Ulster Rally on the Road to Success with Modern Tyres
Ireland’s largest retail tyre company will once again be the headline sponsor of the 2024 Ulster Rally, which takes place this Friday and Saturday (August 16/17).
This is the fourth consecutive year that Modern Tyres is backing the closed-road competition, which proudly hosts the penultimate round of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, which Keith Cronin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) currently leads from Matt Edwards (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and defending champion Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2).
Welcoming the continued support of Modern Tyres for one of the largest outdoor sporting events in the province, Ulster Rally clerk of the course Wayne Turkington said: “I am thrilled that Modern Tyres is returning as title sponsor for another year.
“Modern Tyres already has a strong connection to local motorsport thought their support of teams and drivers, and have the same positive, can-do attitude that guarantees success both on and off the stages.”
Wayne added: “The backing of Modern Tyres, and the use of their state-of-the-art facilities at Carnbane Industrial Estate in Newry for scrutiny, service and the all-important finish ramp celebrations, provides the foundation for me and my team to seamlessly plan and run an event of the Ulster Rally’s size and calibre.”
The news was confirmed at a special event where Turkington was joined by Jim Murphy, the Manager of Modern Tyres’ Newry branch, Northern Ireland Motor Club Chairman David Gray, and team-mates Malcolm Johnson and Sam Magill who will be competing at the 47th Ulster Rally.
This weekend’s Ulster Rally will comprise ten special stages totalling over eighty competitive miles, with these based in and around the Newry area. The action begins on Saturday morning with an opening loop of two stages comprising ‘Shinn Bridge 1’ and ‘Banbridge North 1’ before cars return Carnbane Industrial Estate headquarters.
After the second loop of three tests, crews will again make their way back to service, with a regroup planned in-between stages six and seven – ‘Shinn Bridge 2’ and ‘Banbridge North 2’ – at Banbridge Civic Building on the Downshire Road from 2pm. Here, rally goers can see the cars up close and meet the crews.
The fourth and final loop will comprise timed runs over ‘Kilrea Hill 2’, ‘Tyrone’s Ditches 2’ and ‘Babylon Hill 2’ before the winners cross the finish ramp at 5.30pm in Newry.
Further information on spectator viewing points, as well as a time and distance schedule and full seeded entry list for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, is now available from the official event website (www.ulsterrally.com).
Photo L-R – Wayne Turkington Clerk of the Course, Malcolm Johnson, Sam Magill, Jim Murphy and David Gray