FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2005 |
Contact: Thomas Barker Press Officer, International Rally New York ThomasVBarker@netscape.net 203-229-0718 |
International Rally New York Boasts an International Field
Monticello, NY -- As of September 12, fifty entries have been received for International Rally New York (September 30-October 1, 2005). Competitors represent many countries including the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, Latvia, Argentina, and Greece. Among the expected front-running teams and cars in the field are the following:
Matt Iorio (Westmoreland, New Hampshire) and Ole Holter (Long Beach, California) - Subaru Impreza - This team is leading the United States Rally Championship (USRC) after podium finishes in the first two rounds; third in the Cherokee Trails Rally in Tennessee and second in the Subaru Rim of the World Rally in California.
Seamus Burke (Georgia-based Irishman; his co-driver is to be named) - Hyundai Tiburon - Burke has won two rounds of the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship, the SandBlast Rally in South Carolina and the spring Rally New York here in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
Tom Lawless (Irish, living in Yonkers, N.Y.) and Jason Gillespie (Irish, from Maspeth Queens, N.Y.) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - Overall winners of the 2005 Cherokee Trails Rally in Tennessee.
Ken Block (Encinitas, California) and Alex Gelsomino (Santa Clara, California) - Subaru Impreza WRX - Following a third place in the Subaru Rim of the World Rally in California, this team is well-placed in the United States Rally Championship.
Patrick Lilly and Bernard Farrell (both Irish, but residents of Yonkers, N.Y.) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - Frequent top finishers with a second in the SandBlast Rally and fourth in the Cherokee Trails.
Craig Hollingsworth and Jason Grahn (Zephyr Cove, Nevada) - Volkswagen Jetta GLI - This is the best-placed two-wheel-drive team in the USRC and the championship leaders in their class (2wd Open). They are bringing the car from the West Coast to compete here.
Adrian McElvanney (Ireland) and Paul Goodman (U.S.) - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo - McElvanney is a noted driver in Ireland. The car is rented from John Drislane, a three-time Rally New York winner.
The United States Rally Championship is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC) and it is presented by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). All events in this series, including International Rally New York, are listed as International rallies by the Federation International of the Automobile (FIA), the world governing body of motorsports. International Rally New York is also a round of the Eastern States Rally Championship (ESRC), organized by NASA Rally Sport.
International Rally New York will be broadcast later this year by the Speed Channel cable television network, as part of the "Motosport Mundial" program. Consult their web site, www.speedtv.com for the date and time. A webcast of the show will be available at www.revs.tv.