Sport

New backing and format for rally championship

IRISH Dunlop will sponsor the National Rally Championship, replacing Red Mills who backed the series in the last two years.

By BRIAN FOLEY
Fri Jan 21 2000 - 00:00

IRISH Dunlop will sponsor the National Rally Championship, replacing Red Mills who backed the series in the last two years.

Dunlop previously sponsored the Tarmac Rally Championship, and the return to rallying is for two years with an option to extend involvement.

The new rally series format is reduced from 14 to 10 rounds, best eight results to count. The maximum entry is increased from 130 to 150 starters.

Richard Warbrick, commercial manager of Irish Dunlop, said: "We are delighted to be involved in rallying once again. The sport is booming with more licences than ever before. Motorsport Ireland is determined to promote the sport and I believe that working together we can enhance the sport and strengthen it even further." Noel Clarke, chairman of the Rallies Committee of Motorsport Ireland welcomes the Dunlop sponsorship and believes that the reduction in the number of qualifying rounds will not only cut costs for competitors but will make for a more competitive series.

READ MORE

National Rally Championship 2000 dates are: March 12th - Mayo; March 26th - Galway; April 9th - Kerry; May 7th - Carlow; May 28th - Cavan; June 4th - Limerick; July 9th - Connacht; August 13th - Tipperary; September 3rd - Clare; October 29th - Skibbereen.

The Tarmac Championship is a late starter this year, with the Killarney-based Rally of The Lakes on April 29th/30th.

Three Munstermen will race abroad this year, flying the Irish flag in Britain, the Continent and the USA. Michael Keohane (Clonakilty) will contest the new Formula Renault 2000 British and European Championships. Peter Walsh (Cork) will compete in the US Formula (Ford) 2000 National Championship, which takes in 14 races in America and Canada, commencing at Phoenix, Arizona, on March 19th and concluding at Road Atlanta, Georgia, on September 29/30th. Robbie Coleman (Millstreet), son of rally legend Billy Coleman, has signed with the Martin Donnelly Team to contest the British Formula Ford Zetec Championship.

Gary Turkington will also race for former Formula One ace and fellow Ulsterman Donnelly in Zetec.