Donegal International Rally

The Donegal International Rally is an annual sporting event held in County Donegal, Ireland. It is a well-established Irish annual rally competition and has been one of the most important events in the Irish Rallying calendar.[1] It has a reputation for being one of the country's most challenging rallies.[2] Organized by the Donegal Motor Club, the annual event begins and concludes in Letterkenny.[3]

Donegal International Rally
CategoryRally
Inaugural season1972
Drivers' champion Sam Moffett
Co-Drivers' champion James Fulton
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Current season
Celtic Rally Trophy
Current season
European Rally Championship (1975-1979)
Donegal International Rally
DatesJune 19, 2020 (2020-06-19) - June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21) postponed
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)County Donegal
Country Ireland
Most recent2019
Organised byDonegal Motor Club
Sponsorcartell.ie
Joule
WebsiteWebsite

Donegal International Rally has been one of the rounds of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for a number of years.

History

1972 event

The winner of the first event was Cahal Curley. When the event began in 1972, it was based in Downings, but, afterwards, it moved to Letterkenny.

1985 event

At the 1985 event there was just a one second-difference, between the top two finishing cars.

2001 event

The event, along with most events that year, was cancelled due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.[4]

This was significant blow to local economy. The event is estimated to be worth over €20 million to the Donegal economy each year. The rally attracts approximately 120,000 spectators each year. [1]

2002 event

At the 2002 event two marshals were killed. The two 22-year-old men, one from Moville, the other from Crossmaglen, died when a car crashed into spectators at around 2.00 pm. Three men were also injured. The remaining stages of the event were cancelled after the serious accident on Stage Two.[5] Andrew Nesbitt was announced as winner as he led the rally at the time of the accident.

This led to the Motorsport Commission to inspect safety at all future events.[6]

2008 event
Crowds at the 2008 Rally in Donegal Town.

At the 2008 event an 18-year-old spectator died after being hit by a competing car, at 3.30 pm. The accident happened at Ballyare, about four miles from Letterkenny. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.[7][8][9] The road was closed and did not re-open for some time. Organisers cancelled the rally for the rest of the day and later announced that the 2008 event would be abandoned as a mark of respect[10][11] Eugene Donnelly was announced as winner as he led the rally at the time of the accident.

2010 event

On Saturday Afternoon 19 June 2010, a co-driver died after the car he was in crashed on the Knockalla stage, south of Portsalon, of the event shortly after 3 pm. Thomas Maguire, Aged 26, from Longwood, County Meath was killed and his driver, Shane Buckley, critically injured. As a result, the final stage of the rally was cancelled. This was the first time in the rally's history that a competitor was killed during the rally.[12]

2019 event

The Donegal Rally continued to be a counting round of the FIA Celtic Rally Trophy since 2016.[13] The event attracted a lot of international attention, including Ken Block who showcased his Ford Escort Cosworth. Ken crashed out at SS2 on the first day, but was back the second day under rally 2 rule.[14]

Due to high traffic and spectator volumes, SS7 on the first day had to be cancelled as a safety measure.[15] On the third day of the rally, 23 June 2019 at approximately 12:30 IST, three-time and defending champion Manus Kelly crashed during a stage on the Fanad Head loop. His Hyundai i20 R5 went through a hedge into a field and was extensively damaged. Gardaí confirmed that Kelly had died in the incident. His injured co-driver Donall Barrett was taken to hospital and the remaining stages of the rally were cancelled. A 41-year-old father of five and a prominent local businessman, Kelly had been elected to Donegal County Council less than a month before his death. Numerous politicians and representatives of the Irish motorsport community expressed sympathy to his family and paid tribute to the late champion, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar calling him a "phenomenal motorsportsman."[16][17][18] At his funeral, 2014 champion Declan Boyle drove Kelly's Subaru Impreza S12B WRC before the funeral cortège, with Kelly's son in the passenger seat.[19] Following the funeral mass, Kelly's brothers and friends carried his coffin across the Donegal International Rally ramp.[20]

2020 event

On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[21] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[22] On 28 April the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is cancelled.[23] The event can still go ahead anyway, but will not be a counting round of the ITRC.

Shortly after Motorsport Ireland announcement messages on Facebook started circulating that the Donegal Rally is cancelled.[24] Other sources claimed that it has been postponed.[25] Donegal Motor Club stepped in to correct the rumours that the event is not cancelled, and if permitted, will go ahead as planned on 19-21 June.[26] However, after the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[27] Motorsport Ireland released a statement same day that in line with Phase 4 of this road map the suspension of all motor sports events is extended until the 20 July 2020. Rally events fall under Phase 5 of the guidelines and will not be considered until after the 10 August 2020.[28]

