DONNELLY GROUP TO HOST RALLY LEGEND JIMMY MCRAE
The Donnelly Group has a special treat for Rallying fans ahead of this year’s Circuit of Ireland, as Jimmy McRae will bring his Vauxhall Firenza to the Donnelly Group Vauxhall showroom in Dungannon for an evening of nostalgia on Wednesday 1 April.
The seven-time Circuit of Ireland winner and rallying legend will talk candidly about his incredible rallying career and hopes for this Easter’s Circuit of Ireland Rally, in which he will compete with co-driver Ian Grindrod in the 1970s V8 Vauxhall Firenza.
Hosted in Donnelly Group Vauxhall’s state-of-the-art showroom, fans and young and old will hear stories regaled, be able to view the Vauxhall Firenza and ask questions in an event compered by well-known motorsport commentator and producer Plum Tyndall.
Terence Donnelly, Executive Chairman of the Donnelly Group said:“I, like so many of our customers and the Irish motoring public, have followed and enjoyed and Rallying for many years. Jimmy McRae epitomises everything that is great about the sport and I am delighted he has taken time from his busy schedule to meet customers and fans.”
As head of the most famous Rallying family in the world, Jimmy is not only the most successful driver in the Circuit of Ireland’s history but also holds the record for the most victories in British Rally Championship with a total of five.
Terence Donnelly, who drove to a class win in the Irish Rally Championship some years ago, continued:“Many Rallying fans will remember Jimmy’s first victory in the Circuit of Ireland in 1980 in a Vauxhall Chevette HSR and his thrilling battles with drivers like Billy Coleman and Russell Brookes down the years.“The Vauxhall Firenza that Jimmy will bring along is a 1970s classic with a V8 engine that produced an incredible sound and those attending can compare the classic Vauxhall with the incredible modern range we have on display here in Dungannon.
“An evening with Jimmy McRae is sure to whet the appetite ahead of this year’s Circuit of Ireland Rally and I can’t wait to welcome old and new friends.”
The event will begin at 7pm at Donnelly Group Vauxhall, based at the Group’s M1 complex on the Ballygawley Road in Dungannon.
The Donnelly Group will lay on finger food and refreshments for all those attending. If you plan to come along please RSVP via rsvp@donnellygroup.co.uk or call 0448772 7888.
The three-day 2015 Circuit of Ireland Rally will get underway on Thursday 2 April when Europe’s top drivers including Jimmy McRae, start from Belfast’s City Hall.
