News

Triton Showers
National Rally Championship
A new season of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship
was unveiled in Maynooth this afternoon with the popular series set
to visit eight different locations this year. It will begin in Ballina at
the beginning of next month and will traverse all four provinces as it
concludes in Killybegs in early October.
With a total of 16 events under the umbrella of Triton Showers series,
the organising committee rotate eight events on a biennial basis that
affords the series a wonderful opportunity to give competitors and
spectators a diverse range of rallying territory set against an equally
varied Irish landscape.
Speaking at the launch at the Glen Royal Hotel in Maynooth,
Kevin Barrett, M.D. of Triton Showers said, “Our first season as
title sponsors of the National Rally Championship has been hugely
encouraging. Having been involved with the Circuit of Ireland and
with our own Triton Showers backed cars we are very much aware of
what is involved in Irish motorsport. However, we are overwhelmed
with the manner our association with the series has been received by
competitors and spectators alike. The promotion of all eight events
within the series along with the awards ceremony has ensured that the
Triton Showers brand has received tremendous exposure through all
sections of the media.
This season, one of our cars will have a new livery. Paul’s N14 Subaru
is in the colours of Vado - a shower, tap and accessories manufacturer
that Triton purchased some three years ago and are now distributing
alongside our range of products.
This year, with eight different events in the Triton Showers National
Rally Championship, it offers another opportunity to continue to
showcase all that is good in Irish motorsport. Triton Showers would
like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all those
involved.”
Reigning Triton Showers National Rally champion Donegal’s Donagh
Kelly is not defending his title as he focuses on expanding his business
interests, fellow Donegal driver and former champion Declan Boyle
has earmarked the Mayo Rally as the first part of his national journey.
He is hoping that his Ford Fiesta WRC will be ready in time for the
season opener, otherwise, he will begin his quest on the Circuit of
Kerry.
The Triton Showers team of Kevin Barrett and Niall Maguire in their
Subaru WRC’s and the Group N duo of Paul Barrett (Subaru) and
Shane Maguire (Mitsubishi) will be an integral part of the campaign.
Clonmel’s Roy White, who gave his Ford Fiesta WRC its debut on
last year’s Fastnet Rally in Bantry is set for a full series campaign, he
has secured a top three finish in the last three national campaigns.
Meanwhile, London based Cork driver Michael O’Brien has acquired
the ex-Sam Moffett Ford Fiesta WRC and is setting his sights on a
national bid where he may switch to his 2008 specification Ford Focus
WRC for some of the events.
Speaking at the launch, Trevor Applegate, Sales Director, Triton
Showers remarked, “Year one of the Triton Showers National Rally
Championship has been a resounding success. We are immensely
proud to see Triton branding set against the splendid backdrop of
the beautiful Irish countryside throughout all eight events of the
championship, from the first event in County Laois in February to the
finale in Bantry in West Cork in October. The icing on the cake is that
the championship was broadcast via satellite and terrestrial TV to 52
countries, making for a truly global branding exercise. This, plus the
extensive media coverage yielded, along with the enthusiasm and pure
passion of everyone involved, makes it an outstanding partnership,
and one that we are delighted to be involved with for 2016.”
Also addressing the attendance at the Glen Royal Hotel, Chairman of
the Triton Showers National Rally Championship Committee, Richard
Talbot outlined an additional aspect to the 2016 series. “The 2015
Championship was a tremendous success with over three hundred
registered competitors across all categories. This year we expect to
have a very strong field between WRC, Group N, Group R, Modified
and Juniors. Included this year is The Smartpart ALMC Rally in July
– also a counting round of the MSA Asphalt Rally Championship that
will bring some of the best British national teams to Ireland. For that
event it is our intention to run a “Triton Showers Inter-Championship
Cup Competition. It will be a team event between the best Irish and
British competitors in a Ryder Cup type competition. This should
bring an extra competitive edge to the event and more importantly a
bit of fun for all concerned. Details have yet to be finalised but we feel
it will add value and interest to both championships.”
He added, “Triton Showers have been fantastic sponsors and we look
forward to working with Kevin and Trevor and all the team for this
year and beyond. We are sure the 2016 Championship will be the
biggest and best to date. The opening round in Mayo is expected to
have a very strong entry and we expect this trend to continue through
the other seven counting events.”
Martin Walsh,
Media Co-Ordinator,
Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
2016 Triton Showers National Rally Championship Diary Dates:
1. Mayo Rally March 6th.
2. Circuit of Kerry Rally April 3rd.
3. Carlow Rally May 8th.
4. Cavan Rally May 29th.
5. ALMC Rally July 3rd.
6. Tipperary Stonethrowers Rall August 7th.
7. Clare Rally September 18th .
8. Donegal Harvest Rally October 8th.
National Rally Championship
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