Issued 24th May 2012...
Hankook Tyres Ireland have today announced their title sponsorship of the 2012 Down Rally. Organised by the Rathfriland Motor Club, on Saturday 7th of July the 2012 Down Rally will take place for the first time on closed roads.

 Eight stages comprising of 70 competitive miles will test a large entry of competitors on what is just one of three closed road events included in the 2012 calendar for the Carryduff Forklift MSA NI Rally Championship. The event will also act as a round of the Fiesta Sport Trophy Ireland.

Commenting on the announcement, Hankook Ireland managing director said “Hankook Ireland is delighted to be associated with the Rathfriland Motor Club
as title sponsor of the Down Rally. We are very pleased for Andy Gilmore and the Club that they have been granted a license to run their Rally as a closed road event this year.”

 Rathfriland Motor Club’s Andy Gilmore, who is Clerk of the Course for the rally commented:  “We are delighted to welcome Hankook on board for this year’s rally. Along with Niall Murray, Hankook have put a huge amount of effort and support into rallying and all types of Motorsport over the past number of years, not just in northern Ireland, but throughout Europe. It is an honor for us to have Hankook as our title sponsor, we look forward to working
together for the benefit of the brand and the rally”.

Based in Castlewellan, rally fans can look forward to central service area and ceremonial start & finishes in the heart of the town. The surrounding 8 competitive tarmac stages will test Irelands premier Rally Teams on what promises to be one of the most exciting events of the 2012 Championship.

ENDS

Rathfriland MC's Michael Gilmore missed out on a dream win on his first outing in a WRC car.

Michael was co-driving for Kenny McKinstry at the Maze Long Kesh Rally and the pair led the event right up to the final stage when they where pipped at the post by Kevin Barrett...    

Rathfriland Motor Club's event dates have been confirmed for 2012...

Click HERE for more details...

Kenny Wylie won the 2011 East Coast Customs Spelga Pass Hillclimb in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo with a time of 49.0 seconds. 2010 winner David Francis finished in second in his 2wd Escort Cosworth with Conor Lavery third in the BMW M3. Conor Lavery and Trevor Lancashire were first and second in the 2wd Rally Car class and receive a free entry to the 2012 Down Rally... For a full set of results, click HERE...
For the latest updated photo gallery, to include Spelga Pass, click HERE...
Photo by Alister Jackson

Rathfriland MC has been awarded a Road Closing order by the ANICC Stage Rallies Committee for the 2012 Down Rally. Only ten Road Closing Orders are issued each year by local Government, seven being used for Motorcycle Road Racing with Rallying getting the other three. Traditionally the Circuit of Ireland and the Ulster Rally use up two of these with the other being used for the Down Rally this year. Rathfriland MC members are already well advanced in their plans for the 2012 event which will include eight tarmac stages in and around the local area.