Dealer Opel Team Ireland’s Marie Maloney Joins Deja Vu Entry List!

Marie Maloney Callanan from Dublin, former Irish Ladies Rally Champion and her husband Tom, are the latest entrants in Deja Vu Monte Carlo.

A member of the famous Dealer Opel Team Ireland squad, Maria competed regularly in the 1980s with co-driver Catherine Treacy and they finished 32nd overall on the 1984 Rothmans Circuit of Ireland in an Opel Corsa SR. She also drove an iconic rear wheel drive Kadett GT/E for the team, and also a front wheel drive Kadett 1.3 SR.

She returned to the stages in 1992 in a  Lotus Ford Cortina, just missing out on a top ten finish in the Historic Circuit of Ireland. Her husband Tom Callanan is an avid motorsport fan and is a Director of the Irish Veteran and Vintage Car club (IVVCC).

The Monte is the most iconic rally in the world. Winners such as Paddy Hopkirk became household names. When Paddy won the Monte in a Mini Cooper it became the in car, even the Beatles had to have one.

Déjà vu Monte Carlo will drive over famous special stages such as St. Bonnet le Froid, Le Burzet, Sisteron, and the most famous stage in the world, the Col de Turini.It will be a leisurely run with no timing and no pressure. Navigation will be simple using a combination of SATNAV and tulip diagrams. There will be plenty of time to take in the stupendous alpine views and gasp in awe at some of the horrendous drops that the drivers had to navigate on roads covered in ice and snow. You can start whatever time you wish in the morning, the only caveat being that you will have to be on time if you want to join the group for dinners and the lunch in Monaco.

Above all, it will a time of great craic and camaraderie and all for a good cause, profits will go to Rally Marshals, without whom there would be no rallying. For further information and entry form please visit www.dejavu-motorsport.com

Dealer Opel Team Ireland team picture with thanks to Danny Skehan