2024 Bluebird Care Galway Summer Rally which takes place on Sunday next: Aoife Raftery in Poland
The countdown is on to the 2024 Bluebird Care Galway Summer Rally which takes place on Sunday next, September 1st. Galway Motor Club are pleased to announce a strong entry for the event consisting of more than 160 crews. The Moffett siblings are the top two seeds with Josh heading the list, partnered by Keith Moriarty in the Citroen, and Sam with James O’Reilly on the notes competing in a Hyundai. Eddie Doherty & Tom Murphy at three have been very impressive this year as they continue to gain experience in the Skoda, while Daniel Cronin & Donnchadh Burke (VW Polo) at four have been very consistent in the national championship this year. James Ford & Neil Shanks are regular visitors from the UK in their Citroen and have set some very quick times during the year. Among the other top 4WD contenders are Gary, Kiernan, Declan & Michael Boyle, Paul Barrett & Steve Wood.
The 2WD entry is also impressive with the Darrian duo of Kevin Gallagher & James Stafford set for another tussle on the stages. They will be pushed hard by the likes of Conor Murphy, Daniel McKenna, Kevin Eves, Jonathan Pringle, David Moffett & Marty Toner who are all well capable of beating the Darrian’s. Some of the aforementioned crews will also be eyeing the Group 4 Fabrications King of the Mark 2 prize, so it should be a great battle all round. As always there are a large number of Galway Motor Club crews taking part with a view to claiming the Conroy Cup.
The stages are a loop of three stages to be attempted three times just west of Ballinasloe, with the opening test at Poppyhill near Aughrim scheduled for 9:20am. Service is at Ballinasloe Mart before stage 1, and after stages 3 and 6. The first car is due in at Parc Ferme which is located at Poolboy Industrial Estate Ballinasloe at approximately 16.25.
Normally Galway Motor Club member Aoife Raftery would be competing on the Galway Summer Rally. However, this year she is one of fifteen drivers selected as a finalist for the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development initiative. This is a programme aimed at increasing female participation in the sport at the highest level. Following the training camp in Poland, the fifteen candidates will be reduced to three who will then compete in the WRC’s Central European Rally in October.
Aoife said “This means so much and is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will give it my best shot. To represent my country on the world stage is an incredible honour. I’m delighted to be selected for this amazing programme”.
Joe Donoghue, President of Galway Motor Club said “Congratulations to Aoife on making the final fifteen of this exciting initiative. We are very proud of her achievements to date as a Galway Motor Club member, and we wish her the best of luck and I’m sure she will continue to do GMC and Irish Rallying proud”.
