Time for dialogue and change to tidy up crowded rally calendar

Kilavullen's Conor Shanahan (Toyota Starlet) and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes won Class 14 in the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes last May. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Final rounds of the three major Irish rally championships will conclude the competitive element of Irish championship rallying over the next six weeks. All three, the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship have much in common, but championship clashes on the same weekend are placing huge demands on all the various stakeholders. 

Although the restructured Motorsport Ireland calendar, that rotates (eight) national rally rounds and some other rallies on a biennial arrangement, has given some leeway, it has also created issues.

There are genuine concerns with the geographical spread of events especially in respect of rallies in the northern half of the country. Originally, the Sligo Rally (July 20th) was the final event in the northern half of the country - albeit the Donegal Forest Rally, postponed in February due to Storm Éowyn, has since been rescheduled for November 8th. In contrast, the Cork/Kerry region has three stage events during October and November. This geographical disparity needs to change.

Yet, clubs are slow to embrace change and cling to their traditional dates without trying to bring much needed balance. Organising rally events has changed so much, but all are still undertaken by volunteers. Is too much expected of these people that freely give of their time? Is it necessary to have every organising club submit a set of supplementary regulations for approval from MI that often take far too much time to approve? Would the sport be better served (and be more cost effective) by standard regulations for the events, with items such as event officials and awards submitted as additional information.

Another dilemma is having events under the jurisdiction of MI and the Association of Northern Ireland Car Clubs (ANICC) on the same weekend. There was a time when dialogue brought some structured process in this regard. It's simply not good enough to just exchange calendars via emails, so perhaps now is the time to engage in dialogue once more. 

After all, both bodies draw from the same pool of competitors, recognise each other's competition licenses, and often use the same resources for marshalling. 

From January 1st, as specified by Motorsport UK, the use of 34mm restrictors in NI events is outlawed and brings harmony to the sport on both sides of the border. Perhaps a representative from Motorsport UK would also be beneficial were MI and the ANICC to begin a much needed new chapter.

Were it not for Northern Ireland competitors, the Irish forest series would be much weaker. Just last weekend, Jason Mitchell (Victoria Bridge) and Paddy McCrudden (Donegal) secured this year's Sligo Pallets series, yet it was three days before Motorsport Ireland made reference to this on its website. That is unfair to the new champions and to the championship sponsor. This needs to change - out of respect alone.

Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner understands that Motorsport Ireland is to hold a Court of Enquiry early next month into matters pertaining to the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney. In what was an unprecedented situation, it appears that the appointed MI Steward (Chair) of this year's rally did not fulfil his role following a disagreement surrounding procedures and departed from the event before the first stage on the Saturday morning.

While the Killarney and District Motor Club, as is the norm, paid for an international permit, the preamble in their regulations stated that "This Rally will run in compliance with the current Motorsport Ireland Yearbook, and these Supplementary Regulations. The National Road Traffic Regulations shall apply. Unless provided otherwise by these Supplementary Regulations, the provisions of the above Rules and Regulations shall apply. Any modifications, amendments and/or additions to the Rules and Regulations shall be made in the form of numbered and dated bulletins." 

What is concerning - not just in respect of the Killarney event - is the appointment of personnel that hold key roles within MI (such as president, vice president and chairs of commissions) as officials of rally to MI events. It's not an ideal practice and should be discontinued.