Post by earl on Nov 6, 2007 13:36:22 GMT
Top drivers rev up for Stormont spectacular
Hundreds of spectators are expected to pack the grounds of Stormont Estate for the opening stage of Rally Ireland on November 15.
Dubbed the Stormont Spectacular, this super special stage will see the 90-strong field, headed by world champion Sebastien Loeb and current series leader Marcus Gronholm, go head-to-head on two circuits which feature a fly-over bridge.
With the event starting in just 10 days the Belfast Telegraph has gone behind the scenes to find out exactly who's who in Rally Ireland.
Chairman Eddie Jordan: Dublin-born Jordan started his career as a driver in karting and Formula Three prior to setting up Jordan Formula One in the early 1990s where he scored some considerable success, including giving Michael Schumacher his first Formula 1 outing. He is a leading figure in Irish motorsport and believes that the country has a wealth of talent, both as competitors and organisers.
Deputy chairman Trevor Ringland: An accomplished rugby player, Trevor Ringland has 34 caps for Ireland and was a member of the Triple Crown-winning side of 1985 and also a Lions player. He is now a solicitor practising in Belfast and is also chairman of the One Small Step campaign, whose objective is to encourage individuals and organisations to build a shared society.
Co-promoter Sean O'Connor: Sean has worked since 1991 in the World Rally Championship as a sponsorship and marketing consultant and has managed a number of top international drivers. He and co-promoter Ronan Morgan founded Rally Ireland in 2005 following a successful feasibility study into bringing WRC to Ireland.
Co-promoter Ronan Morgan: As a former championship-winning co-driver he rallied for more than 20 years and was the event director of Wales Rally GB before starting the Irish bid.
He has also been event director for the UAE Desert Challenge and during his career partnered a number of high-profile Irish and international competitors including Billy Coleman, Mohammed Bin Sulayem and current BP Ford boss Malcolm Wilson.
Chief executive David Marren: The founding director and later managing director of M&C Saatchi sponsorship, one of the UK's leading sponsorship agencies, is Rally Ireland's chief executive officer. He has experience in spearheading and implementing commercial sponsorship strategies for many global blue-chip clients including Philip Morris (Marlboro), Heineken and Gallaher PLC.
As director of all the sponsorship activity for Benson and Hedges with Jordan Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship, Marren brings his vast commercial experience in motorsport to the role.
Sporting director Kai Tarkiaine: A former clerk of the course at Rally Finland. Tarkiaine has enjoyed an impressive career in WRC, having worked his way up through the ranks in Finland over the past 10 years. He has also gained international experience as assistant clerk of course in Rally Turkey. Additionally he has been FIA Steward in Monte Carlo and Sweden and is a former member of the FIA WRC Commission's Organisers' Working Group. He is still actively co-driving in the Finnish Rally Championship. Rally Finland has won the WRC Rally of the Year four times.
Clerk of the Course Tom Walsh: He has been a familiar name in Irish rallying since the mid-1970s, not only in his role as Billy Coleman's team manager at the peak of his success, but also for his work as co-ordinator for numerous international teams and his chairmanship of the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association. A Limerick native, Tom now lives in Westport, where he is manager of the local Allied Irish Bank.
He is a former member of the Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee and is very much involved with his local club, Mayo and District Motor Club.
Tickets for the Super Special Stage are available online at www.ticketmaster.ie and are priced from £12.50.
Hundreds of spectators are expected to pack the grounds of Stormont Estate for the opening stage of Rally Ireland on November 15.
Dubbed the Stormont Spectacular, this super special stage will see the 90-strong field, headed by world champion Sebastien Loeb and current series leader Marcus Gronholm, go head-to-head on two circuits which feature a fly-over bridge.
With the event starting in just 10 days the Belfast Telegraph has gone behind the scenes to find out exactly who's who in Rally Ireland.
Chairman Eddie Jordan: Dublin-born Jordan started his career as a driver in karting and Formula Three prior to setting up Jordan Formula One in the early 1990s where he scored some considerable success, including giving Michael Schumacher his first Formula 1 outing. He is a leading figure in Irish motorsport and believes that the country has a wealth of talent, both as competitors and organisers.
Deputy chairman Trevor Ringland: An accomplished rugby player, Trevor Ringland has 34 caps for Ireland and was a member of the Triple Crown-winning side of 1985 and also a Lions player. He is now a solicitor practising in Belfast and is also chairman of the One Small Step campaign, whose objective is to encourage individuals and organisations to build a shared society.
Co-promoter Sean O'Connor: Sean has worked since 1991 in the World Rally Championship as a sponsorship and marketing consultant and has managed a number of top international drivers. He and co-promoter Ronan Morgan founded Rally Ireland in 2005 following a successful feasibility study into bringing WRC to Ireland.
Co-promoter Ronan Morgan: As a former championship-winning co-driver he rallied for more than 20 years and was the event director of Wales Rally GB before starting the Irish bid.
He has also been event director for the UAE Desert Challenge and during his career partnered a number of high-profile Irish and international competitors including Billy Coleman, Mohammed Bin Sulayem and current BP Ford boss Malcolm Wilson.
Chief executive David Marren: The founding director and later managing director of M&C Saatchi sponsorship, one of the UK's leading sponsorship agencies, is Rally Ireland's chief executive officer. He has experience in spearheading and implementing commercial sponsorship strategies for many global blue-chip clients including Philip Morris (Marlboro), Heineken and Gallaher PLC.
As director of all the sponsorship activity for Benson and Hedges with Jordan Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship, Marren brings his vast commercial experience in motorsport to the role.
Sporting director Kai Tarkiaine: A former clerk of the course at Rally Finland. Tarkiaine has enjoyed an impressive career in WRC, having worked his way up through the ranks in Finland over the past 10 years. He has also gained international experience as assistant clerk of course in Rally Turkey. Additionally he has been FIA Steward in Monte Carlo and Sweden and is a former member of the FIA WRC Commission's Organisers' Working Group. He is still actively co-driving in the Finnish Rally Championship. Rally Finland has won the WRC Rally of the Year four times.
Clerk of the Course Tom Walsh: He has been a familiar name in Irish rallying since the mid-1970s, not only in his role as Billy Coleman's team manager at the peak of his success, but also for his work as co-ordinator for numerous international teams and his chairmanship of the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association. A Limerick native, Tom now lives in Westport, where he is manager of the local Allied Irish Bank.
He is a former member of the Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee and is very much involved with his local club, Mayo and District Motor Club.
Tickets for the Super Special Stage are available online at www.ticketmaster.ie and are priced from £12.50.
