Dungannon area to host Circuit of Ireland

THE Dungannon area will play host to the Ulster Automobile Club’s Circuit of Ireland Rally tomorrow.

This year’s 93rd event sees four stages run twice and it will, once again, be a round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, which continued last weekend in West Cork where Keith Cronin and Mike Glavin cruised to victory to ensure they recorded their second win of the year in the series.

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship leaders recorded a well-controlled 57.2-second victory over Wales’ Matt Edwards, who was again running the Omagh-based C&M Motorsport Sales Rally2 Ford
Fiesta, while William Creighton was third.

In the modified section, there was disappointment for Moy’s father and daughter crew, Frank and Lauren Kelly who were unable to repeat their round one heroics, retiring after just a couple of stages, but they will be keen to regroup for a charge over their local stages during the Circuit when they will hope to claw back the ground lost to West Cork winner, Kevin Eves.

“The small but mighty organising team have been working relentlessly to organise what we hope to be another great event of road closed rallying,” said a Circuit of Ireland Rally event spokesperson.

“We have decided to revisit some ‘old’ stages that were last used 12 years ago, so we are delighted to be able to return and bring back some great locations.”

Event Director, Graeme Stewart added: “This year is our most compact route to date, done by keeping the road miles to a bare minimum and hence, keeping the cost of doing this exciting event as low as possible.

“All of which would not be possible without the help and assistance of several motor clubs and countless numbers of volunteers.

“Not least of all, the help from the landowners and residents on the excellent stages which will prove to be a challenging and exciting event this Easter.”

Saturday’s action will get underway following the official start at Granville Mart at around 9am.