The event is based in Kantoher Business Park, near New Castle West and it marks the opening round of the 2013 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland Forest Rally Championship. It is being organised and promoted jointly by the Forestry Committee and Limerick Motor Club.
Clerk of the Course Barry Duggan has picked two classic stages at Banane and Reanahown. These stages are used twice and they will yield a total stage distance of 40km. Scrutiny, service and administration all take place in rally headquarters in Kantoher Business park. Scrutiny takes Sunday morning and the first car is away at 12 midday, returning at 1600.
The entry list is a marvellous mix of former champions and class winners and other forest regulars. In addition the organising committee have been very successful in attracting a lot of entrants who are new to rallying and forest racing in particular.
Former champs like Pat O' Connell and Owen Murphy return to do battle in their Mitsubishi Evo's and they will be challenged by the WRC cars of Mick O' Brien (Escort), Kevin Barrett (Subaru) and John Reid (Toyota). Fans of rear wheel drive are promised plenty of oversteer from the Escorts of Adraian Hethrington and Paul Fitzgerald as well as Shane McGIrr in the Starlet RWD.
The list of local entrants is dominated by the Ford Escorts of Ray Benskin Jnr (Ballycotton) Jimmy Deane (Mallow), Sean Benskin (Rathcormack), Michael O' Sullivan (Charleville). The Civic brigade is headed by Dan Cronin (Bantry), John Byrnes (Murroe) and Sean Alan (Rockchapel). Their front wheel drive opposition will emerge from Joe Allen (Mallow), Joe Dowling (New Castle West), Tim Holland (Mallow) and the Peugeot 306 of Con O' Riordan (Killarney). Local 4X4 drivers include the Evo 8's of Ger Lucey (Ballyvourney) and Mark Murphy and the Subaru of Danny Creedon (Millstreet).
Clerk of the Course Barry Duggan is thrilled with the strong entry. "I think it is a vote of confidence in the quality of the special stages. And the entry fee of E350 offers serious value for money. We must acknowledge all the help from the organising committee and thank the Kantoher Development Group, Tara Cladding and Mc Mahon's Eco-Fuels for wonderful help. Thanks also to the Cork MC who will be operating the results system and the rally updates will be available on www.irishforestrally.com".
Events Secretary John Quill said "the entry fee of E350 is only sustainable because it is heavily subsidised by the Forest Rally sub- committee. I would like to remind competitors that the stages were repaired after the pace note suppliers were through the stages. In the seeding order, all 2WDs will be first through the stages in reverse seeding order and they will be followed by the 4X4's in regular seeding order".
