The World Rally Championship is coming to Ireland next month and Bob Montgomery has the lowdown on the best places to see the world's top rally drivers in action
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16TH - STAGES 2 TO 10
Times in brackets are first car due.
Stages 2 and 5 - Geevagh (8.05am and 11.29am)
Stages 3 and 6 - Arigna (8.33am and 11.57am)
Stages 4 and 7 - Lough Gill (9.24am and 12.48pm)
Stage 8 - Glenboy (15.01pm)
Stage 9 - Bencroy (15.54pm)
Stage 10 - Drumshanbo (16.19pm)
The day starts with the Geevagh stage, and if travelling from Sligo, leave the N4 and head east along the R284. This is a rally route and you must be careful not to obstruct it.
The Roscommon stages of Rally Ireland will see competitors pass through the village of Arigna, close to the borders of counties Sligo and Leitrim.
There's plenty of good parking on the approach road to the village of Arigna, but access to the village itself will be restricted after the passage of the safety cars, so you are advised to arrive early.
On the Lough Gill stage, there will be parking restrictions in Dromahair village, and it is recommended that you allow plenty of time to get to the stage. A park-and-ride service will operate to the Lough Gill stage from the junction of the R288 and the N16.
The Leitrim stages of Rally Ireland will see competitors pass through the villages of Glenboy and Drumshanbo. The rally route passes through Drumshanbo, and on to the R207 before heading back to the final service of the day in Sligo Institute of Technology.
Particular care should be taken not to obstruct the rally route. Note also that close to the Glenboy stage there is very limited parking along the N16, and we're informed that any cars causing an obstruction will be towed away.
OUR TIP: Go to the Geevagh or Arigna Stage. There's plenty of parking along the R284 and R286, and only a short gap - about an hour - between the first and second time these stages are run.
The route of Rally Ireland has been designed from the start to showcase the country, as well as to provide a new challenge for the WRC regulars. Based in Sligo town, the event covers a large part of Ireland's northwest.
Rally Ireland will start on Thursday evening, November 15th, with a spectacular Super Special stage in the grounds of Stormont Castle, Belfast, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. This 2km stage is specially designed for spectators, and will also be broadcast live on television. Spectators should aim to be in position by 6pm.
Friday sees the action begin in earnest, with almost 170km of stages in the hills to the south-east of Sligo around Lough Allen. Three stages will be tackled in the morning and repeated at lunchtime, followed by two other stages in the afternoon. In between these stages are two visits to the service park, which is located at Sligo Institute of Technology throughout the event. Friday will be the toughest day of the rally, and could cause a few upsets.
On Saturday the event moves into Northern Ireland again, with three stages in counties Tyrone and Fermanagh, which are repeated in the afternoon, following a lunchtime service stop in Sligo. The final day's action, on Sunday, sees two stages in Northern Ireland, through the Clogher Valley, before the last special stage at Mullaghmore on Donegal Bay and the official finish of the event in Sligo. This final stage will be televised live.
Given the huge interest in Rally Ireland, spectator access to the action is likely to be a problem, unless you plan your visit carefully in advance. We've gathered together all the information you'll require to make your visit to Rally Ireland enjoyable.
Where you choose to spectate is a matter of personal preference, and the direction from which you approach the rally. Tickets are required for the Stormont Super Stage, and also for the service area at Sligo Institute of Technology, where it should be possible to see the crews up close, and to watch the team's top mechanics in action.
Indeed, very often the service crews play a decisive role in an event such as this, so this could be a really good place to view the action. If you're approaching Sligo from the south, a park-and-ride service will operate from the Retail Park at Carraroe. For those approaching Sligo from the north, the park-and-ride will operate from Hazelwood Demesne. There will be no parking near the service area.