Rally stage maps?

[up-the-dubs]

Hey folks, not too frequent a visitor to these parts but was wondering if anyone could help.

A bit of background..... Rally Ireland is on in 2 weeks and is in the final applications for a WRC event for next year (competing against USA, South Africa, Jordan, Poland, Norway, Czech Republic and Portugal) and is being billed as an all-tarmac partner event to rally GB. The FIA are attending this year to asses their ability to host the event.

So, there was I thinking the Paddy Rally was just a bunch of 'aul fellas farting around in escorts! It appears I may be wrong . As it turns out, Ireland has the highest number of WRC cars in any country in Europe! Seems to be quite a bit better than I thought. So a plan is hatching for my first attendance to a rally and a bit of learning in case we get the WRC next year, I'll be a bit better prepared.

So, my question.... How do I find out where to go? Where the stages are? Stop overs etc. etc. etc. It's in the North West around Sligo/Donegal which is great as a friend has a house up there, but I can't for the life of me find any web sites that have maps on it. How does one follow or plan to follow a rally? Surely there must be somewhere that tells fans where to go? Or is there something stupid that I'm missing?

Sorry for the big post and all the questions, I've been searching for over half an hour and came up blank

Cheers,
Brian.

[GarrettMacD]

Try starting with Motorsport Ireland on Dawson Street. Every year I have to renew my licence through them (I am an Irish citizen living in England) and they are very knowledgable and helpful. Very efficient too. If they are after FIA status there is bound to be someone at M.I. who's already on the case. Might be worth having a chat with them.

Also, if you want to try contacting a current Irish/International rally driver, doesn't Austin McHale have a plant hire firm in Leixlip??? I would assume he would have a idea about the stages, he just did the Monte Carlo rally a few weeks ago, as did his son (in separate cars) The firm is called (amazingly)... McHale Plant Hire!

And yes, Ireland does have some of the best ex-WRC cars in Europe!

[up-the-dubs]

Cheers Garrett, excellent starting point anyway!

[Mikey G]

Could try the Irish Rallying website, here is an article on the site to do with Rally Ireland:-
www.irish-rallying.com/article.php?article_id=051026/173555

>> Edited by Mikey G on Wednesday 22 February 17:30

[up-the-dubs]

Mikey G said:

Could try the Irish Rallying website, here is an article on the site to do with Rally Ireland:- www.irish-rallying.com/article.php?article_id=051026/173555 >> Edited by Mikey G on Wednesday 22 February 17:30

Had a look at them earlier, nothing on any site that I can see about roads/routes. Have sent them a mail already.

Cheers.

[grahamdance]

Go to a newsagents and buy "Pacenotes". Its the Irish version of Motoring News, its meant to be quite good. It should have some information in it.

[up-the-dubs]

grahamdance said:

Go to a newsagents and buy "Pacenotes". Its the Irish version of Motoring News, its meant to be quite good. It should have some information in it.

Cool, thanks. Will look out for that.

[up-the-dubs]

Got an e-mail back

The nice lady from Rally Ireland said:

The official rally programme will go on sale the week before the event and should be available in all major newsagents. This will have all the information you need.

As a guy on an Irish forum suggested, nothing published to stop illegal recce'ing and boy racers having a go! Thanks guys .

Now.... where's my whiskey flasks.....