Shakedown and Qualifying stage gets Circuit of Ireland underway

The 2016 Circuit of Ireland Rally gets underway today with competitors putting their cars through free practice, shakedown and a qualifying stage ahead of Friday’s first competitive day.
Now in its 85th year, the circuit – based in Counties Antrim and Down, is part of the European, British, Northern Ireland and Irish Tarmac championships and is the second round of the ERC schedule.
Waterford’s Craig Breen, driving a Citreon, is the top seed and will look to defend the title he won last year while Elfyn Evans in a Ford is seeded at two and Fermanagh’s Alastair Fisher also in a Fiesta R5 is sixth.
Donegal’s Joseph McGonigle will race his Skoda Fabia in the International Rally and Letterkenny’s Johnny Baird is seeded second in the National Rally with driver Wesley Patterson on-board the MK2 Escort.
The Ceremonial Start in Lisburn gets underway at 6.30pm this evening.