Rory takes on the world
[20 January 2009]
PRESS RELEASE
Rory takes on the best in the world
November 15, 2007 will go down in Motorsport history. On a cold and frosty night a 10,000 stong sell out crowd gathered at Stormont to watch the first stage of ’s first ever round of the World Rally Championship, Rally
. Rally ’07 brought an estimated 48 million euro to the local economy; there were also 250,000 spectators who thronged the stages to make this one of ’s biggest motorsport events.
Rally Ireland’09 comes to life on the 28 January when the action kicks off in Enniskillen with a Ceremonial start in the town centre were spectators will be able to get right up close to the cars and drivers. The first stage of the rally is on Friday morning and for local man Rory Byrne from Warrenpoint it’s an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best drivers in the world including current World Champion Sebastein Loeb, along with Mikko Hirvanen and Jari-Matti Latvala. The rally then tackles stages in counties Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone,
Sligo , Donegal and Roscommon. The rally finishes in
Sligo on Sunday at 3 o’clock.
Rory has only taken up rallying in the last few years and has never competed on an international rally, although he has enjoyed many successes on a local level. Competing on this event is the highest level you can go to in rallying and will be his biggest challenge yet. Last year he had to watch from the sidelines as his brother Connor had his opportunity to compete with the best in the world but unfortunately mechanical failure on the last day ended his hopes of a finish on this prestigious event.
Rory is hoping for a good finish as he takes to the wheel with his co-driver Jeremy Patterson who works alongside Rory in his Modern Tyre Service business. He will be using his Group N Mitsubishi Evo 9 which he has used to good effect over the last two years on the Midlands East Rally Championship finishing second and third. He is hoping that a good steady run will be rewarded with a good finish in Group N. “I’ll let the top boys battle away and I wont be expecting to be on their pace but I am hoping that the rest make mistakes instead of me,” he said. I’m looking forward to it, and always knew when it came to town again I would be doing it. Just the thrill and the buzz to be part of it is unbelievable and it’s too big an opportunity to miss.” The car will be prepared and run on the event by CMS Motorsport based in Dungannon.
ENDS.
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