Rabbitts bounce to top of podium!

Brothers and ITCC regulars Barry Rabbitt, Keith Rabbitt and Shane Rabbitt locked out the podium in the final at the ITCC pre season karting Grand Prix night which was held at The Zone in Navan Co Meath last Saturday. It was the elder brother and Tuning Factory driver Barry Rabbitt who took outright honours with not only the win but the fastest lap of the night and joint highest points scorer. The youngest Rabbitt, Keith was second home after a race long battle with Shane who fought his way from the back of the field.

Direct off a flight from Zimbabwe, Alan Mackey took the ‘fastest fan’ award with his 4th place overall – a day in the passenger seat of some of the ITCCs top cars awaits – though rumours abound that Alan may well join the grid proper in his Fiat Punto Turbo!!
A total of 32 people were on hand to fight it out over the course of 24 heats, 8 semi finals and the final. The grids were a mix of ITCC racers, fans, mechanics and WAGS – the fact that a certain sister caught and passed her ITCC racer brother will not be mentioned – isn’t that right Brian Moore 🙂

Overall the night was a great success and funds were raised to help with the running of the class….. Watch out for the next one!

Championship Registration

A  reminder to those that have yet to register!
The cut off date for championship registration is March 11th. Only those who register before the cut of date will be guaranteed a grid slot if we decide to combine the two classes into one grid on any given race event.

Registration forms are available here – only registration forms complete with the registration fee will be accepted

Calendar Changes and Updates

The folowing changes and updates were disclosed at a meeting between Mondello Park, MSI officials and class co-ordinators on Wednesday 23.2.11

Due to a double booking, Mondello Park have had to push back the May 8th meeting by one week to May 15th. The track layout has also been changed to the International configuration. Entry fees, championship rounds etc all remain as was.

The Phoenix Park has been cancelled for 2011 due to the organisers not being able to secure sufficient sponsorship and the likelihood of poorly supported classes

Updated 2011 calendar is here

Mondello Park has been sanctioned as an official and recognised Motor Club – this means that all races, events, rules etc will remain as per previous years. Membership of the Mondello Park Motor Club will be €10 per year and they can stamp license forms once you become a member – we will put the forms online once they are published

Barry

Punto Abarths join ITCC

The ITCC are proud to announce that the Irish Punto Abarth series will join the ITCC grid in 2011 in a bid to secure their future after a number of tough seasons where the class struggled for entries.

Abarths will be a welcome addition to ITCC grid

 

The Punto Abarth series was founded in 2002 and has produced some fantastic racing over the years.A number of ITCC competitors have come from the series including Barry Rabbitt and Erik Holstein who were both race winners in the category.

Punto Abarth championship organisers decided to join in with the ITCC in a bid to help them re-establish their championship. It is expected that approximately 8 Abarths will join the ITCC for most of the season and despite being ITCC competitors first and foremost the cars will remain consistent with Punto Abarth regulations and a private sub championship for the Italian racers will be administered by its organising commitee.

Punto Abarth chairman, Hal McGuckin : ‘We are delighted to be part of the ITCC which with its comprehensive PR package and strenght in numbers is ideal to provide sanctory to our championship which like many others is experiencing difficult times in these economic conditions We hope that this security allied with the fantastic racing available in ITCC will encourage more Abarth drivers back into the class and we will be in a position to go it alone again in 2012’

With this news the ITCC is expecting entries of approximately 40 cars for each of its races in what is only the second year of the series. Championship Co ordinator Barry Rabbitt ‘ Having the Abarths come join our field is a real compliment for myself Philip and Brian, having raced in this class for many years I know just how competitive these cars and teams will be within the ITCC package – I wouldn’t be surprised to see Abarth drivers on the top steps of the Touring Class podium’

Abarth front runner Barry John McHenry who was instrumental in the move is excited by the confirmation ‘We(the drivers) were really starting to worry about where or if we could race this year, this news brings stability to the class and I can’t wait to get out and mix it up with Abarth and ITCC drivers alike’

The Abarth sub championship will be run over 4 or 5 of the ITCC races though it is expected that most competitors will compete in the whole of the ITCCs 14 race calendar including a visit to Anglesey over the Easter Weekend

Registration Deadline – 11/3/2011

Official registration for the 2011 season closes at midnight on Friday March 11th  – while registrations will be accepted after this date only those received by then will be used to determine the allocation of the lap time bracket that will split the Tourer Class from the Super Tourers.

Drivers who have registered by this date and who find themselves on the cusp of either class will be allowed the choice of class they wish to race in, though organisers will have the right to veto this decision if they see fit.

Drivers who are not registered by March 11th will forfeit any influence on their preferred class.

With registrations already in the high 20s it is expected that ITCC will have in excess of 40 cars at each of their 2011 events!

The Cameras are back!!!

VIDEO FOOTAGE CONFIRMED FOR 2011

The organisers of the Irish Touring Car Championship are proud to announce that they will continue their partnership with Frame It Productions for the 2011 season

The agreement stretches to cover at least 4 rounds of the ITCC with the hope to secure funding to film and produce the remaining two rounds held in Ireland. The cameras will be on hand for the first round at Mondello Park on April 10th and will be recording all four ITCC races on the day with the hope to have the footage available to view online within a week of the races. If additional funding is found in time the programmes will also be aired on Motors TV.

New Season New Clothing range for ITCC 2011

ITCC Karting Night – Feb 26th

This is tommorow night all are welcome ..

 

While the ITCC season doesn’t kick off proper until April 10th in Mondello Park first blood will be drawn at The Zone Karting Centre in Navan Co Meath on Saturday Feb 26th.

A full Grand Prix competition will be held on the demanding indoor circuit and is the perfect opportunity to put yourself up against the best ITCC drivers. While not on track an Archery competition will be under way and a selection of finger foods will be served

This event is open to drivers, mechanics, fans and ………well anybody however it is limited to 50 people and places are expected to fill up fast. To reserve your spot please reply here or by email – info@itcc.ie – and we will be accepted deposits shortly. Spectators are welcome to – however if you don’t throw a fiver in the bucket you will be escorted off the premises 😀

Are you ITCCs Fastest Fan?
The first non ITCC driver home will get a very special prize which will be a day at Mondello where he or she will be strapped into one of the top ITCC cars for some exhilarating passenger laps!

The price for all this is €55 and The Zone have generously agreed to donate a portion of the profits to the ITCCs TV fund – so get booked in and help out Irelands freshest race series.

Date: Saturday February 26th
Time: 18.00-22.00hrs
Venue:The Zone, Navan Co Meath – http://www.thezone.ie
Price: €55
Email: info@itcc.ie