28 May, 2011 Event preview Modern Tyre Service sponsor Mourne Rally At a press launch today at Modern Tyre Service in Newry, Des O Loan from Newry and District Motor Club announced that the 39 year old event to be held on Saturday 4 th June would continue to be sponsored by local tyre company Modern Tyre Service who have two depots in Newry and a total of 26 depots in Northern Ireland. Rory Byrne MD Modern Tyre Service with Des O Loan NADMC Chairman This year s event will start from the Modern Tyre Service complex in Carnbane Ind. Est. in Newry on the Saturday morning followed by 13 stages, with some familiar classics including Slieve Gullion and Camlough Mountain. Service will be in Carnbane Industrial Estate with cars finishing up at the Carrickdale Hotel where a prize giving will be held. The event is round 5 of the Northern Ireland HanKook Rally Championship and round 4 of the Sligo Pallets Border Championship. The club is expecting a strong entry despite the challenging economic conditions with some of the quickest drivers participating including Kenny McKinstry, hoping for his third consecutive win in a row. Scrutiny will take place at the premises of Modern Tyre Service in Carnbane Industrial Estate on Friday evening before the event, which will be open to the public. Entries for the event are still available from the clubs website www.nadmc.net
Commenting at the launch Rory Byrne Director of Modern Tyre Service and keen rally competitor said We are very pleased to be sponsoring the Mourne Rally and look forward to working with the Newry and District Motor Club to help raise the profile of the event. Our sponsorship deal will help to raise our association with rallying in the province while providing an excellent opportunity to remind local motorists of the professional service provided by Modern Tyre Service through our network of depots which includes two based in Newry. Remarking on their event sponsor for 2011, Des O Loan said I am delighted to have a company like Modern Tyre Service on board and with Rory s enthusiasm for the sport we are looking forward to introducing many of the fresh initiatives they can bring to our event. Many local drivers and navigators are participating in this years rally including a number of prominent Newry & District Motor Club committee members Kenny McKinstry, fresh from his two recent wins on the Circuit of Ireland and the Tour of the Sperrins rallies will power his Subaru WRC across the mountains hoping for a fifth victory in a row. Andrew Simms from Newry in his 2.0ltr Mk11 Escort with his navigator Andrew Knox
Jim Feenan and Barry McParland in the Formula Karting Escort WRC Rory Byrne of Modern Tyres Service hopes to have his Mitsubishi Evo repaired and ready for the rally after it suffered damage recently on the Circuit of Ireland event. Damian Toner in his 2.0ltr Mk11 Escort
Photographs courtesy of Mark Breen - www.markbreenphotography.com Rally Map
Rally schedule VEHICLE & DOCUMENT SCRUTINY Friday 3 June 18.30 to 21.00 Modern Tyre Service, Carnbane Ind Estate, Newry Saturday 4 June 07.00 to 08.00 RALLY START Start Modern Tyres 08:30 Service 08:45 SS1 Camlough 1 08:58 SS2 Wee Gullion 1 09:19 SS3 Big Gullion 1 09:28 Service 10:10 SS4 Camlough 2 11:08 SS5 Wee Gullion 2 11:29 SS6 Big Gullion 2 11:38 Service 12:20 SS7 Camlough 3 13:18 SS8 Wee Gullion 3 13:39 SS9 Big Gullion 3 13:48 SS10 Big Gullion Reversed 1 15:43 SS11 Camlough Reversed 1 16:06 SS12 Big Gullion Reversed 2 17:43 SS13 Camlough Reversed 2 18:06 RALLY FINISH Final Regroup 18:25 Finish Carrickdale Hotel 18:33 For further information see www.nadmc.net