Motorsport enthusiasts and car owners from the Connaught region, involved in the Hill Climb and Sprint events this year, gathered in Oranmore for the

first of the pre-season scrutiny events, hosted by Frank Byrnes Autobody Repair.

The national committee introduced the pre-season scrutiny as part of their ongoing development of the sports to constantly improve all standards,
in particular safety. There was a very positive response with a constant stream of cars of all shapes and sizes rolling in all day and cups of hot
tea provided by Frank Byrnes.

‘We’re pleased with the response to the new pre-season scrutiny events which were introduced this year for the first time, by the national committee.
With safety always being paramount and our number one priority, we strive to bring the safest event venues possible and also to ensure that the
competition cars are of the highest standard in terms of maintenance and repair,’ said Rory Stephens, Chairman of Hillclimb & Sprint Committee.

The championships attract competitors from all over the country, with class ranging from a special Fiat Cento class to single seaters with unlimited
capacity, there is a class to suit all tastes.

With many drivers tweaking and modifying their hillclimb cars to improve them for 2016, and a number of new builds due out on the hills the pre-season scrutiny gave car owners the opportunity to have their cars checked out well in advance of the race days. Car owners had their cars checked in detail and discussed various aspects of safety and assembly with experienced scrutineers without the pressure of failing scrutiny at an event. The scrutineers were also on hand to answer questions on class/award eligibility, roll cage design and crash structure design. Catering for car owners in the East, John Linane Motors hosted the second pre-season scrutiny day in Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

Details of the upcoming Naylor Engineering Hillclimb and Sprint Championship were announced at a launch event in the RDS, Dublin last month. The
competition will be contested over fourteen rounds at eight venues nationwide. After a championship warm-Up event in Wexford on April 9th, the 2016 Motorsport Ireland Championship kicks off at the famous “Corkscrew” hill in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare on April 23rd to 24th.

Frank Byrnes of Oranmore has been a long time participant and supporter of this Motorsport Ireland championship, he holds the title of Irish Hillclimb
Champion 2001, 2002 and 2006 and is the only person from the Republic of Ireland to have won the Northern Ireland Hill Climb Championship (2007 and
was runner-up in 2009). Frank has been acknowledged locally at the County Galway Sports Star Awards for Motorsports in 2001, 2002 and 2007. He was the recipient of the Galway Bay FM Sports Star Award for Motorsport in 2002 and won the title of Galway Motorsport Champion 2001, 2002 and 2007.