With this year’s Donegal Harvest Stages Rally just over 10 weeks away, the event this year is set to be a very special one.
In memory of the late Martin Howley, the rally will take place in the town of Killybegs, Co. Donegal. Martin and his business played a major role within the community and he had a great passion for Motorsport both as a competitor and organiser.
Picture caption: Declan and Brian Boyle, who won the 2015 Donegal Harvest Stages Rally.
The event takes place on Saturday, 8th October, and is the final round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championships.
The event is also a counting round of the Donegal Commercials Club Championship (which is a championship held for Donegal Motor Club Members).
Preparations are currently underway as over 170 crews are expected to part take in the event.
For competitors it is set to be a very challenging rally. There will be over 120 stage kilometres in total, with everything from fast, flowing stages to technical and twisty sections with short road sections.
For the spectators the stages are full of safe and spectacular viewing points.
The main sponsors and headquarters for the event is the Bay View Hotel in the centre of Killybegs town. The entire event is based around Killybegs and the surrounding area and will be very accessible for competitors and spectators.
The team organising committee is hoping to release the regulations and entry forms for the event in the coming weeks and would urge anyone looking for information on the event to go to www.facebook.com/
The response from the people of Killybegs has been overwhelming, everyone is beginning to look forward to the rally and reports from the accommodation sources say that beds are booking up quickly. The local people are delighted to welcome the event back to the town as in the year 2000 it was a huge success.
COC for this year’s event, Karl Reid says: “We are really looking forward to hosting the event here in Killybegs.
“Martin Howley was a key member of the community and would be delighted to see the event return to his hometown. The stages are fantastic – smooth and fast with great spectator locations.
“With centralised service and mechanical security within the town, everything is based within the town and the atmosphere on the weekend will be fantastic. A show stopping prize-giving and after party is planned in the Bay View on the evening of the event”.
