KA CHAMPIONSHIP

FORD IRELAND KA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

PROTEC RACING, PROVINCIAL HSE, ABBEYFEALE, CO. LIMERICK.

Round Two Circuit of Kerry

TRAVERS -KING OF THE HILL.

  Carlow, 7^th May 2000 – James Travers from Kilkenny took a commanding victory on the third  round of the Ford Ireland Ka Rally Championship, the Carlow Stages Rally.

  James in the Barry Pender Motors Ford KA set a blistering pace catching all the other crews napping on the opening stage to settle into a secure and dominant lead. John O’Dowd from Moate, James’s closest challenger made a poor start allowing James a fourteen  second lead after the first loop of stages. John fought back on the next reducing the deficit to just six  seconds, however John crashed out on stage six handing the victory and the Championship lead to James after three rounds.

  “The Championship is developing into a great battle, I had to fight every inch of the way to secure my second win of the season. My Ford KA performed faultlessly all day, however I had a close call at the flying finish of stage two when I glanced off a bank damaging the front of the car but I was lucky and I was able to continue” said James

  Pat Quinlan in the BDBC Ford KA was involved in a great battle all day with Oliver Stanley Both drivers swapping times throughout the day, eventually after a titanic battle they started the third and final loop of stages on equal time. Quinlan took the advantage taking the fastest stage time on stage seven and secured second place from Oliver Stanley by eight seconds.

  John Carroll in the Dooley Motors Ford Ka and Liam Denning in the Fort Motors/Dennings Garage Ford KA tied for fourth place overall.

The Ford Ka has performed brilliantly over the last three arduous rounds of the 2000 Ford Ireland KA Rally Championship, which underlines the total reliability, strength, and driveability of the Ford KA” said Declan Foley, Ford KA Brand Manager

  The 2000 Ford of Ireland Ford KA Rally Championship is the first, one make, manufacturer supported Championship in the history of Irish Rallying. Designed to promote young Irish rallying talent, the Championship is part of Ford's stairway to success that sees the Ford Motor Company providing young drivers with competitive rally machinery throughout their racing careers.  The Carlow Stages was the third out of eight events throughout Ireland.

 FORD KA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Results after Round 3

NEWS RELEASE  Round Two

  KA 04e/00

  LYSTER APPLAUDES CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dingle, 9^th April 2000 – Michael Lyster, RTE Sports commentator secured a fine tenth place finish on the second round of the Ford Ireland Ka Rally Championship  in the Circuit of Kerry Rally.

 The event marked Michael’s first event in a 1300cc front wheel drive Rally Car.  Michael was really thrown in at the deep end against the regular experienced Ford KA Rally Championship competitors who had much more experience in the Ford KA.

  'This event has been a complete baptism of fire for me. The pace of the Championship contenders is absolutely amazing, I was not prepared to try and give chase however I totally enjoyed myself. The Ford KA is really an amazing car with superb brakes, handling and the car has huge levels of grip” said Michael.

  Michael added” The Ford KA Rally Championship is really the way of the future and I have to applaud Ford Ireland for their wisdom and foresight to create such a wonderful Championship, which is not only good for the sport of rallying but also  develops young Irish talent to compete on the world stage”.

  “The Ford KA has performed faultlessly over the last two events taking two outright class victories on some of Ireland’s toughest terrain,  the level of healthy competition between all of the crews has made the Championship very exciting and we are all really looking forward to the rest of the Championship” said  Declan Foley Brand Manager Ford KA.

  The 2000 Ford of Ireland Ford KA Rally Championship is the first, one make; manufacturer supported Championship in the history of Irish Rallying. Designed to promote young Irish rallying talent, the Championship is part of Ford's stairway to success that sees the Ford Motor Company providing young drivers with competitive rally machinery throughout their racing careers.  The Circuit of Kerry Rally was the second out of eight events throughout Ireland.

FORD KA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Results Round 2 – Circuit of Kerry

 FORD KA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Championship Results after Round 2