Galway Sets the Stage for the Season Opener

The 2024 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally boasts an impressive lineup of drivers and machinery ahead ofthis year’s event, which takes place on 3rd & 4th February. There are over 130 crews due to start in what promisesto be a very hard fought encounter with some very successful drivers from Ireland and the UK doing battle. 2023Irish Tarmac Rally Champions Callum Devine & Noel O’Sullivan are top seeds in a VW Polo and will be looking tocarry the momentum from last year’s series into this year. Number 2 seeds are Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes whowon here in 2022 and finished second last year. Moffett will be making a switch from a Hyundai to a Citroen C3for the event and it will be interesting to see how quickly he adapts

Third seeds are Keith Cronin & Mikie Galvin in a Fiesta Rally 2 and marks the duos return to the championshipfor the first time since they won it back in 2016. Keith of course is a former winner of the event having tastedvictory in 2013. Sam Moffett & James O’Reilly at four are in a Hyundai i20 Rally 2 and Sam will be hoping to beas quick out of the blocks as last year when he led the event over the early stages. Rounding off the top six areJonny Greer & Niall Burns who as usual will have a Citroen C3 Rally 2 followed by Matt Edwards & DavidMoynihan in a Fiesta Rally 2. It will be former BRC champion Edwards’s first appearance in Galway, but he hasbeen competitive on previous visits to Ireland

Seventh seeds are Desi Henry & Stuart Loudon in a Citroen C3 Rally 2 who will be hoping for a long overduechange of luck in Galway. Ryan Loughran & Gareth Doherty at eight are also Fiesta mounted. Loughran who isnoted for his exploits in a Ford Escort, showed some impressive form on a few occasions last year when movingto the Rally 2 car. Garry Jennings in a non-starter at nine so Declan Boyle will be next up as he continues to getuses to the Citroen. Jason Mitchell at 11 is another nonstarter so Mark Alcorn & Darren Currans (Escort Mk2)round off the top ten. Alcorn had a superb run in Galway last year and will be a strong contender for the modifiedcategory

Outside of the top ten,several drivers will have something to say about the overallshakeup of the event includingKevin Eves, Gareth MacHale, Michael Boyle, Gary Kiernan & David Kelly who are just some of the chasing pack.Austin MacHale & Brian Murphy seeded at number twenty make a return to Irish rallying in a Ford Focus WRC.Austin has not been rallying competitively in over fifteen years while Brian has been competitive with Austin’sson Gareth over the past couple of years. The historic category is well supported, with last year’s historic winnerMeirion Evans back to defend his title. Ray Breen, Ross Forde, Tom Clark, Duncan Williams and Ernie Grahamamongst the entry. There are eight junior crews with top seeds being Galway crew Jason Gorham & Liam Eganin a Honda Civic.

There will be a ceremonial start at 7:30pm in Eyre Square on Friday evening, which will be an opportunity to seethe crews and their cars up close. Overnight Parc Ferme is at Galway Racecourse and the first car is due awayfrom there at 7:45 am on Saturday morning. The crews will go to service at Galway Airport before heading outto the days eight stages based around Headford with the first stage getting underway at Kilcoona at8:54am.Other stages include Caherlistrane and Kilbeg with the cars servicing at Galway Airport after each loop.The first car is due back in Parc Ferme at 17:23 on Saturday evening.

Sunday’s action gets underway at 8:55am near Monivea with the Belville stage, followed by a stage atColmanstown. These two stages will be attempted three times in all, with servicing at Galway Airport after eachpair of stages. The first car is due back at the finish ramp at 16:30 at Rally Headquarters the Connacht Hotel.

Galway Motor Club would like to thank all those who have given their assistance including marshals, officials,residents, Gardaí, Galway County Council and Galway Flying Club, and want to wish all those attending the CorribOil Galway International Rally a safe and enjoyable weekend

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