|
|
Buncrana gears up for rally
17.06.10
|
UP TO 20,000 rally fans
will descend on Inishowen tomorrow evening to watch
the best drivers in Ireland and Europe blast through
Buncrana during the 2010 Topaz Donegal International
Rally.
A stage through the peninsula’s largest town - the
first such stage in 30 years – will add extra
excitement to the annual motor spectacle, which is
expected to attract a massive 70,000 spectators this
year.
Competitors will fire up their engines at Nailor’s
Row before zooming along Castle Avenue, Cahir
O’Doherty Avenue, Crana Road, Aileach Road and
finishing at Buncrana Leisure Centre.
Last year’s winner Gareth MacHale in his Focus WRC
heads a star studded entry with drivers such as Tim
McNulty and Derek McGarrity in their Subaru Impreza
WRCs also in the reckoning.
Clerk of the Course, Danny Gormley believes the
Buncrana stage will ensure this year’s rally gets
off to a flying start. |
 |
“We are very excited by
this move and I really believe this stage will make
for a truly memorable opening day to this year’s
event. I’d like to give a special word of thanks to
the authorities in Buncrana for making the town
stage possible,” he said.
Mayor of Buncrana, Lee Tedstone said the rally had a
huge economic significance for the whole region and
he was delighted that Buncrana would host a special
stage of this year’s rally.
“This rally attracts 50,000 spectators every year
and this year we hope to push that on by another
20,000. So we are issuing an open invitation to
people to come along and enjoy the rally and
everything else that Buncrana and Donegal has to
offer,” he said.
“In the current economic climate the importance of
the event to the economy is more important than
ever. It is worth up to €25 million to the local
economy and we believe this year Buncrana will reap
the benefits of playing a central role.”
Chief Executive of Topaz, Eddie O’Brien, who is from
Buncrana, said the organisers and the local
authorities deserved praise.
“Bringing the thrills of rallying to the people in
this way will raise the profile of the sport and
indeed of this lovely town. As a local, I’m probably
a little bit biased but I know from firsthand
experience the importance of the Rally to the region
and the support it enjoys from the people of the
county,” he said. (Inishowen
Independent) |
|
