Circuit of Ireland Rally 2024 – Spectator Safety

Circuit of Ireland Rally 2024 – Spectator Safety

Watching a live motorsport event is a thrilling experience and one of the best ways for fans to get close to the action, experiencing the sport’s sights, sounds and smells first-hand.

Motorsport UK, event organisers and venues strive to keep spectators safe but ultimately all spectators are responsible for their own personal safety.

Here are some tips that spectators should remember at live events:

·         Always keep your own safety in mind

·         Park in a safe place

·         Follow marshals’ instructions

·         Observe and obey all event signs

·         Stay within the official spectator areas

·         Do not enter any prohibited areas

·         Keep off the road or track

·         Listen to official announcements

·         Expect the unexpected.

On rallies in particular, remember:

·         Cars may run wide on corners

·         Cars may cut corners

·         Cars may throw up stones

·         Cars may overshoot junctions

·         Cars may leave the road.

So, have fun but keep safe!

2024 Circuit Ireland Rally

The Ulster Automobile Club are delighted to announce the ‘Circuit’ will be held in the Dungannon area on 30th March 2024 with scrutineering on the 29th.  The Event will consist of 4 stages run twice.

Please keep an eye on this website and the Club’s social media for regular updates and the publication of the Regulations.

UAC Future Champion William Creighton shortlisted as WRC’s 2023 Most Improved Driver !

UAC Future Champion William Creighton shortlisted as WRC’s 2023 Most Improved Driver !

The Club are delighted to announce that William has been shortlisted as WRC’s 2023 Most Improved Driver!
To be nominated for this Award is very exciting and it highlights the fantastic season that Liam and William have had, with the support of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, M-Sport Poland and all his Team, which ended up with William and Liam being Crowned Junior World Rally Champions.

We would greatly appreciate it if you would use the link below to vote for William. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on his name.  Please feel free to share with your contacts.

Vote for WRC’s 2023 Most Improved Driver!<https://www.wrc.com/a/news/w27093_Vote-Now:-WRC-s-Most-Improved-Driver-2023>

Thank you!

‘Devine outcome’ on the ‘Circuit’

Callum Devine and Noel Stevenson Jnr produced a stunning drive in their VW Polo GTi R5 to win the Milburn Concrete Circuit of Ireland Rally yesterday.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes who were the current Irish Tarmac Rally Championship leaders before the 70 stage miles on Saturday finished in second place 10.2s adrift in their Hyundai i20 R5.

Third place was filled by Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson in their VW Polo GTi R5 a further 37.1s behind the Hyundai.

The event started with 120 cars and the terrain took it’s toll losing 1/3 of the field. Thankfully Frank & Lauren Kelly were unhurt after their end over end roll, can’t say the same for ‘Baby Blue’ their the trusted Mark 2 Ford Escort. Another ‘incident’ on stage 8 meant that not every one had the chance to complete the final one. Congratulations must go to Cookstown Motor Club and their superb success in organising and running the ‘Circuit’, along with some ‘elderly’ folk from the UAC!

William Creighton and Liam Regan, WRC junior competitors finished in creditable 13th place. William is one of the UAC Future Champions and he doesn’t disappoint, well done that team!

Milburn Concrete announced as title sponsors of Circuit of Ireland rally 2023!

Cookstown Motor Club are delighted to announce that the Circuit of Ireland 2023 will be sponsored by Millburn Concrete, a newly acquired company in the District by husband and wife team, Aishling and Mark Donnelly. Many rally people will know Mark as he has won both of the first Forestry rallies in Ireland in 2023, Killarney and then the Spring rally at Fivemiletown. Mark and Aishling are a very busy couple juggling their successful business work, some rallying and most importantly a young family. Cookstown Motor Club very much appreciate Aishling and Mark supporting the Circuit of Ireland at such short notice. Running on 8th April, the rally has a full entry of 120 cars will have 4 stages run twice in the greater Cookstown area.

New Faces – New Places – New Beginnings: The Circuit of Ireland Rally is reborn!

New Faces - New Places - New Beginnings. The Circuit of Ireland Rally is reborn!!

Northern Ireland Motorsport is a very close knit community and the Ulster Automobile Club are delighted to announce that they have reached out to Cookstown Motor Club to co-promote and organise the 2023 Circuit of Ireland Easter Stages Rally, yet another first in the history of this iconic event.

This event continually reinvents itself providing competitors, fans and global audiences with the opportunity to enjoy unique personal experiences of closed road rallies, within the spectacular landscape that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Graeme Stewart, Event Director of the 2022 Rally commented, “It’s clear that collaboration is the only way forward for closed road rallying and I am delighted that Cookstown Motor Club have decided to join us in this exciting new venture“.

Read more

Fisher & Noble Master the Glens!!

Fisher & Noble Master the Glens!!

Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally goes to the wire. The final four stages of the ‘Circuit’ produced superb performances by winners Alastair Fisher and Gordon Noble in their VW Polo R5 to claim the coveted UAC Circuit of Ireland Trophy. 11.6 seconds separated them from Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes, (winners of the UAC Easter Stages Rally in 2018), in their Hyundai i20 R5 who had set the fastest times on stages 4 and 7 over the two days and were leading the event going into the final stage.

Callum Devine and Shane Byrne had set 3 of the fastest times on stages 2,3 and 6 on day one but were not able to repeat their performance given the blistering pace on day 2, finishing a further 30.3 seconds behind to claim third place. Desi Henry and Paddy Robinson pushing their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 to set fastest times on stages 1 and 5 led the rally at the end of day 1, however their rally ended with engine failure after stage 9 on day 2.

Read more

Fast & Furious it is!!

Entries for the 2022 Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally have now closed and we are delighted to announce that the cream of the crop have decided to take the ‘Fast & Furious’ challenge at Easter.

A full house of 91 entries, marking the 91st running of the oldest Rally in Ireland will tackle the 11 superlative stages, covering over 120 stage miles during Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

Read more

Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally Cancelled

The Ulster Automobile Club, organisers of the event, which is a round of the FIA ERT Celtic Trophy and Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, had secured a date in November to run the rally but in the interests of public health and safety have, with regret, decided to cancel the rally due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more