With the first round of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally looming, things are gathering momentum nicely for what could be a classic year. An important pre Galway function took place in Clonakilty last weekend when some TROA delegates met with Colette & Edward Twomey of Clonakilty Blackpudding to sign the sponsorship contract. It is a very big year for the championship having secured a title sponsor for the first time in four years and a sense of expectation and excitement is building. David Gray, chairman of the TROA, commented that “it’s great that a home grown Irish company such as Clonakilty Blackpudding have come on board to sponsor Irish rallyings major championship, and we look forward to a great working relationship with them”.
Gerard Seaman, Championship Manager of the TROA, was equally enthusiastic “being from the West Cork area myself, I know that Clonakilty Blackpudding is a very recognisable brand and I look forward to having them on board as title sponsors for 2014. Other TROA members who were present for the function included Alan Verso, vice chairman of the TROA, Dermot Healy & Colman Hegarty. The Championship which began in 1978 has six rounds of which five are to count for registered drivers in homologated cars taking in the Galway, Circuit of Ireland, Rally of the Lakes, Donegal, Ulster & Cork 20 International Rallies. Edward Twomey of Clonakilty Blackpudding will campaign a newly acquired Fiesta during the year in the series.
Also taking place on the same day the TROA met with Martin Godfrey, Clerk of the Course of the Quality Hotel Clonakilty West Cork Rally, to welcome that event into the Irish Tarmac Modified Championship. This is the first time that Cork Motor Clubs flagship event has been included in the championship and there is a lot of excitement being generated in the area over its inclusion. The Modified Championship takes place over seven rounds with all of the International rallies having a national section plus West Cork as the extra round for non- homologated cars.
A TV Deal has also been reached with Sportsvision which will see the championship televised by one provider throughout the year beginning in Galway. You can keep up to date with all of the happenings on www.irishtarmac.com, on Twitter @IrishTarmacTROA and on Facebook at Irish Tarmac Championship. Also keep an eye out for a new Championship App which will be available shortly on both iOS and Android which will merge all of the information sources above into one easy to find location.
Kevin O’Driscoll,
TROA Press & Media Officer, Email: troapro@gmail.com Mobile: +353 86 286 6256