The countdown to the 2015 Crockets on the Quay, Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally is firmly on following a successful launch at Crockets on the Quay, headquarters for the October 18th event.
A large crowd was in attendance on Friday night last to hear information about the rally from a selection of speakers, including Clerk of the Course Trevor O Connell and Chairman of Mayo & District Motorsport Club Matthew Murphy, who thanked the sponsors and the hard working team who have made the return of a Forest Rally to Mayo after an absence of more than 15 years possible.
Others to speak on the night included Art McCarrick, Sports Development Officer with Motorsport Ireland and Paul Garvin, Crockets on the Quay and Ballina Chamber of Commerce.
Earlier in the day Mayo & District Motorsport Club organised a very successful event, held in Moygownagh Community Center for local schoolchildren from Carn National School, Moygownagh and Scoil Naomh Brid, Ballycastle which are both located close to stages on the event. Presented by Mayo & District Motorsport Club Road Safety Office Maggie Bonner, together with members of Mayo & District Motorsport Club, the R.S.A, Bus Eireann and An Garda Siochana, the initiative provided the school children with a special opportunity to learn firsthand about Road Safety and the safety measures that are in place to run a rally, as well as a demonstration of safety equipment on board a current rally car. The presentation was very well received with lots of questions and much excitement about the forthcoming rally.
With two weeks to go Mayo & District Motorsport Club reports that a surge of competitors have entered the Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally in recent days and any local competitors intending to enter the rally are advised to get their entries in without delay.
For spectators intending to visit the rally on October 18th, plenty of time should be allowed to get to the stages to park and find a safe viewing location, as the Forest stages have only limited access. Always obey the marshals and follow their instructions, as they are there to ensure that everyone has a safe day’s rallying. A Rally Programme with a detailed map will be available to purchase in the area on the lead up to the weekend.
The official launch of the Crockets on the Quay Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally takes place on the evening of Friday 2nd of October at 7.30pm in Crockets on the Quay and all are welcome to come along.
The clubs monthly meeting will follow afterwards at 9pm
Mayo Forest Rally –
Hotel Accommodation
Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2015:
Bed & Full Irish Breakfast: €49.50 per person sharing
Dinner, Bed & Full Irish Breakfast: €59.50 per person sharing
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Saturday 17th October 2015:
Bed & Breakfast €40 per person sharing – €80 room
Mayo & District Motorsport Club are proud to announce details of the Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally taking place on Sunday 18th October 2015. Based in Ballina, the event will be the sixth round of the Motorsport Ireland Valvoline Irish Forestry Rally Championship.
Clerk of the Course Trevor O’ Connell said “We are delighted to see the return of a Forest Rally to Mayo after an absence of 15 years, I’m very pleased to welcome on board Crockets on the Quay (Ballina) as main sponsor, as without their help and the help of associated sponsors an event of this magnitude would not be able take place. I would also like to thank my team as we have brought together some of the best forest stages anywhere in Ireland. My thanks go to the local community, land owners and to Coillte and the assistance they have given over these past months, as we have worked hard to overcome difficulties thrown up by the terrain and the weather. I hope everyone will find this very worthwhile and a challenging motorsport competition for the competitors. Thanks also to Motorsport Ireland and the Forest Rally Championship Sub Committee for giving us the opportunity of hosting this event, and we hope it will be a strong round of the championship for the 2015 season.”
While you can be guaranteed plenty of rally related family entertainment and action throughout Ballina over the weekend, the real action will take to the loose surface forest tracks on the morning of Sunday 18th with the competing field leaving Parc fermé in Ballina and moving down the road for the main event which consists of two challenging stages run twice in the Ballycastle and Moygownagh area.
This is an important event in the Motorsport Ireland Valvoline Forestry Rally calendar as it is the penultimate round in the 2015 championship and the last of the Southern rounds. After round five which took place in Enniskillen, Mayo will be a deciding event for many competitors and it is sure to attract an exciting list of entries.
“Whether you’re a frequent forest rally competitor or one of our many Mayo Autocross regulars who wants to make the step up, the Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally is the event of 2015 that you don’t want to miss, It’s an rally organised by competitors for competitors” Trevor stated, “and this is reflected by us making it a user friendly event; centralised service in Ballycastle on tarmac and scrutiny available Saturday evening or Sunday morning along with Parc fermé at Rally HQ, Crockets on the Quay in Ballina, that coupled with a 40km compact loop of competitive stages, it makes for an exciting event for all types of competitor” says Trevor.
Regs and Entry form are available to download shortly on the club website, www.mayomotorsportclub.com
The official launch of the Crockets on the Quay Mayo Mini-Stages Forest Rally takes place on the evening of Friday 2nd of October in Crockets on the Quay and all are welcome to come along. For further information on the event keep an eye on the club’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, @MayoMotorClub and on the club website.
