Tough route for 2016 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally

PREPARATIONS are well underway for the 2016 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally which takes place from February 5 to 7. The event is building to be a true classic as Galway Motor Club’s Clerk of the Course, Kieran Donohue, has laid on a very challenging route.

New for the event this year, for the first time in its 45 year history, is the use of the Galway Racecourse in Ballybrit. The track’s extensive facilities will help cater for the ever expanding requirements of the rally. There will be more horsepower than horses on this occasion though!

The racecourse will play host to mechanical scrutineering on Friday, February 5. This will be a perfect opportunity for everyone to get up close to the cars and drivers prior to the high-speed action on Saturday and Sunday.

Also new for 2016 is the introduction of the latest R5 category of rally cars as the premier championship class for this rally. Already a number of these new cars have been sourced by drivers from Ireland and the UK. Early entries suggest there will be at least 10 of these new cars, with Ford Fiestas, Citroen DS3s and Skoda Fabias being the most popular versions.

Keith Cronin, three times British Rally Champion and previous Galway Rally winner, has chosen a Citroen, while the Moffett brothers have opted for two Fiestas. Former National Rally Champion Aaron MacHale has opted for a Skoda.

World Rally Car drivers will include former rally winner Tim McNulty from Meath in a MINI WRC, Declan Boyle from Donegal and Roy WhIte from Clonmel in two Fiesta WRC cars, and Gary Jennings from Enniskillen and Declan Gallagher from Donegal, both driving Subaru WRC cars.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.