Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan Win Rally New York USA 2011

Walton, New York, March 27 -- The Irish team of Tommy Doyle and Liam Moynihan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) became first-time winners of Rally New York USA this weekend. They finished the 300 miles of Catskill Mountain roads (including nearly 100 miles of high-speed “special stages”) 23 seconds ahead of the field.

Tom Lawless, the 2006 winning driver, placed second with Irishman Martin Brady co-driving (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo). They were a minute and a half in front of the third place entry, Danny O’Brien/Brendan McCabe (Subaru Impreza WRX). The up-and-coming team of Matt Gottlieb/Austin Gager (Subaru Impreza WRX) placed fourth.

Michael Reilly/Josh Benthien (Ford Focus ZX3) won the category for two-wheel-drive cars and placed fifth overall. They were well ahead of newcomers Erik Potts/Steven Case (Ford Focus SVT), despite backing off at the end to ensure a finish when the car’s exhaust manifold broke just in front of the turbo system. Third went to Erika Detota/Travis Hanson, who came back from a delay for a broken fuel line.

Despite the fact that the calendar said spring and the days were sunny, temperatures in the spectacular Catskill Mountains of New York remained near or below freezing all weekend. The roads – entirely paved for this event – were generally clear, but drivers needed to remain watchful as a few patches of snow remained.

Rally New York USA is the only tarmac National Championship rally in the US. It was the second round of the United States Rally Championship. More information on the United States Rally Championship can be found at www.usrallychampionship.com. The rally is organized by Rally New York, Ltd. based in Forestburgh, New York. More information about Rally New York, Ltd. and on its other events is at http://www.rallynewyork.com/.


Source: Rally New York Media

Photo by Liviu Hrituleac, LHImages.com

NASCAR Meets Global RallyCross at Irwindale



Olsbergs OSE Team Crew Chief, Andreas Eriksson gingerly hands over the key of the 2011 BestBuy Ford Fiesta to Nascar driver AJ Allmendinger for a few hot laps around  Irwindale Speedway. Although Almendinger was not allow to take the jump in the car, he very quickly adapted to the angry little Fiesta and put in a few very respectable laps. Photo Neil McDaid /RallyWorldNews.com .

March 25, 2011, Irwindale, CA. Drivers and their crews  started to arrive Thursday for round one of the 2011 Global RallyCross  Championship. NASCAR’s  AJ Allmendinger from the Best Buy /Ford racing team also stopped by to check out and drive one of Ford’s 2011 RallyCross Fiesta’s.



Nascar driver, AJ Allmendinger [left] gets a few pointers from World Rally legend Marcus Gronholm, “you must also turn right a lot, and be happy with the handbrake” great advice indeed for rallycross. Marcus will pilot the 2011 Best Buy Fiesta this weekend at Irwindale. Photo Neil McDaid /RallyWorldNews.com



Competition will get underway today Friday, with some rain forecasted in the area, we expect it will make for some very interesting action. The rain over this past week has also made things very challenging for the course construction, the build team worked late into the night Thursday adding the final touches to the course layout.

The course itself is rather tight in places, comprised of 60% Tar and 40%dirt the layout should keep cars fairly tight together and maybe to close in places.



Joseph Burke adds some final decals to his Mitsubishi Evo 8; this will be Burke’s first time to tackle to XGAMES style gap jump which is part of the course layout at Irwindale. “Hopefully we get it right first time and have no drama” said Burke. Photo Neil McDaid /RallyWorldNews.com

 For tickets and info - Go to http://www.global-rallycross.com/

10:00 a.m.    Gates open to public. Expo open.

10:00 a.m - 10:25 a.m.! ! 2WD Full Course Practice

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.! ! AWD Full Course Practice
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.!! Super Rally Qualifying

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.! ! Track Break

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.! ! 2WD Eliminations

2:10 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.! ! AWD Eliminations

3:30 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.! ! 2WD Quarter-Finals
4:20 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.! ! AWD Quarter-Finals
5:15 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.! ! 2WD Semi-Final

5:45 p.m. - 6:05 p.m.! ! AWD Semi-Final

6:20 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.! ! 2WD Finals

6:35 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.! ! AWD Finals

6:50 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.! ! 2WD/AWD Podium celebration

WRC Portugal 2011 -VIDEO-Ken Block has Massive Wreck on Shakedown Stage.

