The town of Downpatrick is preparing to host a three-day motorsport festival as the Carryduff Forklift Rallye Lecale brings national rallying back to the area. Organisers expect around 100 drivers to take part in the event, which is a round of the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship.
Programme and locations
The festival opens on Thursday 23 February at 7pm with an invitational autotest in the Market Street car park, featuring many of the province’s top drivers in close-quarters precision driving. Scrutineering for participating cars is scheduled at Downpatrick racecourse on Friday afternoon and early evening. A ceremonial start will take place outside the St Patrick Centre between 7pm and 9pm on Friday, where drivers will appear on the start ramp for interviews with fans and media.
| Day | Key activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Invitational autotest, Market Street car park | 7pm |
| Friday | Scrutineering, Downpatrick racecourse | Afternoon and early evening |
| Friday | Ceremonial start, St Patrick Centre | 7pm–9pm |
| Saturday | Competitive stages begin | 8.49am (first stage) |
| Saturday | Winners announced, St Patrick Centre | Around 5pm |
Local clubs and community partners
The event has been organised by Ballynahinch and District Motor Club in partnership with the Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. Promoters say the rally will both showcase the town and give residents an opportunity to see competitors up close at the ceremonial start.
Drivers and local interest
Drivers have been registering and recceing the stages in advance. Among them is Ballynahinch competitor Josh Douglas, who emphasised the local significance of the event for him personally:
"This is my home rally and I’m really looking forward to it and I should at least know one of the stages pretty well,"
Douglas added that the rally is a credit to his club and those supporting the event, and that the ceremonial start gives local people a chance to meet the drivers. Newry’s Noel Vallely, a rally competitor of 25 years, is also entered and said he is keen to test his skills on familiar roads in his Toyota Corolla.
Practical information for residents and visitors
- Expect increased traffic and possible road closures around stages on Saturday; organisers advise checking local notices for precise timings and diversion routes.
- The ceremonial start outside the St Patrick Centre on Friday evening is open to the public and offers the best opportunity to see cars and drivers up close.
- Spectators should follow marshals’ instructions at stage locations and avoid standing on the outside of corners for safety reasons.
The return of national-level rallying to Downpatrick represents a notable local sporting occasion, bringing competitors from across the province to test local roads and providing a weekend of motorsport activity for residents and visitors alike. Organisers and community partners have sought to balance the spectacle with safety and convenience for the town.
