23/01/07 - The 2007 MSA Pacenotes Northern Ireland Rally Championship launch took place this morning (Tuesday 23 January) at Superdrive Motorsports Centre in Portadown. Many of Northern Ireland’s leading rally drivers attended the launch, providing members of the media thrilling passenger rides in their rally cars!

Pacenotes has confirmed its continued involvement with the N.I. series. The rally newspaper, which is the country’s best-selling rally publication, is now in its fourth year of sponsoring Northern Ireland’s premier rally championship.

Pacenotes publishing editor, Simon Mooney, said: “Everyone at Pacenotes is delighted to be associated with the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. This is now our fourth season sponsoring the series. We see it as an integral part of helping the growth of Pacenotes and it’s our way of putting something back into the sport.”

Last year, Pacenotes launched in Great Britain and provides the Northern Ireland championship with exposure across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as on home ground.

GROUP N AND TWO WHEEL DRIVE SPONSORSHIP

Jim Crozier of Sunoco Fuels has agreed to sponsor the Group N production category of this year’s series. The highest placed registered Group N competitor at the finish of each championship round will receive a 24 litre drum of fuel!

Meanwhile, Superdrive Motorsports Centre has agreed their continued sponsorship of the two wheel drive category. To be eligible for the prize, two wheel drive competitors must be registered for the championship and carry Superdrive decals on their cars.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA INFORMATION/PHOTOGRAPHS

Following on from the success of the 2006 season, Jonathan MacDonald of MediaJAM will continue to provide ‘free copy’ to the press. Pre-event and post-event press releases will be distributed via e-mail to members of the media, along with photographs which can be used free of charge. If you are not already part of the championship mailing list, contact Jonathan on 07989 283055 or e-mail media@nirally.com.

The championship website, www.nirally.com, will continue to act at the main source of information for both competitors and fans. This provides a ‘one-stop shop’ for all championship news, results and general information. Competitors will be able to download regulations and entry forms through the site while members of the media will have access to entry lists, results, news and high-resolution images.

Accredited members of the media wishing to access high-res photographs must apply for a login ID and password by e-mailing media@nirally.com. Print media may use these images free of charge. Championship points will be available through the website within one week of the final results being issued for each event.

COOL FM DJ SONYA MAC READY
FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP ASSAULT!

Cool FM DJ Sonya Mac also confirmed today that she has a new Harper Rally Preparation built Ford Ka for the 2007 season. Sonya will contest the Northern Ireland Championship, as well as selected rounds of the PHP Clubman's Championship, with Superdrive’s Safron Thomas calling the notes.

"Competing last year in the pink Ka was an eye opening experience!" the Cool FM DJ said. "I’d never driven a rally car competitively before last May. I’ve learned so much over the last seven months and I cant wait to get out on the stages this year in the new Philip White Tyres Ka."

2007 PACENOTES N.I. CHAMPIONSHIP DATES

R1: Eurocables Stages (Kirkistown) - 17 February (North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club)
R2: Bishopscourt Stages (Bishopscourt) - 17 March (Ballynahinch and District MC)
R3: Easter Stages (L/Derry) - 7/8 April (Ulster Automobile Club)
R4: Tour of the Sperrins (Maghera) - 19 May (Magherafelt and District MC)
R5: Mourne Rally (Newry) - 09 June (Newry And District MC)
R6: Dogleap Rally (Limavady) - 04 August (Maiden City MC)
R7: Lakeland Stages (Enniskillen) - 08 September (Enniskillen MC)
R8: Bushwhacker Rally (Omagh) - 22 September (Omagh MC)
R9: Down Rally (Newcastle) - 20 October (Rathfriland MC)
R10: Glens of Antrim (Ballymena) - 03 November (Mid-Antrim MC)

Roll of honour (N.I. Drivers’ Champions 1988 - present)

1988 Kenny McKinstry (Banbridge)
1989 Kenny McKinstry (Banbridge)
1990 Mervyn Hill (Carryduff)
1991 Mervyn Hill (Carryduff)
1992 Mervyn Hill (Carryduff)
1993 Stephen Emerson
1994 Stephen Mawhinney (Ballyclare)
1995 George Robinson (Ballymena)
1996 Stephen Harron (Enniskillen)
1997 Sean Haveron (Larne)
1998 John McKeown (Ballymoney)
1999 Denis Biggerstaff (Kinallen, Dromara)
2000 Robin Phillips (Carryduff)
2001 Denis Biggerstaff (Kinallen, Dromara)
2002 Derek McGarrity (Glengormley)
2003 Eugene Donnelly (Maghera)
2004 Kevin Lynch/ (Dungiven)
2005 Kevin Lynch (Dungiven)
2006 Kevin Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Dungiven)

2007 MSA “PHP ARCHITECTS” NORTHERN IRELAND CLUBMAN’S TARMAC STAGE RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Clubman’s championship is the sister series to the MSA Pacenotes backed championship. These rounds are separate to the Pacenotes backed series and only two wheel drive cars are eligible with all seven rounds taking place on sealed surfaces.

A new points scoring system this year means competitors will no longer be awarded overall points based on their class positions. Instead, overall points will be awarded based on their overall positions, similar to the Pacenotes championship.

2007 PHP ARCHITECTS CLUBMAN CHAMPIONSHIP DATES

R1: Ballypatrick Stages - 03 February - Mid-Antrim MC
R2: Bishopscourt Stages - 13 July - Ballynahinch and District MC
R3: Sunset Rally - 28 July - Magherafelt and District MC
R4: LaFarge Cement Stages - 18 August - Cookstown MC
R5: Aghadowey Multi-use - 15 September - Maiden City MC
R6: EMC Clubman Rally - 06 October - Enniskillen MC
R7: Gullion Stages - 27 October - Newry and District MC

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