Dunlop continues to track Irish National Rally Championship

As the 2011 Dunlop National Rally Championship, that begins in Abbeyleix at the end of February, gains momentum, the new series is again based on the successful format of previous years, albeit with the one exception – competitors will be able to count their best seven scores from the ten events as opposed to eight from ten that was in operation in previous seasons.

Last year, for the first time in its illustrious history, the series was won by an overseas crew with Welsh duo, Mel Evans and Patrick Walsh, securing the series on the Clare Rally, the penultimate round of the 2010 campaign.

Organisers of the opening round of the 2011 series, the Birr & District Motor Club, will host their event in Abbeyleix. In line with the “opt out” process, the Circuit of Kerry, Circuit of Munster and the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally will not have Dunlop status in 2011 and will be replaced by the Carlow Rally, the Galway Summer and the Donegal Harvest Rally.

Richard Warbrick, M.D. of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Ireland commented, “We are delighted to give the series the continuity it deserves. Since we began our association with the national series in 2000, each event, while retaining its own particular character, also continues to embrace all aspects of the series. We are conscious that the Dunlop National Rally Championship brings value for money to the competitor and allied to the strong support from the Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship Sub-Committee, the series continues to achieve that goal. I think it is one of the aspects that enhances its reputation as being the most popular series in Irish Motorsport. The prizegiving ceremony is now a major event in the Irish calendar and it is important that the endeavours of the organisers, competitors and supporters are recognised in such fashion.”

Meanwhile, Richard Talbot, Chairman of the Dunlop National Rally Championship Sub-Committee said, “Dunlop is one of the top motorsport brands in the world we are delighted to have them as our sponsors for 2011. The Dunlop National Rally Championship will prove to be very competitive, the format of each rally, with reconnaissance on Saturday and event on Sunday is very popular with competitors as it doesn’t impinge on their work commitments. The fact that it is seven events from ten rounds to count will give competitors a chance, should they have a few non finishes.”

The sub-committee has worked very hard over the winter months to attract competitors to the championship that will televise highlights of all ten rallies. This year, the series will have a standard results provider and time cards.
– Credit: Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship.