David Carney claimed one of the biggest victories of his career to date by winning the Citroen Racing Trophy section of the Killarney Rally of the Lakes at the weekend. In the process, the Aughagower driver finished a highly creditable sixth overall on the International category of this prestigious rally. Despite early brake problems on his Citroen C2R2 Max, Carney held a comfortable second in category from the start, initially behind championship leader Kevin O'Connor, with Kieran Daly then taking over the lead.

Top placed local finishers on the 2012 McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally were the brothers Loughney,Colin from Hollymount and Michael from Killala finishing 29th overall in their Ford Escort Mark 2, and taking second in class 12 in the process. Sean McHugh and Paul McLaughlin were the next best placed locals.

February 29th may only come around one year in four, but for children of Bohola National School last Wednesday was a day to remember for another reason entirely. With the Mayo Stages Rally passing close by to their school this weekend, they got a very special opportunity to learn about the safety measures in place to run a motor rally, as well as a first hand demonstration of safety equipment on board a current rally car.

The stage is set for a week-end of high-octane motorsport action, as the McWilliam Park Hotel and Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Stages Rally arrives into town this Friday. With many of the best rally drivers and state-of-the-art rally cars set to do battle over 120 kilometres of special stages to the north of Claremorris, there promises to be spills and thrills aplenty before the action concludes back at rally headquarters The McWilliam Park Hotel on Sunday evening.

Mayo & District Motorsport Club has teamed up with Mayo County Council Road Safety Officer Noel Gibbons and Claremorris Chamber of Commerce in an initiative to get local schools involved in the excitement of this year’s Mayo Stages Rally.

The 2012 Irish motorsport season kicks off in earnest this week-end with the running of the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, the Safety Direct Galway International Rally. In a new departure for the traditional two-day event, the 2012 rally will take place over one day only, with ten stages scheduled for Sunday February 5th.

The Road Safety Authority's ongoing road safety campaign is aimed directly at the heart of local communities nationwide.  The cornerstone of this programme includes a mobile Interactive Road Safety Road Show or Shuttle which is full of state-of-the-art road safety technology including simulators and multimedia experiences.

With under two months to go to this year’s Mayo Stages Rally, officials and club members of Mayo & District Motorsport Club are working flat out to ensure a successful running of this major sporting occasion.The rally, which takes place on Sunday March 13th, 2011, returns to the Claremorris region following a highly successful event last year.

Roscommon driver, James Lennon, took the laurels at the Mayo & District Motorsport Club’s final Autocross of the year.