RHD R5 cars to compete on the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

Jan 24, 2019

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Back as far as April 2018 the TROA undertook to investigate the avenues available to facilitate RHD R5 cars to compete on the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Initially contact was made with the manufacturers to enquire if they were interested in homologating RHD cars and the responses were all negative. Direct contact was then sent to the FIA looking for special dispensation to allow RHD derivative R5 cars to take part in both the events and the ITRC, again the response was negative.

Both the manufacturers and the FIA were contacted again later in 2018, the result remained as before.

In December, following a request by TROA, Motorsport Ireland agreed to provide a new class specifically for RHD derivative R5 cars to compete on Tarmac Championship Rounds which on the back of that request being granted, TROA have taken the decision for these cars to be eligible to score points in the ITRC, subject to the criteria and conditions as outlined below.

The decision to allow the R5 RHD cars to eligible to score points was also influenced by the overwhelming support from competitors currently driving R5 LHD cars.

Unfortunately, because the R5 RHD cars will be competing in the national section of the ITRC rounds they will be unable to win the outright rally overall as the events, due to their International status have to adhere to FIA regulations, so from an ITRC perspective the following compromise has been agreed:

• R5 RHD derivative cars will (under class 24 rules) will be allowed to compete in the National Section (only) of an International event.
• R5 RHD derivative cars will not be able to compete in the International section (so not eligible to win event overall.
• R5 RHD derivative cars competing in the national section will be competing for class awards only – they will not be eligible to win the National event overall or score Tarmac Championship points in the Modified section.
• R5 RHD cars competing in the national section WILL be eligible to score points in the main international championship.

The TROA recognise that this is not the perfect resolution, however it is a move forward. (considering a couple of months ago the RHD derivative R5 cars couldn’t have competed in their events)

The TROA would also like to recognise the time and effort of the colleagues who spent hours of their own time trying to overcome these difficult issues. The TROA are also grateful to Motorsport Ireland who have given their wholehearted support in pursuit of a resolution.

Paddy Flanagan_____________________

Paddy Flanagan

Manager,

I.T.R.C.

2019 ITRC Calendar

Main Championship:

• Round 1: Galway Rally     10^th February 2019
• Round 2: West Cork Rally      16^th/17^th March 2019
• Round 3: UAC Easter Stages     19^th/20^th April 2019
• Round 4: Rally of the Lakes    4^th/5^th May 2019
• Round 5: Donegal International Rally    21^st/22^nd/23^rd June 2019
• Round 6: Ulster Rally     16^th/17^th August 2019
• Round 7: Cork 20 International Rally     28^th/29^th September 2019

 

Modified Championship:

• Round 1: Galway Rally     10^th February 2019
• Round 2: West Cork Rally      16^th/17^th March 2019
• Round 3: UAC Easter Stages     19^th/20^th April 2019
• Round 4: Rally of the Lakes    4^th/5^th May 2019
• Round 5: Donegal International Rally    21^st/22^nd/23^rd June 2019
• Round 6: Ulster Rally     16^th/17^th August 2019
• Round 7: Cork 20 International Rally     28^th/29^th September 2019

 

Historic Championship:

• Round 1: Killarney Historic Rally 1^st December 2018
• Round 2: Galway Rally 10^th February 2019
• Round 3: West Cork Rally 16^th/17^th March 2019
• Round 4: UAC Easter Stages 19^th/20^th April 2019
• Round 5: Rally of the Lakes 4^th/5^th May 2019
• Round 6: Donegal International Rally 21^st/22^nd/23^rd June 2019
• Round 7: Ulster Rally 16^th/17^th August 2019
• Round 8: Cork 20 International Rally   28^th/29^th September 2019

 

Junior Championship:

• Round 1: Galway Rally     10^th February 2019
• Round 2: West Cork Rally      16^th/17^th March 2019
• Round 3: UAC Easter Stages     19^th/20^th April 2019
• Round 4: Rally of the Lakes    4^th/5^th May 2019
• Round 5: Donegal International Rally    21^st/22^nd/23^rd June 2019
• Round 6: Ulster Rally     16^th/17^th August 2019
• Round 7: Cork 20 International Rally     28^th/29^th September 2019

 

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