ERC: Tuthill Porsche ready to return
Porsche is set to make a long-awaited return to rallying in Ireland with Tuthill Porsche entering a modified 911 into the Circuit of Ireland Rally, which hosts the third round of the European Rally championship.
The Banbury-based team currently lead the 2015 FIA R-GT Cup and grabbed victory at the Monte Carlo Rally with four-time WRC winner Francois Delecour at the wheel. In Ireland, however, Robert Woodside will take over driving duties with regular co-driver Alan Harryman.
Northern Irishman Woodside, who won four stages in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X in last year's event, is relishing the challenge of racing a Porsche at the Circuit of Ireland. The German manufacturer has been absent from the top levels of rallying for 30 years.
"I grew up watching Porsche 911s winning Irish rallies," Woodside said. "Who could forget Henri Toivonen and Billy Coleman in the Rothmans Porsche 911s of the 1980s, which Tuthill Porsche had a hand in building.
"After testing the latest incarnation, Tuthill's 911 R-GT rally car, on Irish roads earlier this year, it soon became obvious why rally fans across mainland Europe have rejoiced: it looks terrific and goes like a rocket.
Tuthill boss Richard Tuthill says he is delighted to see the Porsche 911 R-GT return to rallying in Ireland. The Porsche 911 made its official rally debut at last year's Rallye Deutschland, driven by Tuthill with regular WRC co-driver Stephane Prevot and in the process became the first Porsche to finish a World Rally race in 28 years.
"Four decades after the most recent victory for a Porsche 911, we take inspiration from the spirit of St Patrick, bringing the excitement of sports cars in rallying to a new generation of rally fans," he said.
The Circuit of Ireland Rally runs between the 2-4 April and acts as the third round of the European Rally Championship.
