway International Rally (February 1/2); 2: West Cork Rally (March 14/16); 3. Circuit of Ireland (April 18/19); 4: International Rally of the Lakes (May 3/4); 5: Donegal International Rally (June 20/22); 6: 7: Ulster International Rally (August 15/16); 7. Cork ‘20’ Rally (October 4/5).
Meanwhile, Motorsport Ireland has announced the final nominations for this year’s Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year Award with Donegal’s Kyle McBride (21) and Leitrim’s Keelan Grogan (24) completing a quintet that will vie for the prestigious award that is worth €100,000 to the winning driver.
McBride’s nomination was for the June-October period while Grogan was selected as this season’s ‘wildcard’ nomination.
The pair join Ryan McHugh, Craig Rahill and Jack Harris as the five nominees and will be interviewed on Thursday week (November 21st) next.
Following the interviews, the five will be whittled down to three with the winner announced at the Champions of Irish motorsport Awards in Dublin on Tuesday December 3rd.
McBride, who was a finalist in 2022, took the runner-up spot in this season’s British Rally Championship and the Irish and UK Stellantis Cup campaigning a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
Grogan competed in a selection of tarmac and gravel events. The financial support package available to the winner consists of €50,000 funded equally by Sport Ireland and Motorsport Ireland and a similar amount from the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy as part of an agreed training and development programme.
Each of the two runners-up will receive support to compete in rallies in Ireland and abroad up to the tune of €15,000 and an invitation to participate in the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy development programme in 2025.
The Barrable family trio of Michael and his sons Robert and Peter won the MPSC 6-Hour Endurance Race at Mondello Park on Saturday.
They finished 53.378 seconds ahead of the Murray Motorsport Team of Owen Murray, Niall Murray and Ian Fishbourne. Both crews were in Ford Fiesta Zetecs.
The Monaghan based Drumlin Navigation Trial, the second round of the national series, was won by the local crew of Michael Carbin/Conor Mohan (Subaru Legacy).
Galway International Rally (February 1/2)
West Cork Rally (March 14/16)
Circuit of Ireland (April 18/19)
International Rally of the Lakes (May 3/4)
Donegal International Rally (June 20/22)
Ulster International Rally (August 15/16)
Cork ‘20’ Rally (October 4/5).
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