RSA Rally Sprint Summer Championship at Ballykelly this weekend

Shackleton was previously a 620 acre military airport and is ideal for car rally events. This challenging venue, with its runways and linking road network, has been an integral part of the RSA development in Ireland and is a popular preparation location for many current front contenders in Irish, British, European, and World Rallying.

The RSA has always been fundamental to the development of the next generation of local rally champions with Aaron Johnston, a former RSA competitor, recently winning with Team Toyota Gazoo at the RALLY WRC in Kenya and Croatia. The RSA were also delighted to see Tyrone’s Jon Armstrong, a former World Champion in Junior WRC, and Antrim driver Josh McErlean doing exceptionally well in The World Rally Championship with the team M-Sport Ford.

The RSA was also pleased with the ‘young graduates’ who have progressed onto the World Stage of top tier rallying that include Craig Rahill and Eamon Kelly, together with Junior World Championship, British Championship winner/navigator Liam Regan who all started their career path in 1200cc Vauxhall Novas with RSA.

And for Saturday’s Summer Sprint, the RSA has introduced another exciting new challenging stage layout which will test cars, drivers and navigators over a fast and flowing stage with integrated technical sections, a further development for RSA which is perfect for closed venue rallying as an alternative to closed road rallying for competitors and spectators which is now proving to be copied from the RSA formula in the UK and is the future vision forward for rallying in the UK and Ireland!

The Rallysport Association (RSA) hopes to create another fantastic weekend event with 160 competitors taking part in a beautiful selection of exotic, top quality rally cars and the exciting European crosskart race buggies which have been created for use in Irish and UK rallysport.

The entry includes current and previous top class Irish Rally competitors in phenomenally fast R5 and ‘Turbo Charged Rallycars’ together with the exciting Escorts and Starlets and an array of seriously fast front wheel drive cars from Honda, Renault and many more. There will be 30 plus junior drivers (12 -17) in 1000cc cars and 1600cc Mini Coopers in battle for early championship points where several of the current Irish, UK, European and World championship competitors started their formative careers.

Meanwhile, the RSA crew will depart a few days later to compete in the annual international Barbados Rally Festival with a team of RSA Donegal drivers, current NI Rally and RSA Champion, Aaron McLaughlin in his R5 VW Polo and the family team of Conor Wilson (runner up in the NI Rally Championship) and his father, Kevin, in two R5 Hyundai I20 cars together with Waterford based Pascal O’Shea in his R5 Fiesta. A further 12 Irish crews will be discovering this unique rally adventure together with many, European and other international teams and crews.

The ‘reels and images’ from this superb event will be published on the RSA Facebook page and at www.therallysportassociation.com as the festival develops.

For further information for the RSA/KWP Rallysport - Barbados Rally experience please do not hesitate to contact: [email protected] The entry details and the next RSA event layout can be found at www.therallysportassociation.com website and on ‘therallysportassociation ‘ facebook page.

Previous event highlights can be watched on YouTube at the ‘Hold er Flat’ channel or also via www.therallysportassociation.com

So, another great day awaits back at Shackleton on Saturday, May 16th, and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy another unique action-packed RSA Event at this superb rallysport venue. Spectators are welcomed from 9am and early risers will enjoy free access to the driver’s service area and will be able to experience pre-event preparation, car scrutineering, the general competitor/organisation and competitors build up to the event which will commence at 10am.

With adult admission only £15, junior admission £5 and Seniors and U12s enjoying a free entry, what better excuse to get outside and enjoy a Spring Saturday with family and friends. For additional information and the event entry details and previous highlights on YouTube, visit www.therallysportassociation.com