Statoil Galway International Rally News
Eugene Jordan
February 16th, 17th, 18th
Organised & Promoted by Galway Motor Club
ROUND 1, TARMAC & HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
`DIAL-A-RESULT' LINES : Ireland - 1550-11-1234;
Northern Ireland/UK -0891-55-33-45
NEWS RELEASE
MAGNIFICENT TOP DOZEN FOR STATOIL GALWAY INTERNATIONAL RALLY
Frank Meagher scored his first Statoil Galway win last year and went on
to win the Dunlop
Tarmac Championship: for 1996 he will have support from Galway-based
Ireland Assist and the
Corrib Great Southern Hotel, which is rally headquarters when he returns
to defend his title for a
magnificent new perpetual trophy specially commissioned by Galway Motor
Club for the Statoil
Galway International car rally on 16/17/18 February, 1996.
Following him away from Eyre Square on Saturday February 17th at 9.15 am
will be the current
Vard Irish National champion Stephen Murphy in his Statoil-backed Escort
Cosworth followed
by three previous Galway International winners, Austin McHale, Toyota
Celica GT4
[1985,1990,1991,1993, runner-up 1995]; Kenny McKinstry, Escort F2 [1992,
1994]; and
Jimmy McRae, Escort Cosworth, [1980, 1982]. Liam O'Callaghan, third in
1995, Ian Greer
4th, both in Toyota Celica GT4s and Eamonn Boland, Escort Cosworth [5th,
1995] have
entered and will be in the fray with Bertie Fisher, Impreza 555; Bob
Fowden, Escort Cosworth;
former Irish national champion Peadar Hurson, Escort Cosworth; and Andrew
Nesbitt, Toyota
Celica and the scene is set for a weekend of exciting motorsport around
Galway in the west of
Ireland.
So far over 105 crews have entered, and others are known to have
indicated their interest to
compete, making the opening Tarmac Championship qualifier. Entries by
just 30 Galway-based
crews shows the tremendous interest in rallying in a club that lists over
200 members.
Enthusiasts can check for daily updates on entries received by calling in
Ireland, 1550-11-1234
or from Northern Ireland/UK 0891-55-33-45. Calls cost up to 58p/minute.
Galway Motor
Club is the first Irish motor club to be on the internet and the site can
be contacted at
http:/www.iol.ie/~Jordane/ Galway Motor Club email address is - Jordane @
iol.ie
Enquiries regarding entries are being handled by Ms.Chris Wildig,
Gweedore, Glann Road,
Oughterard, Co Galway. Tel. [eves] OO353 91 - 82434; Fax OO353 91 -
526174.
NOTABLE ENTRIES CLASSIFIED BY AREA
GREAT BRITAIN
Jimmy McRae/ ?? Scotland, Escort Cosworth
Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes, Wales, Escort Cosworth
Russell Brown, Yorks., Vauxhall Astra
Emlyn Wynne/Dave Williams, Wales, Suzuki Swift GTi
Ceiros James/Patrick Kiely, Wales, Opel Manta
Russell Brown/Martin Melsome Smith, Yorks,Vauxhall Astra
Amoy Blair/Jez Kemp, Derbyshire, Escort Cosworth
Geoff Crabtree/Liz Jordan, Kent, Porsche 911
NORTHERN IRELAND
Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy, Ballinamallard, Subaru Impreza 555
Peadar Hurson/Ian Porter, Down, Escort Cosworth
Andrew Nesbitt/Brian Murphy, Armagh, Toyota Celica 2.0
Ian Greer/Dessie Wilson, Hillsborough, Toyota Celica GT4
Kenny McKinstry/ ?? ,Banbridge, Escort 2.0
Uel Williamson/Trevor Wilson, Armagh, Escort 2.0
James Armstrong/Ken Welby, Down, Mazda 240 RS
Billy Gamble/Stewart McClean, Strabane, Escort 1600
Paul Fox/Billy McCullins, Armagh, Vauxhall Nova GSi
Gabriel Snow/Paul McLaughlin, Tyrone, Sierra Cosworth
Aidan O'Connor/Angela Aicken, Antrim Talbot Samba
Trevor Cathers/Gordon Noble, Omagh, Subaru Impreza
Seamus Donnelly/Danny O'Neill, Magherafelt, Toyota Corolla
Seamus Leonard/ ??,Omagh, Sunny GTi
P.J.Woods/Colin McKenna, Roslea, RS Cosworth
Seamus Sands/Damien Garvey, Newry, Peugeot 205
Tommy MacDonald/Paddy Toner, Draperstown, Sunbeam
Frances Wilson/Karen Woods, Lurgan, Nova 1.6
Harry Cathcart/ ?? Ballinamallard, Suzuki Swift GTi
Mervyn Johnston/Austin Frazer, Fermanagh, Mini Cooper S
David Hillis/Robin Hills, Antrim, BMW 2002Tii
John Keatley/Maurice Beckett, Magherafelt, Porsche 911
John Coyne/Martin Dolan, Craigavon, Porsche 911
Dessie Nutt/Derek Smyth, Castlerock, Porsche 911
Michael Stevenson/Rory Tougher, Down, Triumph TR4
Sean Treacy/Declan Campbell, Lisburn, Lancia Fulvia
Alan Courtney/Alan Sheppey, Carrickfergus, Ford Cortina GT Mk 1
Niall Creighton/Harry McGrath, Moira, Lotus Cortina Mk 1
Sean Treacy/Declan Campbell, Lisburn, Lancia Fulvia HF
Ted Johnston/Ken Rutherford, Bangor, Lancia Integrale
GALWAY AREA
Sean Lyons/Eileen McNamara, Loughrea, Talbot Sunbeam
Rory O'Connor/Francis Kenny, Ballyhaunis, Peugeot 205
Pat Kelly/Noel Mannion, Galway, Escort 2.0
Declan Sylver/Stephen Dooley, Galway, VW Golf GTi
James Power/John Devine, Loughrea, Escort 1.6
Dean Laffey/Michael Doherty, Athenry, Escort 2.0
John Hehir/Pat Sheil, Loughrea, Vauxhall Astra GTE
Sean Keenan/Joe Hurley, Claregalway, Opel Astra
John Joe Fleming/Robert Ward, Galway, Escort Cosworth
Martin Beirne/Tony Burke, Westport, Escort Cosworth
John Spain/Peter Egan,Loughrea, Opel Manta
Pat Spain/Padraig Ryan, Loughrea, Escort 2.0
David Feeney/Gerard O'Connell, Galway, Talbot Opel
Aidan Davey/Eddie Murray, Galway, Talbot Sunbeam
Michael Walsh/Torsten Schmidt, Casla, Escort 2.0
Gerard & Tommy Martyn, Galway, Toyota Corolla GT
Tommie Duggan/Billy Casey, Talbot Sunbeam
Iggy Madden/??, Galway, Escort Cosworth
Stephen Bird/Damien O'Neill, Galway, Escort 2.0
Martin Finnerty/ John Coughlan, Oranmore, Mk 1 Escort 2.0
Liam Higgins/Sean Egan, Roscommon, Talbot Sunbeam
Paul Monaghan/Annette O'Grady, Headford, Toyota Corolla GT
Shane Quinn/Noel Lambert, Ardrahan, Talbot Sunbeam
Tom Moran/Pat Leahy, Craughwell, Peugeot 205 RWD
Aidan Davey/Eddie Murray, Mervue, Talbot Sunbeam
John Morris/Barry Quinn, Athenry, Talbot Sunbeam
John Folan/Paul Ollernshaw, Galway, Fiat Tipo
Mike Bird/ John Burke, Galway, Fiat Uno
IRELAND (other than Galway area)
Frank Meagher/Pat Moloughney, Cloneen, Escort Cosworth
Stephen Murphy/Michael Morrissey, Bagenalstown, Escort Cosworth
Austin McHale/Dermot O'Gorman, Dublin, Toyota Celica GT4
Mickey Farrell/Anthony Nestor, Ardee, Subaru Legacy
Liam O'Callaghan/James O'Brien, Kanturk, Toyota Celica GT4
Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey, Wexford, Escort Cosworth
MIDLANDS
Michael Murray/Aidan Mannion, Longford, Nissan Sunny GTi
Tom Holton/Packie Reilly, Enfield, Escort Cosworth
Damien Keenan/Cathal MacArtain, Castlebellingham, Metro 6R4
Connie Smith/James Murtagh, Ballyjamesduff, Escort 2.4
Joe McGurk/Arthur Kearns, Cavan, Escort 2.0
Rory Galligan/Tom Clinton, Oldcastle, Peugeot 205
Michael Cadden/Paula Markland, Oldcastle, Escort 2.0
Donal Bowens/Noel Carey, Navan, Escort Cosworth
James Foley/Ann Foley, Navan, Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6
Mark Nangle/Nollaig Breen, Meath, Toyota Corolla
Adrian Quinn/Finbar Mangan, Mullingar, Vauxhall Nova GSi
Eugene Ward/Conor Bruton, Ashbourne, Honda Civic VTi
Eugene Meegan/Joe Downey, Monaghan, Toyota GT4 turbo
Chris Finnegan/Pat Dwyer, Portlaoise, Escort 2.0
Fergus Kelly/Dorothy Morrissey, Birr, Escort 1.3
DUBLIN
Kevin Rowland/Gareth O'Callaghan, Dublin, Sierra Sapphire Cosworth
John McCluskey/Mark English, Dublin, Sierra Sapphire Cosworth
McCartan McCague/Kieran Cusack, Dublin, Sapphire Cosworth
Gordon Webster/Fulton Grant, Dublin, Suzuki Swift
John Reid/ ??, Dublin, Escort 2.0
DONEGAL
Hugh Martin Doherty/Michael Gibson, Letterkenny, BMW M3
Gavin Harris/Paul Garry, Donegal, Toyota Corolla
Jeremy Shiels/Damien Crawford, Letterkenny, Nissan Sunny GTiR
John McLaughlin/Shaun Lafferty, Donegal, Toyota Corolla
Seamus Gallagher/John McCafferty, Donegal, Honda Civic
Pat Bonar/Bernard McGinley, Dunfanaghy, Escort 1.6
MUNSTER
Pat Kearney/Owen O'Neill, Clonmel, Honda Civic
Pat Mullane/Peter Cummins, Limerick, Escort 2.0
Ron Hogan/Paddy McDonnell,Limerick, Mazda 323 4X4
Sean Mullally/ ?? Limerick, ??
Noel O'Sullivan/ Nicholas Burke, Killarney, Escort 1.3
Michael O'Leary/ ?? Killarney, ??
Gerry Freeman/Dermott Quigley, Dublin, Ford Cortina GT
TRAFFIC NEWS::TRAFFIC NEWS::TRAFFIC NEWS::TRAFFIC NEWS
In connection with the holding of the Statoil Galway International Car
rally, increased traffic may
cause hold-ups to other motorists who may wish to avoid the following
areas at the times
indicated.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16th
Salthill Promenade near Leisureland between 3.30 pm and 10.00 pm where
the cars and
competitors will be checking in. There will be some trailers parked in
the vicinity and care should
be exercised while passing the area.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th
Eyre Square, Galway, where the competitors will start the rally, between
9.00 am and 10.30
am. Loughrea between 9.30 am and 5.30 pm where the cars will return
during the day for
service. Traffic delays here may delay drivers on the Galway /Dublin
National Primary Route
N6, and extra time should be allowed for journeys.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18th
Headford Road and Quincentennial Bridge, Galway between 10.30 am and 2.30
pm. The
competitors will service at Galway Shopping Centre before traversing the
Statoil Spectator
Stage along the Dyke Road. Spectators should view the stage from
Quincentennial Bridge.
Craughwell on the N6 may experience traffic delays between noon and 6.30
pm. Access to
Eyre Square will be closed to traffic approaching from Bohermore from
3.00pm until after the
rally cars have finished at 7.30 pm. All drivers approaching the Square
from the east should use
College Road/Forster Street, or use alternative routes to avoid Eyre
Square.
Residents of the closed road Special Stages have been notified
individually.Galway Motor Club
regrets any inconvenience caused and trusts drivers will use this
information to plan journeys to
avoid delays.
Eugene Jordan.