Winners
Year Driver Co-Driver Car Notes
1972 Cahal Curley Peter Scott BMW 2002 [29]
1973 Cahal Curley Terry Harryman Porsche Carrera
1974 Cahal Curley Victor Armstrong Porsche Carrera
1975 Achim Warmbold John Davenport BMW 2002
1976 Brian Nelson Malcolm Neill Porsche Carrera
1977 Billy Coleman Austin Frazer Lancia Stratos HF
1978 Ari Vatanen Peter Bryant Ford Escort RS1800
1979 Brian Nelson Rodney Cole Ford Escort RS1800
1980 Jimmy McRae Mike Nicholson Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1981 John Lyons Bill Moffett Ford Escort RS1800
1982 John Lyons Bill Moffett Ford Escort RS1800
1983 Vincent Bonner Seamus McGettigan Ford Escort RS1800
1984 Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Opel Manta 400
1985 Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Porsche 911 SC RS
1986 Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan MG Metro 6R4
1987 Bertie Fisher Austin Frazer Opel Manta 400
1988 Mark Lovell Terry Harryman Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1989 David Llewellin Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four
1990 Austin McHale Dermot O'Gorman BMW M3
1991 James Cullen Ellen Morgan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1992 Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1993 Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1994 Stephen Finlay Roy Campbell Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995 Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1996 Andrew Nesbitt George Millar Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1997 Austin McHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1998 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1999 James Cullen Ellen Morgan Subaru Impreza 555
2000 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S5 WRC
2001 Event did not run, foot-and-mouth disease outbreak [30]
2002 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S6 WRC Event Cancelled after SS2 [31]
2003 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S7 WRC
2004 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [32]
2005 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [33]
2006 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 [34][35]
2007 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën C4 WRC [36]
2008 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Škoda Fabia WRC Event Stopped after SS11 [37]
2009 Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 [38]
2010 Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 Event Stopped after SS11 [39]
2011 Tim McNulty Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [40]
2012 Garry Jennings Neil Doherty Subaru Impreza S14 WRC 08 [41]
2013 Sam Moffett James O'Reilly Subaru Impreza WRC [42]
2014 Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [43]
2015 Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [44]
2016 Manus Kelly Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [45]
2017 Manus Kelly Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [46]
2018 Manus Kelly Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [47]
2019 Sam Moffett James Fulton Ford Fiesta RS WRC Event stopped after SS15 [48]
2020 Event postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
Driver most wins
Andrew Nesbitt6
Billy Coleman4
Bertie Fisher4
Driver most starts
Robbie Peoples28
Ivan Stewart27
James Cullen25
Daniel Conaghan24
Damien Gallagher23
Bertie Fisher22
Austin MacHale22
Most stage wins
Andrew Nesbitt89
Garry Jennings38
Eugene Donnelly29

* as of 2019[49]

Sponsors

The event was previously sponsored by Shell and Topaz Energy. The current sponsors of the Donegal International Rally are the Joule Group and The Mount Errigal Hotel.

References
  1. Donegal International Rally – Topaz Sponsorship Secures Future of Donegal International Rally Archived 10 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Jardine attempts vertical climb on Donegal. | Rally UK News
  3. Donegal geared up for International Rally – RTE News
  4. Shell Donegal International rally postponed – RTE News Archived 20 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally – RTE News
  6. Governing body to inspect safety at rally events – RTE News
  7. Spectator dies in rally collision – RTE News
  8. Tragedy halts Donegal Rally – RTE News
  9. Spectator dies in rally accident BBC News
  10. Rally ended as a mark of respect to deceased spectator – Highland Radio
  11. Donegal Rally cancelled after 18-year-old man killed – Irish Independent
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. https://rally.ie/index.php/stories/190515-041914
  14. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/06/21/ken-block-crashes-out-of-donegal-rally-on-ss3/
  15. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/06/22/rally-fans-issued-with-safety-warning-as-stage-cancelled/
  16. "Taoiseach pays tribute to Manus Kelly". Highland Radio. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019.
  17. McNulty, Chris (23 June 2019). "County councillor Manus Kelly killed in crash at Donegal rally". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  18. "Man killed in Donegal International Rally crash named as Manus Kelly". RTE News. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  19. "Rally car leads cortege at Manus 'Mandy' Kelly's funeral". Irish Times. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  20. "Manus Kelly touched so many people's hearts, mourners told". RTE News. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  21. "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  22. "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  23. "2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Cancelled". Motorsport Ireland. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  24. https://www.facebook.com/Donegalinternationalrallysir
  25. https://rally.ie/index.php/stories/200327-080211#200408-084511
  26. https://www.facebook.com/donegalrally.ie/
  27. "At a glance: What restrictions are going to be lifted and when?". 6 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. "A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO & PRESIDENT OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND". 6 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. https://www.ewrc-results.com/events/319-donegal-rally/
  30. https://web.archive.org/web/20070920134145/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2001/0328/donegalrally.html
  31. http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/0621/rally.html
  32. https://archive.is/20130218005907/http://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2004/0621/donegalrally.html
  33. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/4107668.stm
  34. http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0618/donegalrally.html]
  35. http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2006/0618/sport/cwgbmhsnkfau/
  36. https://web.archive.org/web/20080527233404/http://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2007/0617/donegal.html] [http://rally.connect.ie/results.php?rally=DL07
  37. https://www.rte.ie/sport/motorsport/2008/0614/233254-donegal/
  38. https://web.archive.org/web/20090628123029/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/donegalsport/McHale-follows-familiar-footprints-to.5389423.jp
  39. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL10]
  40. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL11
  41. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL12
  42. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL13
  43. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL14
  44. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL15
  45. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL16
  46. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL17
  47. http://results.shannonsportsit.ie/results.php?rally=DL18
  48. https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/newly-elected-councillor-manus-kelly-killed-in-donegal-rally-navigator-injured-932459.html
  49. https://www.ewrc-results.com/events/319-donegal-rally/
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