British & Irish Rally calendars 2022

[HKSjbg]

Speaking of the CoI the maps have been posted on rally-maps:

https://www.rally-maps.com/Circuit-o...and-Rally-2022

I’m not here to bash the organisers or the event but it’s a pretty sad state of affairs that although 11 stages and 192km, there are 2(!) unique stages. Basically Glendun and Cairncastle run three times each and then again in reverse (though Sunday sees Glendun run twice and Cairncastle is actually 7.5km longer than it’s reverse counterpart).

Meanwhile the Manx (International) Rally is running 175.5km of double-run only stages a month later:

https://www.manxautosport.org/wp-con...ally-Final.pdf

[Fast Eddie WRC]

I was thinking the same... the Circuit of Ireland is now more of a run around the block.

Another pity is the increasing dominance of the Polo R5 over there - 6 of the top 10 cars now. On a podcast I heard that any Polo that comes up for sale in Ireland is sold in about 15 mins !! MEM said they could've sold their Polo's twice over no bother.

[satnav]

Here is a bit of an explanation as to the route for the Circuit.

https://rallyinsight.com/2022/04/08/...d-rally-route/

[satnav]

Seems Devine has switched to a Polo for the CoI. I hope this is just while his Fiesta is being fixed.

Don't think so, this was talked about after Galway, so its been in the pipeline a while.

https://rallyinsight.com/2022/04/13/...ch-to-polo-r5/

[satnav]

Also going back to the Circuit of Ireland, as you can see on the stage maps there are a lot of chicanes and if a competitor hits a bale or barrier that then needs a marshal to move it back to its original position it will be a 30 second penalty for each offence.

Hopefully this doesn't spoil the event for some crews, as the crews were also saying they have been told at recce sign on if they even touch the plastic barriers with a wing mirror it will be a 10 second penalty although i can't see any mention of this in either the regs or the bulletin.

Time will tell

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Don't think so, this was talked about after Galway, so its been in the pipeline a while.

https://rallyinsight.com/2022/04/13/...ch-to-polo-r5/

Yeah I just read that too.

The Polo R5 has apparently become the car to have in Ireland since they all saw the speed of Edwards and Pryce on the 2021 Ulster Rally.

[HKSjbg]

Here is a bit of an explanation as to the route for the Circuit.

https://rallyinsight.com/2022/04/08/...d-rally-route/

Thanks for that! It all seems fair enough given the explanation offered - if it was just some marketing hype trying to avoid the burning question about ‘why only two stages’ then you’d feel a bit wary for the state of the rally in the future.

On this basis I’m sure for next year they’ll be able to run a more comprehensive stage itinerary.

[Sal yet again]

Polo might be the machine to have but a Hyundai is the car in front just now.

[PLuto]

Polo might be the machine to have but a Hyundai is the car in front just now.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Polo might be the machine to have but a Hyundai is the car in front just now.

This is true. Plus Craig Breen got some development done for the i20 R5 specifically for Irish roads so Moffett must be benefitting from this.

The early rounds may have suited the Hyundai but let''s see how it goes on the future events compared to the Polo's.