Rally competitors enjoy road to success

One of Ireland’s most popular regional rally championships, the West Coast Rally Championship, which takes in rallies in Offaly, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Clare, is set to continue its association with Top Part into an 18th season and beyond.
The announcement was made last Saturday night at the 2010 awards ceremony at the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh, which was hosted by the Birr and District Motor Club.
The winner of the 2010 championship, 21-year-old Shane Maguire, became the youngest driver to accept the overall award.
The presentation was also unique as Shane dethroned his father, Niall, who won the series in 2009. Enda Sherry picked up the co- driver’s award for a record third time. 
The 2011 six round series gets underway at the end of February in Abbeyleix, County Laois. This season, competitors can count their best four scores.
The dates are as follows: Round 1, Abbeyleix Rally (February 27); Round 2, Circuit of Kerry, Tralee (April 3); Round 3, Circuit of
Munster Adare (June 5); Round 4, Galway Summer Rally (August 28); Round 5, Clare Stages Rally Ennis (Sept 18); Round 6, Banna Rally Tralee (November 13).
The Safety Direct Galway International Rally is the biggest annual event to take place in the West of Ireland during the winter months.
The event kickstarts the tourism season in late January and early February, as thousands of spectators and rally teams make their annual trip to Galway. The event will be Round 1 of the 2011 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The championship was won last year by Dubliner Gareth MacHale in a Focus World Rally Car.
Galway Motor Club’s preparations are progressing at a frantic pace and clerk of the course, Gary Leonard, reports a steady flow of early entries for both the international and the historic sections.
Entries have been received from as far afield as the US. Approximately 80 cars are expected to start the event. The ceremonial start will take place in Oranmore this  Friday at 7.30pm.
Headquarters for the event is the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway. Sunday evening will see the winning crews return to Oranmore for the finish ceremony from approximately 4pm.