News

In Conversation with Martin McKenna,
President of Motorsport Ireland.
How did you become involved in
motorsport and then motorsport
administration??
Back in the 70’s I got involved
with my local motor club -
Monaghan. Progressed to being
clerk of the course for our stages
rally, chairman of the club, club
representative at the CAC, chairman
of the National Rallies Committee
and a member of The Motosport
Commission.
How much of your time is spent being
President of Motosport Ireland??
Quite a lot of my time outside of
my day job involves motorsport.
Obviously some times of the year are
busier than others.
Give us an idea of an average day
for you??
My average day is first and foremost
my day job - as a sales manager in
a busy agricultural industry. Then
some motorsport in the evening -
a meeting and some e-mails and
phone calls.
Tell us about the Best and Worst bits
of being President of MI??
The best - just being so involved
in all aspects of the sport and the
tremendous respect that is extended to
the position of President. The worst -
just when you have a quiet weekend
planned something important within
the sport comes up.
Can you give readers some of the
background to the recent Insurance
dilemna for rallying and the solution
sourced for 2016??
The problem is simply the number
of recent significant claims. The legal
system and the claims culture in
Ireland is different than throughout
Europe and that certainly makes
life more difficult. Through diligent
hard work with our insurers we put
together a workable plan for 2016.
How do you see MI Licence holders
can play their part within the RSA’s
on-going Road Safety Awareness
Campaigns??
I feel that it’s very important that
licenc e holders always portrays a
responsible attitude and give good
example to particularly young
people. Presently motor clubs get
involved with local schools and that’s
very positive - to teach young people
about speed and how our cars are
prepared with safety in mind and the
difference in road cars and rally cars.
Rallycross has struggled to achieve
50 entries to be allowed compete in
Mondello Park, Formula Ford and
many other race classes also appear
to be struggling for numbers in 2016.
What has gone wrong and what do
you believe can be done to grow these
numbers and effect a positive change??
Over the years different disciplines
experience fluctuations in
participants. The recent recession
would have had a major impact
and affected some aspects of the
sport more than others, rallycross
is finding it more difficult to return
to its former levels of participation.
Work is in progress to expand
rallycross and the availability of a
track in Galway will help in that
regard.
Team Ireland has quite rightly
received huge praise. Would you
please explain how young drivers
will be selected for Team Ireland
(TI) in the future??
Young drivers will be selected
through success in the young driver
awards, the Billy Coleman Award in
Rallying , the Young Racing Driver
Award and Karting has initiated it’s
own programme.
It has been mentioned that the
numbers of participants in TI will
grow. How many youngsters do you
envisage will be allowed to enter the
TI Programme by 2017/18??
I would expect that there will be
up to ten in the programme in the
future.
6
FIXTURES
DAY EVENT MARCH
5 G.S.M.C. Three Rock Sporting Trial
5 A.L.M.C. Spring Endurance Trial
6 Carlow Rallycross (RX)
6 Mayo Stages Rally (SR)
6 Limerick Autotest
6 Munster K.C. Kart Race Meeting (KC)
12 to 13 Co.Monaghan Navigation Trial (NT)
12 Donegal Autocross (LS)
12 to 13 Cork M.C. West Cork Rally (TROA)
13 Mondello S.C. Race Meeting
13 Co.Cavan Autocross (LS)
20 Leinster Healy Cup Sporting Trial
20 Munster C.C. 4x4 Trial
20 Kerry Autosolo
20 Midland Stages Rally
27 Killarney Autotest (H)
DAY EVENT APRIL
2 500 MRCI Race Meeting - Kirkistown
2 M.E.C. Devereux Cup Sporting Trial
3 I.K.C. Kart Race Meeting (KC)
3 Birr Autocross (GS) (A)
3 Connacht Autocross (LS)
3 Kerry M.C. Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally (SR)
7 to 9 U.A.C. Circuit of Ireland International Rally (TROA)
9 to 10 Wexford Hillclimb
9 to 10 Clare Autotest
10 T.D.C. Autosolo
10 Co.Cavan Autocross (LS)
16 Munster C.C. Moonraker Forestry Rally (FR)
16 to 17 I.M.R.C. Race Meeting
16 to 17 Leinster Weekend Sporting Trial
16 to 17 M.R.C.C.I. Midget Car Race
17 Tipperary 4x4 Trial
17 Meath Kart Race Meeting (KC)
Connacht Multivenue Autotest
23 to 24 Galway & Clare Hillclimb (HC)
23 500 M.R.C.I. Race Meeting - Kirkistown
24 Tipperary Rallysprint
24 Co.Monaghan Stages Rally
24 Munster C.C. Autocross (LS) (A)
30 to 1 Killarney International Rally of Lakes (TROA)
DAY EVENT MAY
1 to 2 Co.Kildare Rallycross - Tynagh (RX - Sunday ONLY)
7 Magherafelt Tour of Sperrins Forest Rally (FR)
7 to 8 Ballynahinch & BARC Race Meeting - Bishopstown
7 to 8 T.D.C. James Pringle Memorial Autotest
8 Mayo Autocross (LS)
8 Carlow Stages Rally (SR)
8 M.R.C.C.I. Midget Car Race
14 to 15 Birr Autotest
15 Connacht Autocross (LS)
15 G.S.M.C. Autocross (GS) (A)
15 Tipperary Dungarvan V&V Run
15 Ulster K.C. Kart Race Meeting (KC)
21 to 22 Wexford Sprint (HC)
22 Clare Autocross (LS) (A)
28 500 M.R.C.I. Race Meeting - Kirkistown
28 to 29 Skibbereen Autotest
29 Co.Cavan Stages Rally (SR)
* NB: Always check with Clubs that events are confirmed