For the tourist, the trip  from Galway to Cork is a scenic three hour drive through the mid west. For the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship  the journey  from next weeks Galway International Rally to the  Cork 20 International Rally  in October will be a far more demanding and exciting journey.

These are the first and final rounds  of Irelands premier Tarmac Rally Championship, with six other events interspersed - Circuit of Ireland, Killarney Rally of the Lakes, Jim Clark, Donegal, Isle of Man and Ulster rallies.  These are  some of the finest rallies in  Europe. Where else can you find classic stages to compare with Killarneys Molls Gap, Knockalla with its magnificent views over Donegal Bay or the mountain challenge of the Isle of Mans Brandywell test?

 For 2009 the  rallies that make up the “Tarmac” are the same as last year, but TROA, the championship organisers, have introduced a  number of changes  that reflect the present economic times.

Don Wilmont the Championship Manager explains. "TROA had to  take into account the uncertain impact of the current economic downturn. While we fully recognise the contribution that WRC cars have made to the history of the Championship, at the same time we are  trying to encourage competitors to consider  the newer Super 1600 and  2000 cars as a more economical option." As a result the scoring system has been changed for 2009. The rally winner  will receive 16 points (previously  15pts) – There is no change to the scores for 2nd (12) 3rd (10) 4th (8) etc. However, bonus points  will be introduced for drivers of  Group N, Super 1600 and Super 2000 cars. A system of 3,2,1 bonus points will be introduced for the first three non WRC cars in the final classification. So if a WRC car wins a ”Tarmac” round, the winner gets 16 points and if the runner up is using  a Group N /Super 2000/Super 1600, then driver gets 15 pts.(12+3) .

In addition there will be a new competition for modified cars entered in the national class run in conjunction with the International rallies. This new award known as the Tarmac Trophy Challenge, will be run on the six rounds of the Championship held on the island of Ireland, with the best five scores to count. The Tarmac Trophy will not apply to the Isle of Man or the Kelso based Jim Clark rounds of the Championship.” 

Next weekend the Tarmac Championship kicks off with the Safety Direct Galway International Rally which is based in the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit. There are 9 stages in the Abbeyknockmoy area of North Galway on Saturday. On Sunday the competitors will tackle 8 stages in the South Galway area around Gort, Service during both days will be at the Deerpark Industrial Estate in Oranmore.

World championship regular Conrad Rautenbach is the top seed in his Citreon Xsara WRC followed by another WRC Competitor, Aaron Burkart in his  Suzuki Swift S1600.  Behind these two  is a high quality field of Irish drivers headed by 2008 “Tarmac Champion” Eamonn Boland, who is back to defend his crown. Other WRC mounted former champions listed include Eugene Donnelly, Derek  Mc Garrity and Austin Mc Hale. Add in the pretenders to the MacHale crown Aaron and Gareth, Kevin Lynch,Tim McNulty and Padear Hurson and there is clearly going to be a tight battle for overall honours.

The stone wall lined roads of the Galway International traditionally provide a very stern challenge for the Championship contenders. In the 30 year history of the Irish Tarmac Championship, the Galway winner  has gone on to take the title on eleven  occasions.  Who knows, perhaps the driver at the top of the podium in Galway this year will become the twelfth Tarmac Champion, when the journey to Cork is completed in early October.

1 Conrad Rautenbach France Daniel Barritt UK Citroen Xsara WRC 8 
2 Aaron Burkart Germany Michael Koelbach Germany Suzuki Swift 6 
3 Eamonn Boland Scotland MJ Morrissey Scotland Other Subaru 12C 8 
4 Gareth MacHale Dublin Brian Murphy Co. Kildare Ford Focus WRC 8 
5 Eugene Donnelly Co. Londonderry Paddy Toner  Skoda Fabia WRC 8 
6 Tim McNulty Co. Meath Eugene O'Donnell Co. Donegal Subaru S12B 8 
7 Kevin Lynch Co. Londonderry Francis Regan Co. Antrim Subaru S12B 8 
8 Derek McGarrity Co. Antrim Dairmuid Falvey Co. Kerry Subaru S12 wrc 8 
9 Peadar Hurson Co. Down Damien Connolly  Subaru Impreza WRC S10 8 
10 Aaron MacHale Co. Kildare Killian Duffy Co. Mayo Ford Focus WRC 8
 

 2009 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Dates:

Galway International                    16/18 January
Circuit of Ireland International        10/12 April
Killarney Rally of the Lakes            1/3 May
Jim Clark International                 22/23 May
Donegal International                   19/21 June
Rally Isle of Man International         10/11 July
Ulster International                    21/22 August
Cork 20 International                   3/4 October