Rallying is coming to the people next month as the 2025 Modern Tyres Ulster Rally gears up to bring drivers, co-drivers and their cars to one of Banbridge’s most popular places.
On Saturday, August 16th – the second and final day of the iconic closed-road event – the town’s Boulevard Outlet complex is going to be the backdrop for an all-new regroup.
Located just off the A1 between Belfast and Dublin, this fresh addition to this year’s re-jigged route promises to give everyone from die-hard fans to curious shoppers a rare and exciting opportunity to get up close to the cars – and meet many of the top Rally2 crews. Two- and four-wheel-drive machinery is scheduled to start arriving from midday onwards.
Wayne Turkington – the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally Clerk of the Course – says the regroup at The Boulevard will form a colourful centrepiece midway through the Saturday element of the rally, which is a round of the Irish Tarmac Championship and European Rally Trophy.
“Everyone at the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is absolutely thrilled to be able to bring this iconic event to The Boulevard this year,” said Turkington. “This new regroup is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport right in the heart of Banbridge’s busiest retail area.
“It means that fans, young and old – and even those who have never seen a rally car before – can experience this special atmosphere, meet the drivers, and get up close to the cars in a relaxed and family-friendly setting. It is all about making rallying more accessible and more visible and The Boulevard offers the perfect backdrop to do just that,” he continued.
The 47th running of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is reverting back to a two-day format that blends day and night time speed tests. Across the two legs, crews will tackle more than 100 competitive miles in the Newry and Banbridge areas, with rally HQ and the service park both located in Modern Tyres’ modern facility in Newry’s Carnbane Industrial Estate.
The action begins proper on the Friday (August 15th) afternoon from 3pm with the first of three stages that are repeated later that evening. The action resumes at 9.30am on Saturday, with stages based in and around Banbridge. Again, three distinct stages will be run twice. At 56 miles, Saturday’s action ends at 4.45pm when the winners are crowned.
