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Immediate Release
9th September 2008
Entries
open for the 2008 FM Contracts Down Rally
Rathfriland
Motor Club Ltd has published Supplementary Regulations, Entry
Form and Rally Guide 1 for the forthcoming FM Contracts Down Rally
2008.
The
event, which will be the penultimate round of the MSA Pacenotes
Northern Ireland Rally Championship, will again be based in Castlewellan
County Down with 7 gravel stages scattered around the South Down
area to test the best drivers in the land.
Last
years event was won by Richard Cathcart and Martin Brady in a
production category Subaru Impreza, after a thrilling battle against
the WRC machinery of Sean Devine & Glenn Allen. Richard and
Martin's victory was only the second time that a production car
has won a round of the NI series.
For
2008, several improvements and initiatives have been introduced
to the event format, including the running of classes 1, 3 &
4 ahead of the main field, ensuring that the crews experience
the best possible conditions in the lower powered cars.
The
organisers have also been able to trim back the overall road mileage
after a successful experiment in '07.
"The
2007 event used the Tollymore Forest complex for the first time
since the early 1970's" commented Clerk of the Course, Andy
Gilmore.
"We
only had the use of Tollymore until lunchtime, so that dictated
the whole event schedule. This year we have the venue for the
whole day, so we now have designed a route with a better balance
between road and stage miles. We also have a better range of roads
available to us and we will be able to vary the route in the years
ahead".
Another
new initiative for 2008 will be the 'Finishers Award' for everyone
who makes it back to the Castlewellan finish.
"Having
rallied for many years, I know the highs and lows of the sport
and I feel it is important that everyone who finishes the Down
Rally this year will go home with a memento from the event"
said FM Contract's Frank McMullan.
Supplementary
Regulations and an Entry form will be available shortly on the
event website, www.downrally.com and at the Pacenotes NI Championship
website, www.nirally.com. A copy of Rally Guide 1 can also be
downloaded which will give you all the information you will need
if you intend to enter the event.
"After
the positive feedback from last year's event, especially about
the quality and condition of the Tollymore stage, we are looking
forward to another successful year.
We would also like to see a few more competitors from the Southern
Forestry Championship join us now that the Euro rate is more favourable.
That would truly make the event an all Ireland affair"
Places
are limited to 80 crews, and the entries will close on Saturday
11th October, so get your entry form in early.
ENDS
Photo
caption: Richard Cathcart and Martin Brady fly through Kilbroney
on their way to victory on the 2007 FM Contracts Down Rally.
Photo
by Roy Dempster.
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