MULTIPLE CHAMPION SNIJERS WILL BE CELEBRITY GUEST AT DÉJÀ VU DONEGAL

Seven times Belgium and Dutch Rally Champion in 1992 and European Rally Champion in 1994 Patrick Snijers will be a celebrity guest at Déjà Vu Donegal, the event that is giving it’s support to the Donegal Hospice, on the 30 – 31 August.

Although Patrick never rallied in Donegal he turned many heads and hearts on his five appearances at the Lurgan Park Rally and his one outing on the Toshiba Rally in the Antrim forests.

The debonair Belgium has recorded an astonishing 104 wins in his long rallying career including a runner up spot in the World Rally Championship Rallye Sanremo in 1993. He first got the attention of the Irish fans in 1988 when he won the Manx International, a counting round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, driving his distinctive BMW M3 in its Bastos/Castrol livery and incidentally on Northern Ireland plates.

“Patrick became a resident in Lurgan Park between 1995 and ’99 showing us just what a professional he was as he adapted to that highly specialist event and won it on his third attempt in 1998.” remembers Plum Tyndall who recorded all the Belgium’s drives for RPM Motorsport
He won in ’98 but it was his battle with Gwyndaff Evans the previous year that gave the Park pundits a day that they are unlikely to forget. Both were in almost identical WRC Escort Cosworths, with Gwyndaff’s having a slight edge, as it was a works entry.

The Welsh driver led by 3 seconds after the first 3 stages but a half spin on stage 6 left the two professionals on equal terms going into the last stage. At the end of the test they had both recorded a time of 1m.51.7s. with Gwyndaff getting the result on count back having recorded more fastest stage time during the afternoon.

As always Willie McKee, who organised the sponsorship that helped to bring Patrick to Ireland, was by his side in the same car that had brought them so close to winning the year before,
when they finally sipped the champagne.

Patrick will be joined by a host of former Donegal winners and the ‘First Lady’ of Irish Motorsport, Rosemary Smith. Rosemary, who drove a F1 Renault on her 80th. birthday, will be in a Sunbeam Tiger in ‘The Hills’, one of two of the classic 1960s V8 engine sportscars in the event.

DÉJÀ VU DONEGAL WEEKEND FORMAT.

Friday 31st, August
2.30 – 5.30pm Registration – Ulster Tyres, Stranrolar.
8.30 – 10.30pm Welcome Reception – Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey

Saturday 30th, August
10.00am 120 mile run. Start – Jackson’s Hotel
Lunch Halt – Singing Pub, Atlantic Drive
3.00pm The Ramelton Rumble – Ramelton river front
7.00pm Gala Dinner – Jackson’s Hotel

For further details contact:
Alan (Plum) Tyndall Tel. 0044 7887827150 email: alan@rpm-motorsport.com
58 Edentrillick Rd. Hillsborough. Co. Down BT26 6PG