The PlayStation®2 Rally Experience at Punchestown on July 25th.

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Peugeot World Rally driver Freddy Loix confirmed for PlayStation®2 Rally Experience

Peugeot Sport works driver Freddy Loix has been confirmed as an entry for the PlayStation®2 Rally Experience at Punchestown on July 25th. The Belgian, who is making his second appearance at the international rally sprint, will drive a Peugeot 206 WRC and joins Ford Rallye Sport ace Markko Martin of Estonia as one of the star drivers who will compete in the one day motorsport spectacular.

One of the world rally championship's funniest and most likeable characters, Freddy will double drive Ireland's sole Peugeot 206 WRC with the car's regular driver George Tracey. A big hit with spectators in 2001 when he drove for the Ralliart World Rally Team on the event, 'Fast Freddy' as he is known to his fans gained a large number of Irish supporters and his return to Punchestown will be very popular with rally followers from around the country. Freddy will travel to Ireland fresh from competing in the Eifel Rally in Germany on July 15-17 which he and the Peugeot Sport team are using as preparation for the World Rally Championship counting Rallye Deutschland next month.

'We are delighted to confirm Freddy as an entry for the PlayStation®2 Rally Experience. He really enjoyed his last visit to Ireland and has wanted to come back ever since to enjoy more of the Irish hospitality. Freddy gained a lot of Irish fans on his last visit so it is great that we have been able to organise for him to come back and entertain the crowds once again', said event organiser Ronan Morgan.

The PlayStation®2 Rally Experience takes place over a 4km asphalt stage at Punchestown Racecourse, on Sunday, 25th July and will see each of the 30 invited drivers compete over 8 timed runs of the exciting spectator course.

In addition to giving Irish sports fans the rare chance to see top world rally championship drivers in action, the 2004 event will be a unique opportunity for WRC fans and gamers alike to preview WRC 4TM, the fourth addition of the only officially licensed game of the FIA World Rally Championship. Spectators will also be able to test their own rallying skills in a WRC Challenge in the PlayStation Dome which will be located in the main paddock.

Full details of the PlayStation®2 Rally Experience including directions to Punchestown can be found by logging on to the event's official web site www.punchestownrally.com

Check out images from the last Rally Experience in our gallery. (http://www.eforecourt.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=16)

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Irish Rugby team Captain O'Driscoll to co-drive for WRC star at PlayStation®2 Rally Experience

Some of sport's biggest names will be at Punchestown Racecourse this Sunday (25th July) when they take part in the PlayStation®2 Rally Experience. Irish Rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll and former World Snooker champion Ken Doherty will both take up new sporting roles on the event when they become rally co-drivers for the one-day international rallysprint.

Currently one of the top rugby players in the world, O'Driscoll will make his motorsport debut when he co-drives for Peugeot World Rally ace Freddy Loix. Replacing the Belgian's regular co-driver Sven Smeets in the high powered Peugeot 206WRC for the event, the International rugby star will face a totally new challenge when he guides Loix over the exciting 4km rally stage at the county Kildare racecourse.

Voted 'Ireland's Sexiest Man' by Social & Personal magazine, O'Driscoll will be joined by three other members of Ireland's Triple Crown winning squad with Victor Costello, Reggie Corrigan and Shane Horgan all set to take up co-driving duties on the event.

Another international sporting star who will take part in the PlayStation®2 Rally Experience is snooker ace Ken Doherty. The former World Champion will be making his second appearance at the event having co-driven for double World Rally champion Miki Biasion from Italy in 2001. Having experienced the adrenaline-pumping ride, Doherty should be able to advise his fellow sporting stars on the high speed challenge which lies ahead.

In addition to sporting heroes a number of other celebrities will take part in the event including international performer Ronan Keating.

The PlayStation®2 Rally Experience is set to get underway at 10:30 and will see 30 rally crews plus four amazing Rallycross Supercars do battle for honours at Punchestown which this year features a unique new dual lane start/finish line.

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A spectacular 170kph crash during last weekend's Rally of Argentina has ruled Ford World Rally star Markko Martin out of next Sunday's PlayStation®2 Rally Experience at Punchestown. The 28-year old Estonian, currently No. 3 in the World Championship, was to have competed with 30 of Ireland's best drivers in a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car at the sprint event.

Märtin crashed violently on the fifth speed test in Argentina, his Focus rolling end over end several times at almost 170kph. The crash happened after he landed on bed rock jutting out of the track after a flat out jump. The car was destroyed but the strength of the Focus allowed Märtin and co-driver Park to climb from the wreckage with no serious injuries. Having been taken to hospital for a scan and X-rays Martin was flown back to Britain for further tests. He was suffering from blurred vision.

It is unclear whether he will participate in the next round of the Championship, in Finland.

"After such a heavy accident it is important that Markko rests and receives the necessary medical treatment. On the advice of our medical staff we have unfortunately had to withdraw him from the event." explained Ford BP team director Malcolm Wilson.

"Markko's absence is a disappointment, especially as it was to have been his first visit here," said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. 'Nonetheless, thousands of rally fans will have lots to shout about on Sunday in what is a one-off event on our sporting calendar."

The organisers of the event expect to announce another WRC driver to replace Martin in the coming days.