Faro, Portugal, March 23rd: Ken Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were taken to hospital for checks after this massive roll during WRC Rally of Portugal shakedown stage.
Ken rolled the Monster World Rally Team WRC Fiesta just over a mile into the stage.
A spokesman from the Monster team said: "Both Ken and Alex have been taken to hospital in Faro for precautionary checks. All I know is that they rolled, but they're okay. We won't know the situation with the car until it is recovered back to service."

DiRT 3 - Kris Meeke Tries Kenya Sprint Rally Video (HD)

WRC Mini driver, Kris Meeke gets a test drive on the upcoming DIRT3 Video game.



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Global RallyCross Round #1 - Schedule

LOCATION: Toyota Speedway: Irwindale, CA

DATE: March 25-26
CONDITIONS | Oval meets rallycross: 50 per cent dirt, 50 per cent tarmac; 70' gap jump
The first stop in the new Global RallyCross Championship, this event transforms Irwindale Speedway s inner oval track into a mixed dirt and tarmac rallycross course. Competitors looking for a chance to compete at X Games this summer meet to race for the first time. The highlight of the event is a huge, 70-foot gap jump, seen here for the first time in any motorsport competition outside of XGames.

Friday, March 25*
8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. WILL CALL open
10:00 a.m. Gates open to public. Expo open.
10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Jump Practice AWD
11:15 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Super Rally Qualifying
12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m Track Break
1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2WD Eliminations
2:10 p.m. 3:10 p.m. AWD Eliminations
3:30 p.m. 4:10 p.m. 2WD Quarter-Finals
4:20 p.m. 5:00 p.m. AWD Quarter-Finals
5:15 p.m. 5:40 p.m. 2WD Semi-Final
5:45 p.m. 6:05 p.m. AWD Semi-Final
6:20 p.m 6:30 p.m. 2WD Finals
6:35 p.m. 6:45 p.m. AWD Finals
6:50 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 2WD/AWD Podium celebration
7:30p.m. 8:00p.m. News conference 2WD/AWD (credential-holders only)
8:00 p.m. Gates Close

Saturday, March 26*
8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. WILL CALL open
10:00 a.m. Gates open to public. Expo opens
10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Rallycross Qualifying: 2WD & AWD
11:15 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. 2WD Heats 1A-C
11:50 a.m. 12:20 p.m. AWD Heats 1A-C
12:20 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Track Break
12:30 p.m. 12:55 p.m. Driver autograph signing
1:30 p.m. 1:45 p.m. National Anthem and Driver Intros
1:55 p.m. 2:25 p.m. 2WD Heats 2A-C
2:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. AWD Heats 2A-C
3:05 p.m. 3:35 p.m. 2WD Heats 3A-C
3:40 p.m. 4:10 p.m. AWD Heats 3A-C
4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 2WD & AWD C&B MAINS (alternating 2WD/AWD)
5:45 p.m.- 5:55 p.m. FINALISTS (MAINS) DRIVER INTRODUCTION
6:00 p.m.- 6:15 p.m. 2WD A MAIN
6:30 p.m.- 6:45 p.m. 4WD A MAIN
6:50 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 2WD & AWD Podium celebration
7:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. News conference 2WD/AWD (credential-holders only)
8:00 p.m. Gates Close
*subject to change

Tickets for the Global RallyCross Championship, The Revolution / TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale are now on sale. Head-to-head SuperRally action takes place on Friday, while the five-car feature RallyCross event takes place on Saturday.
Friday is only $5.00 and Saturday, $20.00.
All seats are general admission and include access to the paddock and vendor display areas.
Gates open at 10:00 am both days. Detailed schedule is below and all events take place rain or shine.*