Circuit of Kerry to launch this Sunday.

Kerry Motor Club will officially launch the 2015 Fel’s Point Hotel in Association with Advanced Cleaning Services Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally with a special event at the Fel’s Point Hotel on Sunday.

The 41st running of the Tralee-based club’s flagship event will take place on Sunday April 19.

Clerk of the course Tom Barrett said: Those who have competed in Kerry over the last 40 years knows only too well the quality of the Rallying, the warm Hospitality and the Mighty Craic which is all part of a Kerry Rally weekend. Fel’s Point Hotel will continue as main sponsor for 2015 and I would like to welcome Advanced Cleaning Services as Associate sponsor and to thank both companies for their continued interest and support. For 2015 the event will once again be Round 2 of the 2015 Overall, Junior and Historic Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, the longest running and most successful championship in Irish rallying.”

Headquarters for the event will be the Four Star Fel’s Point Hotel in Tralee. To help competitors save costs, there will be just two stages to recce, all in a compact route making up the six-stage event.

Mr Barrett added: “The rally will be run over two former Circuit of Ireland/Circuit of Munster Classic Stages with low road millage, Rally Headquarters, Pairc Feirme ,The Service Area are centralised in the same location adjacent to the Fel’s Point Hotel. Scrutiny is just minutes away at the Kingdom Crash Repair Centre in the Monavalley Industrial Estate. Competitiors who retire on any of the first 3 stages will be able to avail of “Rally 2” rules, which allow competitors re-join the rally after retirement and get value for their entry fee. The entry fee will be €475, Junior and Historic competitors pay €295 for the first 4 stages. If Junior and Historic competitors wish to pay €475 they will have the opportunity to have their Junior rally decided on the first 4 stages and be part of the overall rally over the 6 stages.”

For 2015 the club has decided to support the clubman competitors who make up the meat of the entry. To this regard the club is offering an unique prize fund of €1500 to be divided equally between the drivers of the first Ford sponsored by Lyons Ford of Limerick and Nenagh, the first Toyota sponsored by Kellihers Toyota.ie and the first Honda sponsored by Relihans Car Dismantlers and Car Spares, to finish the six-stage 100km event. This prize fund is aimed directly at club drivers and competitors using World Rally Cars are not permitted to enter this separate race.

A separate King/Queen of the Stages competition sponsored by Aherns BMW.ie and WCP Services will also be incorporated into the event. Crews will get three chances to set the fastest time on each stage. The car with the fastest time of the day on each stage will walk away with the King/Queen trophy and they will leave Tralee with bragging rights that will last until the 2016 event.

A ceremonial start will take place in the centre of Tralee on Saturday before the event. Southwest Motorsport Rally Rescue as well as the Irish Red Cross Ambulance Service will do an demonstration of a road traffic accident scene and what is involved in the safe removal of passengers from the damaged vehicles.

Mr Barrett added: “Sunday’s event, which takes place between 2 and 5pm will rally enthusiasts and fans the opportunity to join, become a member and be more involved with a very active and long established motor club.

It is also an opportunity for our sponsors and advertisers to display their ware and hopefully get some business.  It will be an ideal opportunity to reminisce over 40 plus years of rallying in the Kingdom.”

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