The countdown is officially under way for the Toddsleap.com Ulster Rally, taking place this year over the weekend of 22nd/23rd August…

With a new main sponsor on board and an extra fourteen competitive stage miles on offer, the 2008 Ulster is set to thrill, as once more the twisting and tricky lanes in a thirty mile radius around Armagh City echo to the roar of rally cars on the redline!

If anyone knows just how big a challenge lies ahead it's the new Parkanaur stage sponsor and Escort Mk2 maestro Paul Hughes (pictured below) of the Omagh based NI Shotblasting Company. "The Ulster is always an extremely challenging event," says Hughes. "You have the night driving on the Friday, which really sorts out the men from the boys and those lanes can be bone dry at one point, damp and greasy just around the corner. It's fantastic to be associated with this years Ulster, I wanted to put something back into one of my favourite events. If you like adrenalin, the Ulster is a total blast, for crews and spectators alike!"

As well as the extra fourteen stage miles new for 2008, the event now has a shakedown stage on the Friday morning, and features two completely new stages, which will test 'old hands' and 'first timers' to the very limit of their skill!

The Friday action will cover some 50 stage miles, while the Saturday will see crews battle it out over 85 stage miles, giving an event total of some 135 thrill-packed stage miles.

As in 2007, Rally HQ is at the Armagh City Hotel, with the start/finish in The Mall. Scrutiny and Parc Ferme are at the Palace Depot Workshop, with service areas at the hotel, Armagh Rugby Club and the Christian Brothers PS.

A key round of the 2008 Global Group Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the event will also play host to rounds of the Tesco 99 British Rally Championship, the Mitsubishi Ralliart Evo Challenge, the Suzuki Swift Cup, the UK and Irish C2R2 series, the Fiesta Sporting Trophy Ireland series and the Global Group Tarmac Historic Rally Championship - putting some of the quickest cars and drivers from throughout the UK and Ireland head to head!

Anyone wishing to get really close to this awesome action is invited to join the marshalling team for this year's event, and there are still some fantastic sponsorship slots available for anyone wishing to support the 2008 Ulster Rally. Interested parties should contact Ian Duff, Rally Commercial Manager, on 07876060616 for a copy of the 2008 Sponsorship Opportunities pack.

Remember to keep an eye on the 2008 Toddsleap.com Ulster Rally website at: www.ulsterrally.com