Tony Jardine and Maurice Hamilton ready for Donegal International

Sky Sports News F1 analyst Tony Jardine and TalkSPORT Radios F1 Correspondent Maurice Hamilton will once again renew their Rallying partnership to contest the 2013 Topaz Donegal International Rally. The pair will compete in a Mitsubishi Evo VI run once again by the ProSpeed Team and boss Olly Marshall.This weekend and it is the challenge of some World famous stages that the duo will tackle in the MIS Motorsport and Kumho Tyres backed car, with familiar names such as Atlantic Drive, Knockalla and Garygort all ready to test the duo over the next three competitive days in the Richard Hogg supplied car.The team were also happy to welcome back on board, the Castlemurray House Hotel as well as long term partners Arai and Alpinestars.The event starts in Letterkenny tomorrow Friday (21st June) with 20 tests and over 300km of stages spread over three days. On leaving the start ramp the crew will have six competitive stages to tackle, totaling 80km just south of Letterkenny and return to the town for Service. The first stage is due to start at just after midday, with the cars scheduled to return to Letterkenny later that evening for the overnight halt of the opening day.Saturday however is a long and demanding day for all the crews, with eight tests lined up, with famous names such as Grove Hall, Gartan and Garrygort as well as a double visit to Knockalla to ensure that the demands are high on all the crews. It will be an early 9.00am start, the finish scheduled for around 6.00pm that evening.Sunday will see the crews tackle the remaining six stages of the 2013 Topaz Donegal International Rally, and these include the world famous High Glenn, Atlantic Drive, which as the names suggests winds its way around some of the most breathtaking views in Ireland, with the Ocean a natural backdrop, and of course the finale of Fanad Head.The crews will then make their way to the Finish Ramp at Rally Headquarters, the Mount Errigal, where the crowds will welcome back the drivers.The Donegal Rally holds a special place in the hearts of all Rally Drivers, it has a special spirit and unique experience all of its own, and after carrying out his recce Tony said This is the most amazing place to have a rally, the beauty of it this week has really taken our breath away. The sun was out when we made our pacenotes, and we had to stop and take some of it in. I really do love this event, I love rallying in Ireland full stop, but there is something about the North West of Ireland. We have had such a massive welcome from everyone we have met, and I am glad that Maurice and I have our work done, so to speak and tomorrow we can get started and to be honest I cannot wait.When asked about the stages that they had been on, and the nature of them Tony said They will be tricky, especially if it gets wet. On the dry they will be fast, very fast, but with rain, we will have to respect the road surface, but we have Kumho Tyres, the best wet tyres there is, so I have to be honest and say we are quietly confident.For Maurice originally from Bangor, its like a kind of homecoming, and for him too, this part of the North West is always good to come to, and he said Its funny yknow but Rallying here is massive, and the Donegal International is the biggest event of the year. When you grow up here as I did, there was always rallying taking place, you just went, and if you didnt you missed out. The stages are in good condition this year, and rest assured myself and Tony will be trying, I promise.

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