Killarney & District Motor Club, organisers of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes have announced details of this year’s event which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend 4th – 6th May.

The 39th Rally of the Lakes will be counting rounds of the:
• Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
• PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship
• Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship.

Killarney Businessman Dermot Healy has taken on the role of COC for his sixth year. Dermot, who is very much respected in the town of Killarney for his incredible voluntary and charity work, has put together a strong organising committee and operations are well under way. Dermot explains: the route stages are the most famous classic route of stages available and these demanding, technical and challenging stages should test each competitor to their full ability. While also maintaining the unique classic stages that the Rally of the Lakes holds worldwide, our main aim is to bring the Rally back in and around the Killarney town area and we have achieved this with our Sunday loop of stages.

Once again for their ninth consecutive year Ireland’s leading vehicle history record company Cartell.ie return’s as the main title sponsor of the Rally of the Lakes 2018. Including additional support from Killarney Advertiser, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Gleneagle Hotel Group, who have been supporters of the Rally of the Lakes for many years and continue as Associate Sponsors.

The Rally of the Lakes is firmly established as one of Ireland’s premier rally events. It gives a major boost to the businesses of the town and the local economy. TV coverage alone is beamed to 38 countries with an estimated 30 million household subscribers. Dermot remarked: “This exposure is fantastic for Killarney and the Rally of the Lakes and it hugely increases our attraction as an international event for competitors and spectators to enjoy”.

Features of this year’s event:
• Official Rally Launch on Sunday 15th April at Brehon Hotel Killarney.
• Rally Headquarters Gleneagle Hotel Killarney
• Ceremonial start
• The Best classic stages in Ireland
• Total of 16 stages
• 240Km of stage competition.
• Centralised service each day.
• Complete New stages introduced this year.
• Including such Classic stages as: Molls Gap, Beallaghbeama, Cods Head & Ardgroom.
• Juniors get a full day rallying on Saturday consisting of 8 Stages.

The three-day event will begin with a ceremonial start in Killarney’s town centre at 7pm on Friday 4th May. Plans are at an advanced stage to create a motorsport festival on the streets of Ireland’s most famous town.

The real action will commence early on Saturday morning with the iconic Molls Gap, followed by the Tim Healy Pass and centralised service in Castletownbere Pier. Then it’s time to head out on the famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the Healy Pass and into service for a well deserved break. Cods Head and Ardgroom are repeated and a blast through the Kilmakilloge harbour stage to finish off the day.
Sunday Morning starts with Molls Gap once again, followed by the mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass, Then into service at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney. This Loop is of Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama Pass is repeated with the inclusion of a new version of the fast flowing Shanera stage called Brook Hill. It’s into service once again before heading out to the Spectator friendly loop of Rossanean, Brook Hill and Rossanean again as the final stage. The crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Head Quarters – The Gleneagle Hotel at 17.30 for Celebrations and Champagne.
The May bank holiday weekend is near and the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes is the place to be.
Are you ready……

Exceptional accommodation deals are available at Rally Hq, the Gleneagle Hotel, for crews and followers alike. Bookings and information at 064 6636000

Entries will opening shortly: http://www.shannonsportsit.ie/evo/Login

Regulations, on-line entries and further information will be available shortly at www.rallyofthelakes.com