News

Hillclimb
& Sprint
The 2016 Naylor Engineering
Irish Hillclimb & Sprint
Championship is just a few
weeks away and already drivers
are raring to go! There’s a
sprint in Kirkistown on 19th
March that many of the regular
Hillclimb competitors may
take advantage of for some preseason
testing/shake-down.
Once again the championship
will visit some of the most
scenic areas of Ireland, from the
haunting beauty of the Burren
in Co Clare to the spectacular
Knockalla hill in Donegal with
its stunning views of the north
Atlantic and the beautiful
Portsalon beach.
One wonderful aspect about
Hillclimbing is…there’s a class
for practically everything and
everyone. It’s not all about
having the fastest car out
there. In fact one of the best
and most entertaining classes
of 2015 was the Italian mob.
The Fiat Cinquecento’s, this
class offers a very cost effective
way of entering the world of
Motorsport, with a competitive
car only costing €2,000. It really
is fun to take a small car like
this by the scruff-of-the-neck
and throw it around a hill or
race track. Watch out for the
Fiat Cinquecento’s in 2016 they
really are the entertainers of the
championship.
Joe Courtney, the current
Hillclimb champion has his
eyes firmly fixed on the year
ahead and securing a second
consecutive title. He is an
amazing driver to watch in
action and makes it all look
so very easy as he guides his
Reynard 913 at high speed
through the tightest of corners.
Watch out too for Rory (granddad)
Stephens in his Radical
SR8. Joe Courtney will need to
keep an eye on his mirrors this
year as Rory will also have his
eyes on the title.
In 2015 Saloon Champion Eanna Carroll
defended his title driving a 450bhp Turbo
Honda Civic against Martin Treacy in his fire
breathing Mitsubishi Evo. Treacy winning 5
out of the 11 rounds, and Carroll winning 6,
this was a spectacular battle between the 2 top
saloons, their 2015 battle was decided on the
last weekend of the Championship.
There’s no doubt about it; The Irish Hillclimb
& Sprint championship is one of the most
vibrant and entertaining forms of motorsport.
It has a wonderful social and family side to it
and in the paddock you’ll always hear tall tales
of amazing bravery and the odd excuse for a
silly moment on the hill. You can find all the
news and results on www.irishhillclimb.com
Or why not drop by an event, watch the action
and say hello?
Championship Rounds:
23rd/ 24th April Clare/ Galway Motor Club
21st/ 22nd May Wexford Motor Club
11th/ 12th June Imokilly Motor Club
2nd/ 3rd July Carlow Motor Club
30th/ 31st July Limerick Motor Club
13th/14th August Motor Enthusiasts Club
3rd/ 4th September Donegal Motor Club
photo & text: caoradubha.com
SEAT Supercup
After a very successful
introduction in 2015 with the
running of a 10-round Pilot
Series, the SEAT Supercup
Ireland is attracing big interesting
having been awarded Motorsport
Ireland National Championship
status for 2016. Created around
SEAT Sport’s ultra successful
factory built Leon Supercopa,
the inaugural SEAT Supercup
season produced 5-different
race winners with Motorsport
Ireland’s prestigious Young
Racing Driver of the Year Award
winner Niall Murray going
on to be crowned champion.
Developing 300bhp from its
1984cc Turbo charged 4-cylinder
engine, this is delivered to
front wheels through a 6-speed
DSG gearbox with Yokohama
250/650R18 slicks providing
traction - drivers limited to 14
race tyres for the expanded 12
Rounds/6 events 2016 season.
Despite the high performance of
the Leon Supercopa, maintenance
costs are surprisingly low as
it uses many standard SEAT
components. Backed by both
SEAT Ireland and Yokohama,
the new season kicks off on April
17th with a double header on the
National circuit at Mondello Park.
From there it travels to Northern
Ireland in May to the high speed
Bishopscourt circuit. Returning
to Mondello in June, Rounds 5 &
6 will be the first of two meetings
on the International circuit, the
second being the concluding
rounds held over the Leinster
Trophy weekend in September.
With 11 Supercopas already in
the country, the stage is set for
a high profile season of exciting
racing action and you can follow
all the latest SEAT Supercup
Ireland news at
www.facebook.com/
SEATsupercupireland .
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