Engines ready to roar at Rally of the Lakes

THE most spectacular rally stages in Europe will provide the ultimate test for competitors in this year’s Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes which will ensure a real bonanza for Killarney, Co Kerry on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Now in its 38th year and growing in stature and reputation, Killarney and District Motor Club is currently adding the finishing touches to the exciting programme of events which will see thousands of enthusiasts flock to the town to watch many of the big stars of rallying in action.

The Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes is firmly established as one of Ireland’s premier events and it is estimated to be worth in excess of €10 million to the local economy. TV coverage alone is beamed to 38 countries with an estimated 30 million household subscribers.

Clerk of the course for the second year running, Anthony O’Connor, remarked: “This exposure is fantastic for Killarney and fantastic for the Rally of the Lakes. It hugely increases our attraction as an international event for competitors and spectators”.

He added that the most famous classic stages will await participants and the demanding, technical and challenging route will require every competitor to perform to their full ability.

In excess of 120 entries have already been received in the various categories – with quality matching quantity – and entries are still being accepted online.

The 2017 Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes will get underway with a ceremonial start in Killarney town centre at 7.00pm on Friday, April 28.

The real action will commence early on the Saturday morning with the iconic Moll’s Gap stage, followed by the Tim Healy Pass and centralised service on Castletownbere Pier.

Then the rally will head out on the famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the Healy Pass and into service for a well-deserved break. Cods Head and Ardgroom are repeated and there will be a blast through the Kilmackillogue Harbour stage to finish off the day.

Sunday morning’s action starts with Moll’s Gap once again, followed by service at the Liebherr Container Cranes base in Killarney. The crews will then complete a loop of three stages, Kilgobnet, Caragh Lake and Rockfield, before heading into service again at Liebherr.

This loop is again repeated with plenty of spectator-friendly access points in Kilgobnet and Rockfield. The crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Headquarters in the Gleneagle Hotel at approximately 5.30pm for celebrations and champagne.

The Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes will be counting rounds for the Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship 2017 and the PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship

Killarney and District Motor Club is delighted that Ireland’s leading vehicle history record company Cartell.ie will again be the main sponsor of the Rally of the Lakes for the eighth year. Other very loyal and generous sponsors include Cormac Casey of KC Print and Killarney Advertiser, Ordnance Survey Ireland and, of course, the Gleneagle Hotel, under the leadership of Patrick O’Donoghue, who have backed the Rally of the Lakes since 1979.