. @martymccormack “Brimming with Confidence” ahead of @UlsterRally

Marty McCormack and the TigerRisk Rally Team heads to Ulster Rally this weekend brimming with confidence. The event is Marty’s home international rally and following on from a string of superb results, spirits are high heading into the Derry based event.

Following a heavy crash on the Ypres Rally in Belgium, Marty had to use a replacement car for the next round of the British Rally Championship, the Nicky Grist Stages Rally. A Ford Fiesta R5 was sourced for the mixed surface event, but conditions were not ideal for Marty; “For the Nicky Grist we used a Ford Fiesta R5 as the Skoda was being repaired. I have driven the Fiesta R5 a number of times before, but I never gelled with it. I’m not sure what exactly it is but I have never felt comfortable in it. We got through the event and finished 4th but I will be much happier to be back in the Skoda for the Ulster!”

Thanks to McGeehan Motorsport, the Skoda has been fully rebuilt and Marty used the recent Tyrone Stages Rally to shake down the car. The TigerRisk machine crossed the finish line of the event in an excellent 2nd overall. The event was held on stages which are very similar in character to what can be expected at the Ulster Rally. Marty was very happy at the finish of the Tyrone Rally saying; “It was a very good event for us. It was great to get back into the Skoda and get back into the rhythm. I was slow starting off, but we took 4 fastest stage times in the afternoon, which was encouraging. I had my good friend Barney Mitchell on the notes, he did a superb job and it was really good fun!”

The John Mulholland Motors Ulster Rally gets underway on Friday the 18th of August at 14:00 with the Holly Hill test. This is followed by 5 stages, some traversed in darkness, to add to the challenge. Another 8 stages follow on Saturday with the event totalling over 130 miles of competitive distance over the 2 days. The route is broadly similar to last years event, where Marty claimed 6th overall competing in the TigerRisk Skoda Fabia S2000 so spirits are high heading into the rally. “Last year went very well, but it was impossible to keep with the R5’s cars, we still held our own and got a good result. The Kumho tyres worked very well last year and we are hoping they give us an edge this year!”

Keep up to date on the event on Marty’s social media channels. Twitter @martymccormack and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marty.mccormack1. Marty is competing this season with the support of Tiger Risk Partners and P. McCormack and Sons Ltd.