NI HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP LAUNCHES IN BELFAST TITANIC QUARTER…

The 2018 ANICC Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship calendar was released today (Thursday 5 May) at a press launch held at the Belfast Audi dealership at Titanic Quarter.

This year’s Championship begins on April 14th at Croft Hillclimb near Holywood organised by the Thoroughbred Sportscar Club NI (TSCCNI ). The County Down venue hosts the first of nine rounds which will see competitors travel across Northern Ireland testing their skills and cars at some of the most scenic and challenging roads in the country.

Speaking to a gathering of invited media, competitors and motor club officials, Conor Lavery, ANICC’s Co-Ordinator for the Championship said:

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank John Rice and Murray Harrison of Jem Oils, the main Authorised Distributor for Millers Oils. They have sponsored the Championship for the last fourteen years making it one of the longest and most successful sponsorships which the ANICC has ever had. The Millers Oils brand is a great fit for our Championship, specialising as they do in automotive products, particularly motorsport oils.”

A large crowd attended at the launch of the 2018 ANICC Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship.

He added: “ This year’s Championship features a great variety of events taking place right across Northern Ireland from Spamount in the very south west of the country to Eagles Rock on the North Coast. The Greater Belfast area also sees rounds taking place at Croft, near Holywood and Craigantlet looking down on the City. Seven different Motor Clubs with dozens of volunteer officials organise the events allowing competitors to enjoy the challenge of competing against the clock on closed public roads.

“ The Championship features no less than eighteen Classes reflecting the wide variety of vehicles in which competitors choose to compete. Spectators can see everything from standard showroom saloons through highly modified saloon and sportscars to the specialised hillclimb single seater racing cars which usually win the events overall with their incredible performance. To see these vehicles at speed on a closed public road is quite a sight. “

Hillclimb committee members at the launch of the 2018 ANICC Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship – L-R; Alan Cassells; Ian Lancashire; Gerard O’Connell; Conor Lavery; Brendan Flynn; Philip Montgomery; David Gibson.

Hillclimb Champion for the past two years Christopher Houston will be trying for a hat trick of titles but is sure to be pushed all the way by Richard McGimpsey, last year’s runner up – both men running hillclimb specification single seater racing cars. In the Saloon car sections, previous Champions Roger and Rudi Gage from Ballymoney will compete against the fast Fords of Gerard O’Connell and David and Mark Francis. Just as fierce will be the battles for Class Championships right down through the field.

Commenting on behalf of sponsors, Jem Oils, Director John Rice said:

“We’re delighted to continue our company’s long relationship with ANICC and the Hillclimb Championship. It is an excellent platform for the Millers Oils products in Northern Ireland and we are very pleased to see a capacity entry already in for next week’s first round of the Championship at Croft Hillclimb.”

Murray Harrison & John Rice (JEM Oils – Millers Oils Authorised Distributor); Chris Houston (Reigning NI Hillclimb champion); Brian McCrory (Belfast Audi, host of todays launch) at the launch of the 2018 ANICC Millers Oils Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship.

2018 ANICC MILLERS OILS N.I. HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

 14 April: Croft Hillclimb (Holywood, Co. Down)

28 April: Drumhorc Hillclimb (Laurencetown near Banbridge)

05 May: Craigantlet Hillclimb (Craigantlet Hills above Belfast)

26 May: Spamount Hillclimb (Castlederg, Co. Tyrone)

29 June + 30 June: Cairncastle Hillclimb Festival (Larne, Co. Antrim)

11 August: Garron Point Hillclimb (Carnlough, Co. Antrim)

25 August: Eagles Rock Hillclimb (Magilligan, near Coleraine)

15 Sept: Knockagh Hillclimb (nr. Carrickfergus)

For more information – www.anicc.org.uk | www.facebook.com/northernirelandhillclimb

Photos: Graham Curry
[images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]