A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Toyota Yaris recall
TOYOTA IRELAND has said it is carrying out a voluntary recall of the Toyota Yaris model manufactured between April 2010 and last January. This is being carried out to replace a clip on the windscreen surround, which may become detached if airbags deploy in a crash. This recall affects 232 cars here. Letters will be sent by Toyota Ireland to customers. It will advise them to contact their nearest Toyota dealer who will arrange to do the required check and repair free of charge.
Toyota owners who may have questions or concerns should contact their local Toyota dealer or Toyota Ireland customer relations for assistance on 1800-224222.
Adare Manor gears up for Festival of Speed
IRELAND IS TO get its very own Festival of Speed this coming August Bank Holiday weekend in the grounds of Adare Manor, Co Limerick.
About 80 cars will sprint for 3km against the clock around the grounds of the manor on Sunday, July 31st. The track events are to be hosted by Limerick Motor Club and some of the cars tackling the course will include the 1969 Formula 1 World Championship winning Brabham BT24, Chevy Camaro, a 1927 Bentley and many more. There will also be the Sasol Jordan F1 car doing demonstration laps.
Speaking on The Irish TimesMotors podcast, spokesperson Declan Quigley said that Limerick has heritage as a racing venue. "There was the Limerick Grand Prix, which was held in 1935, 1936 and 1938, and the organisers have decided to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the middle one. That is part of the occasion and Ireland has a great road-racing heritage. The venue in Adare Manor is stunning."
There will be a very interesting way to judge the event too, according to Quigley. “There are going to be six different classes running from pre-war, pre-1955, pre-1974, rally cars and saloons and the like. So there is a whole bunch of different classes but the overall winner of the event is going to be chosen by a committee. So if you are well in with the committee and you turn your car out well, and you really get the most out of the car then there is a good chance you could turn out with the top prize.”
See irishfestivalofspeed.com
Maxwell Motors is back
MAXWELL MOTORS in Blackrock, Co Dublin, re-opened yesterday under new ownership after the purchase of the business as a going concern by Frank Keane Holdings.
The sale was agreed with Grant Thornton, the receiver appointed to the firm by Ulster Bank and Lombard Finance.
Frank Keane already operates a sizeable BMW and Mini dealership on the Naas Road and is the national distributor for Mitsubishi Motors, among other business interests.
However, a spokesman said Maxwell Motors would operate as a used-car outlet only and there were no plans to apply for either a BMW or a Mitsubishi dealership for the site.