The annual International Rallycross event at Mondello Park this Sunday (Oct 14th 2007)could be the biggest the circuit has seen for many years, with star drivers, new cars, a huge entry and a revised circuit all set to add to the attraction of this already extremely popular event. Points will be up for grabs in the British Rallycross Championship and two Irish championships with the added attraction for the local Supercar drivers of also taking on some European visitors.
For the first time since the early nineties Mondello Park's rallycross circuit will be graced by entries form Europe with two drivers making the long trip to Ireland to battle with the British and Irish championship stars. One of the biggest names in the history of World Rallying and European Rallycross, Per Eklund, will be the star attraction as he brings his Saab Supercar to Co. Kildare. The Swede will not be alone in driving one of the Swedish cars as he will also run Irish Rallying legend Andrew Nesbitt in his second chassis. The other European entrant will be French driver Olivier Anne who will give George Tracey's new Citroen C4 Rallycrosser its debut.
The Supercar entry is already up to a phenomenal fifteen cars with the possibility of more still to come. All of the Irish front runners will be present with championship regulars, Tracey, Dermot Carnegie and John McCluskey joined by the returning Tommy Graham and former Rallycar class winner Eddie Kinirons, who steps up to the Supercar ranks for the first time. Pitted against the locals will be the top UK Rallycrosser's including Pat Doran, Andrew Jordan, Mike Manning and Steve Mundy and the two Europeans.
This Sunday's event sees a number of changes to Irish Rallycross which switches back to being a winter championship. This means that Sunday will not only be a round of the British and round five of the 2007 Irish championship, but also round one of the new '07/'08 series. The circuit will also see changes, with the removal of the unpopular rallycross three from its layout. The track will now contain just two loose sections with cars turning right at the end of the second and heading straight to Dunlop corner on the Tarmac. this will introduce an extremely fast right hander and extra overtaking places to the circuit.
The popularity of Rallycross continues to climb with competitors and entries up in all classes bringing the numbers competing over the one hundred mark for the first time in a decade. This Sunday’s event will be a real treat for the enthusiastic Rallycross crowd with the additional entries, the new look circuit and the return of the Europeans all breathing new life into the already exciting Rallycross format.
TIMETABLE
09:00
Practice Commences
09:45
Practice Finishes
10:00
Heats Run 1
11:30
Heats Run 2
13:00
Lunch Break
13:45
Heats Run 3
15:15
RX150 Buggy Demonstration
15:30
Finals
17:00
Prizegiving