Controversy continues over Galway rally rescheduling in busy October calendar

Irish Examiner

5 days ago

The saga surrounding the Galway International Rally that was postponed last February due to the damage caused by Storm Éowyn took another twist this week, further to the Galway Motor Club's request to run a mini stage rally (six stage/one day) event on October 12th next.
It appears that the Motor Sport Council took an e-vote on the matter last Tuesday night but due to objections and other issues, the MSC will discuss the matter further when they meet in person next Tuesday night.
As reported in the Irish Examiner in recent weeks, senior MI and Galway Motor Club officials discussed the matter with the latter, then holding a club meeting.
It's not clear how the decision was made to apply for the mini stage event, that, in reality, is - given the change - in effect a new event.
MI had previously informed GMC that any single-day event (at that time understood to be a multi-stage event) would not have international status.
Some clubs, particularly those that could be affected by the latest move actually knew nothing about the Galway plan. Two Cork clubs have events on either side of the October 12 date.
The Cork '20' Rally, the final round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is fixed for October 4/5 and the Fastnet Rally, the final counter in the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, is scheduled for October 26.
In addition, the Laois Rallysprint is slated for October 18. Even with the adoption of the biennial calendar, it is obvious that October is already a congested month.
The Irish Examiner understands that the Munster Car Club (organisers of the Cork '20') had already made their concerns known to those at the top echelon of Motorsport Ireland while the Skibbereen and District Car Club weren't even aware of the issue until after e-vote, although they have since objected to the event being given the green light.
So, where's or what's the missing link? Is it unreasonable to suggest that Motorsport Ireland are still keen to have GMC host an event so as to lessen the impact of the financial losses from February?
Is an additional rally at this time of the year respectful to the other clubs hosting events? Are GMC going to be refunded the monies already paid to MI if they don't host an event?
A point worth considering (that seems to occur annually after the Donegal International Rally) is that entry numbers are already dropping off.
Last Sunday, the Sligo Rally didn't attract a capacity entry and the same is true for Sunday's Imokilly Rally.
It's not rocket science to suggest that an additional event is only going to further reduce entries on the remaining rallies. It's time for someone to take a stance, but the question is, who?
Meanwhile, the number one decals mean a lot to Killarney driver Rob Duggan (Ford Escort).
Indeed, it's the principal reason that he is contesting Sunday's CDE Components Imokilly Rally that is based in Midleton in east Cork.
"It will be the first time that I have the #1 decals on the door, I've never had that before, it's an honour and that's really why I'm going down there," Duggan said.
Armagh's Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) is the only other driver in the top ten from the event two years ago where Duggan took a start-to-finish victory.
He added: "Yes, new faces this time but it doesn't diminish the challenge. I'm hearing that the stages are very fast and James Stafford (Darrian T90 GTR) will go hard and it will be a tough job to stay in front of him."
The format (two stages repeated three times) is something that suits many competitors and is less pressurised than multi-stage rallies.
Others on the entry are Monaghan's David Moffett (Toyota Starlet), Cavan's Johno Doogan (Ford Escort), Black and Cavan's Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort). Ladysbridge driver Cian Walsh in the Tom Randles Ford Escort is the top local entry.
Limerick's Ed O'Callaghan (Ford Escort) could be re-seeded from the No. 14 spot. The first stage is at 10.03am.