I commend Corrib Oil on stepping up to sponsor this, the first major sporting event of the year in Ireland. Thanks go to Eugene Dalton, his family and all the enthusiastic staff of Corrib Oil for what promises to be a great weekend’s motorsport in Galway City and County. I also extend to all competitors a “Céad Míle Fáilte” to Galway for the rallying, the hospitality and the “craic”, for this, the 46th year of International rallying in Galway.
For 2016 the event will once again be Round 1 of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. (Round 2 of the Historic Championship). Happily, the event will retain a two-day format with headquarters at the Clayton Hotel, Galway. Parc Ferme will be nearby. To help competitors save costs, there will be just 5 different stages to recce, all in a compact route containing 15 stages over the two days. For 2016 we have a totally revised route format giving competitors more stage mileage, particularly on the Saturday, and an earlier finish on Sunday, in order to facilitate competitors from home and abroad with their travel plans. Another change, by popular demand, is to give Historic Rally competitors the chance to drive the full route, and be seeded with the main field for the two days of competition. Competitors will not have to complete any stages in darkness, also avoiding costs for additional lighting for cars and crews. The Service Area for each day will be centralised. We will be running “Rally 2” throughout the rally allowing competitors various opportunities to re-join the rally after retirement and get value for their entry fee and costs. Finishers under “Rally 2” will also be eligible to score points in the Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championships.
The entry fee will be €750 – a small increase over previous years – and still probably the most cost effective International Rally in Ireland or the UK! As there are 200 kilometres of closed road stages, we offer tremendous value for money.
The Junior Rally will complete all 6 Sunday stages for an Entry Fee of €350. The event will benefit from extensive TV coverage on National and International TV channels and will also continue with our very popular Live Social Media service.
On behalf of the Club, I wish you a safe and enjoyable rally weekend and I hope you will savour the hospitality that awaits you. I recommend that you extend your stay and appreciate the welcome which you will experience here in Galway City & County.
Kieran Donohue,
Kieran Donohue.
Clerk of the Course,
2016 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally.