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Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Stage all set for ‘The Stages’
BY CRÓNA ESLER
With less than a fortnight remaining to the McWilliam Park Hotel Mayo Stages Rally 2010, excitement is mounting in Claremorris and indeed across rally circles throughout the region.
On Wednesday night last, February 24, large crowds gathered at the McWilliam Park Hotel for the launch. Competitors, sponsors, organisers and interested parties arrived in the South Mayo capital to hear the finer details in relation to the rally. And certainly, the locals are in for a real treat over the weekend of March 13 and 14.
The rally itself will take place on Sunday, March 14 but with lots of plans in place for activities over the weekend, there’s sure to be a real festival atmosphere in the town.
Staging the Rally in Claremorris, with new rally headquarters and title sponsor in the McWilliam Park Hotel, is a new venture for the Mayo and District Motorsport Club. Supermac’s in Ballindine and Claremorris, as well as Costcutters in Ballindine have also come on board as subsidiary sponsors for the event, which forms Round 2 of the Dunlop National Rally Championship and Round 1 of the HASS Border Rally Championship.
Local publican and rally enthusiast Eamonn Walsh is Clerk of Course this year, with well-known rally co-driver Killian Duffy as Assistant COC. The duo, together with their organising team, have put months of dedication and effort into the event and have lined up a really fantastic weekend for competitors, fans and locals alike.
The team have identified three brand new stages and each competitor will complete the stages three times, with a total stage distance of 133km.
For the first time, a ceremonial start will take place ahead of the rally. At 8pm on Saturday evening, March 13, Claremorris town centre will come alive as the top 20 competitors and local crews participate.
Sponsored by EMP Furniture Manufacturers from Williamstown, the crews will pass through the official start ramp and be interviewed by commentating legend Dougie Hughes.
There will be live music at The Square, as well as numerous other attractions including a rally car simulator ride.
The Road Safety Authority will also be in town for the weekend with their state-of-the-art mobile road safety demonstration unit. The Shuttle is being brought to the town in association with the Claremorris-based Fleet Transport Magazine and is packed with computerised technology including simulators and multimedia experiences.
The Gerry Ronan Transport Group A Challenge will be another crowd puller. For many competitors and spectators, the Group A rally cars of the late 80s and 90s were a high point in the history of rallying, combining the ideal balance of sound, spectacle and performance. Now thanks to local businessman and competitor Gerry Ronan, the Mayo Stages Rally is offering the opportunity to relive those glory days with a special competition for Group A cars homologated between 1987 and 1997. Already interest in the Challenge is booming with many competitors promising to dust down machines with famous rallying pedigrees for the Mayo Stages. It promises to be a great spectacle.
There has also been huge interest in the competition being run by the rally organisers this year. One lucky winner will be given the opportunity to co-drive with leading World Rally Championship driver Mads Ostberg on the Mayo Stages Rally. Hailing from Norway, Ostberg is swapping his Subaru World Rally Car for a Ford Escort Mark 2, and will drive the Mayo Stages Rally as course car.
Tickets costing €10 have been selling fast for the unique raffle and the draw will take place this Thursday, March 4. No previous competition experience is necessary the only stipulation is that entrants must be over 16 years of age. A limited number of tickets are still available and can be obtained from Killian Duffy on 087-635 5088.
As COC, Eamonn Walsh is really excited about the whole event. Speaking to the Western People, he praised the Gardaí, Council officials and the local people. “Since we began to talk about bringing the Rally to Claremorris, we received so much support.
The residents along the routes of each of the stages were really accommodating.
The Gardaí and Council officials have also been very supportive, in particular, the Council’s Community and Enterprise Officer Neil Sheridan. As well, Fáilte Ireland have been very helpful. They’ve given us great advice and backing along the way,” he remarked.
Continuing, Eamonn spoke about the sponsors. “In these difficult economic times, we’ve been very fortunate to receive such brilliant sponsorship.
Seamus Gallagher and Danny McHugh were great from the start, as too were all the other businesses in the area. They believed in us from day one and that was a big deal for us,” Eamonn beamed.
Killian Duffy is also full of praise for the local Councillors and Chamber of Commerce. “Everyone has really rowed in behind us and our enthusiasm seems to be infectious. There’s a real buzz around the place and the entries are flying in,” he explained.
Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and local Councillor John Cribbin addressed the assembled crowd at the launch and said the rally would provide a massive economic boost, attracting competitors and visitors from all over Ireland. Cllr Cribbin admitted he has always been an armchair supporter in the past but said he is looking forward to coming out to watch the stages this month.
Earlier in the evening, the Ballyhaunis man had been amazed when he sat into one of the rally cars outside the hotel. “When we watch a rally on television, it can often look dangerous but after sitting into one of the cars with great difficulty I might add I now have a better understanding of it. The cars are so technical and have so many additional safety features. It’s no wonder there’s such interest in rally driving,” he remarked.
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