All Systems Go for Galway

Preparations are well advanced for the 2013 Safety Direct Galway International Rally. This year’s event takes place over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd February. Safety Direct have sponsored the event for many years.

Alan Fair, on behalf of the company, states that the reason for this is that it showcases its products and services to a wide audience, and complements the strong organising team in Galway Motor Club.

Early indications are that there will be a full entry of up to 130 cars in the International, National and Historic sections of the popular rally. In 2012 entries were received from as far afield as America and Australia, which prompted the organisers to support the “Gathering Ireland” initiative in 2013. The event has traditionally brought a welcome early season boost to visitor numbers to Galway city and county.

The 2013 event will have a Ceremonial Start in Eyre Square on Saturday 2nd February at 8.00pm, following afternoon scrutineering of cars at MotorPark, Terryland from 2pm.

Headquarters for the event is the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit, Galway. The rally route will cover 8 stages in East Galway, on Sunday 3rd February, and the rally Service Park will be in Ballinasloe that day. Sunday evening will see the Ceremonial Finish , also in Ballinasloe at 5.00pm that evening. Admission to all events is free over the weekend.

The leading early entrants to date include the winners of the MorOil Galway Summer Rally in 2012, Declan and Brian Boyle, also Garry Jennings and Donagh Kelly all in Subaru World Rally cars. Early local entries include Galway’s Tom Flaherty and Eamon Dervan in Escorts , JJ Fleming in his Focus WRC and Ray Cunningham, current Historic champion driver in his Mini Cooper S.

The final list of accepted entries, and detailed route maps and schedules will be included in the Official Rally Programme, available closer to the event. Details of programme outlets will be available on the event website.

For 2013 rally enthusiasts worldwide will benefit from excellent media coverage of the event. County Galway based TG4 ,which provides “free to air” terrestrial TV nationally will broadcast two 30 minute programmes devoted to the event, while Motors TV will have a one hour programme on its Satellite Channel, available across Europe.

For 2013 the organisers have arranged facilities for the ever increasing number of on-line rally followers, with regular video uploads to be provided from the start, live interviews and action from the stages during the event. Locally the event will receive extensive coverage from the Galway Bay FM sports and news teams.

Safety Direct Galway International Rally Event Timetable:
Saturday 2nd February 2:00pm : Scrutiny at Motorpark , Terryland.
Saturday 2nd February 8.00pm : Ceremonial Start in Eyre Square.
Sunday 3rd February 9.00am : 9 Special Stages in east Galway.
Sunday 3rd February 5.00pm: Finish at Ballinasloe Town Centre.
Sunday 3rd February 7.30pm : Prizegiving at Clayton Hotel, Galway.

Regular updates and more detailed information will be available on the rally website: www.galwayinternationalrally.com.