Killarney and District Motor Club held the official launch to the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally on Friday night last in Scotts Hotel Killarney. There were some beautiful rally cars on display and a large crowd in attendance. Officials, Organisers, Sponsors, distinguished guest speakers such as TD Michael Healy Rae, WRC Co Driver Paul Nagle and Dignitaries of Killarney town were on hand to support the event. MC on the night was non-other than Mike Marshall, he introduced Paul Sherry of Killarney’s Chamber of Tourism and Commerce who spoke of how important the rally is to Killarney Town, bringing a welcomed revenue boost to the local economy. TD Michael Healy Rae spoke on the commitment and dedication of the voluntary club members involved and their ability to host an event of this magnitude every year. Other guest speakers included Michael O’Mahoney of Rentokil Initial and Patrick O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel Group who have been involved with rallying in Killarney since 1979.
Killarney and District Motor Club announced details of this year’s Killarney Historic Stages Rally. Ireland’s only event to cater solely for historic rally cars and night stage rallying is set to run on Saturday the 2nd Dec.
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The rally will count as
- First round of the 2018 Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championship.
- Final round of the 2017 Plasticbags.ie Southern Four Rally Championship.
- Final round of The 2017 HRCR West Wales Rally Spares – Stage Masters Challenge.
We recognize the competitors attraction to the event and the uniqueness that the Killarney Historic Rally holds worldwide, offering the competitor 110Km of competitive stages, Centralised service area at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney and the popular feature of the final stage to be run in the darkness.
The rally will be backed by Rentokil Initial Ireland as main title sponsor for the 5th consecutive year.
Rentokil Initial managing director Michael O’Mahoney said: “On behalf of Rentokil Initial I am once again delighted to be associated with this year’s Killarney Historic Rally. The event has grown from strength to strength and is a phenomenal success. Our desire to support the local community and businesses that have supported Rentokil Initial, so loyally over the many years is the reason why we are once again involved with Irelands most prestigious Rally”.
Including additional support from Neil Phelan of Ace Signs and the Gleneagle Hotel Group, who have been supporters of the rally for many years and continue as Associate Sponsors.
The event, which provides a welcome end of season boost to Ireland’s tourism capital and is worth millions to the local economy, will once again be hosted at the Gleneagle Hotel as Rally Headquarters, along with supplying some great rally accommodation packages throughout the weekend.
We are delighted to confirm extensive TV coverage of this year’s event.1 hour production by Mick Bracken of on the Limit sports, to be televised on RTE, TG4, Setanta Sports, Motors TV and Sky Sports, BT Sports throughout the Christmas period. This is a huge attraction to the event and is very beneficial to our Sponsors, Town and Rally.
The rally starts on Friday evening with a Ceremonial start in main street Killarney at 7pm. The real action gets underway on Saturday morning with the iconic “Molls Gap”, often rated by rally drivers as being the best and one of the most-challenging stages in the world. Followed by the mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass the crews head into service at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney. This Loop of Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama is repeated with the addition of the fast flowing Carragh Lake stage. After a well earned service break the crews tackle Carragh Lake for a second time and followed by a new version of the Rockfield stage. Crews return to service once again as they prepare for the night stage and the second run over Rockfield under the cover of darkness.
Top Local Historic competitors include Pat Looney from Kilcummin who will debut his newly built Bda powered Ford Escort Mk1. Rathmore’s Mark Falvey returns to the stages after a brief layoff and is sure to be well in contention. Todd Falvey will be out in his beautiful prepared Porsche 911. Southern 4 championship winner Donal O’Connor from Rathmore will also be pushing hard for top local honour. Killarney’s Aidan Kennedy and Glenbeigh’s Jack O’Shea also head the Mini cooper line up.
Leading local crews in the Modified category include last year’s winner Rob Duggan, Charlie Hickey, Kevin O’Donoghue, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Noel O’Sullivan, Vincent O’Shea and John Hickey who will all field Ford Escorts.
It is fair to say that the “Best of the Best” are coming to Killarney for the final battle of the year.
Entries will open shortly: http://www.shannonsportsit.ie/evo/Login
Regulations and further information available from: http://www.killarneyanddistrictmotorclub.ie/
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