The following article appears in the 2024 Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally Program. Priced at €15, the 128-Page bumper issue is full of all the information needed to enjoy the event, and are available now in the following shops;
A new year brings a new look and a fresh feel as we say goodbye and thanks to IPS Packaging for the many years of support and we welcome our new sponsor for 2024, Ace Signs. With all eyes firmly on the bustling town of Clonakilty which will host the opening rounds of the 2024 Ace Signs Southern 4 Rally Championship and a return to action on the southern high roads and by roads for another year in a whistle stop tour that will take in the new 3 day West Cork, Killarney Rally of the Lakes, Circuit of Munster, Stonethrowers, Cork 20, Kerry Mini Stages and Historic Lakes before the end of the year.
With West Cork, Killarney and the Cork 20 bringing an international rally flavour to the mix along with some one day competitor favourites it has all the makings of a great club driver championship for another year.
With a number of our previous front running competitors making the jump to R5 machinery for this season including our reigning champion Eddie Doherty it will add an extra spice and reinforce the furious level of competition in the championship. Another major part of the 2023 championship was the battle that raged all year round to decide the Historic champions with it all going down to the wire on the final round.
The support of Junior Drivers is a very serious guiding principle that the Southern 4 holds as a value. This point is once again demonstrated with the very generous package laid on for the winner of the Junior championship this year will receive a prize fund that will cover the entry for all their southern 4 junior round entries for the 2025 season with the championship winning navigator receiving a set of notes for each round as well.
Few championships have ever offered such a variety of testing conditions for crews as seen in the 2023 Southern 4 season, with drivers, navigators and cars pushed to the limit in everything from Icy conditions, Torrential Rain and Tar-melting Heat, in some cases even all three in a single day. From the blistering blast into Ring Village, to the iconic left swing through Molls Gap, add in the vistas of the Treaty County and the high banked lanes of Mid-Cork, it’s fair to say that we really pushed our crews last year across some of the finest stages that Munster has to offer. And we will do it again for 2024!!
The hard working team lead once again by Chairman John Buttimer and with the support of Neil Phelan as title sponsor will endeavor to make the 2024 Ace Signs Southern 4 championship one to remember and offer the service to the competitors registered on a level of a World Championship all for the price of a club competitor orientated scene.
For more information check out www.facebook.com/southern4rc
