Wikipedia

Donegal International Rally

The Donegal International Rally is an annual car race 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.[citation needed] It has a reputation for being one of the country's most challenging rallies.[1] Organized by the Donegal Motor Club, the annual event begins and concludes in Letterkenny.[2]

Donegal International Rally
CategoryRally
Inaugural season1972
Drivers' championNorthern Ireland Callum Devine
Co-Drivers' championRepublic of Ireland Noel O Sullivan
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Current season
Celtic Rally Trophy
Current season
European Rally Championship (1975-1979)
Donegal International Rally
DatesJune 20, 2025 (2025-06-20) - June 22, 2025 (2025-06-22)
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)County Donegal
CountryRepublic of Ireland Ireland
Most recent2024
Organised byDonegal Motor Club
SponsorWilton Recycling
WebsiteWebsite

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

History

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1972 event

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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

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

2001 event

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The event, along with most events that year, was cancelled due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.[3]

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.[citation needed]

2002 event

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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.[4] 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.[5]

2008 event

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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.[6][7][8] 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[9][10] Eugene Donnelly was announced as winner as he led the rally at the time of the accident.

2010 event

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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.[11]

2019 event

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The Donegal Rally continued to be a counting round of the FIA Celtic Rally Trophy since 2016.[12] 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.[13]

Due to high traffic and spectator volumes, SS7 on the first day had to be cancelled as a safety measure.[14] 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."[15][16][17] 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.[18] Following the funeral mass, Kelly's brothers and friends carried his coffin across the Donegal International Rally ramp.[19]

2020 event

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On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[20] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[21] On 28 April the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association (TROA) announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is cancelled.[22] There were hopes that the event could still go ahead anyway, as non-counting round of the ITRC.

Shortly after Motorsport Ireland announcement messages on Facebook started circulating that the Donegal Rally is cancelled.[23] Other sources claimed that it has been postponed.[24] 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.[25] However, after the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[26] 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.[27] The restrictions continued into 2021.

2021 event

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As the country remained subject to restrictions aimed at controlling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the TROA made an announcement on 3 February 2021 to cancel the 2021 Championship.[28][29] As the vaccinations were progressing, at the end of May Motorsport Ireland announced that motorsports events can resume from 7 June, subject to local restrictions.[30] Remaining restrictions made impossible for Donegal International Rally to take place. Instead, a virtual Donegal Rally was held on the traditional days of the event - series of virtual interviews, videos of past rallies, and social media posts.[31]

2022 event

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This year's event consisted of 301 kilometres over 20 stages. It was a counting round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and the Celtic Rally Trophy. The starting grid was capped at maximum of 160 competitors, plus 25 historic and 25 junior competitors. The starting fee was EUR 1600. The event was labelled as the biggest rally of the year in Ireland.[32] An incident occurred where a 62-year-old man was arrested after damaging one of the competitor cars by cutting wires and the fuel lines.[33]

Winners

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Year Driver Co-Driver Car Notes
1972   Cahal Curley   Peter Scott BMW 2002 [34]
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 [35]
2002   Andrew Nesbitt   James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S6 WRC Event Cancelled after SS2 [36]
2003   Andrew Nesbitt   James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S7 WRC
2004   Eugene Donnelly   Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [37]
2005   Eugene Donnelly   Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [38]
2006   Andrew Nesbitt   James O'Brien Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 [39][40]
2007   Sébastien Loeb   Daniel Elena Citroën C4 WRC [41]
2008   Eugene Donnelly   Paul Kiely Škoda Fabia WRC Event Stopped after SS11 [42]
2009   Gareth MacHale   Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 [43]
2010   Gareth MacHale   Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 Event Stopped after SS11 [44]
2011   Tim McNulty   Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [45]
2012   Garry Jennings   Neil Doherty Subaru Impreza S14 WRC 08 [46]
2013   Sam Moffett   James O'Reilly Subaru Impreza WRC [47]
2014   Declan Boyle   Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [48]
2015   Garry Jennings   Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [49]
2016   Manus Kelly   Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [50]
2017   Manus Kelly   Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [51]
2018   Manus Kelly   Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [52]
2019   Sam Moffett   James Fulton Ford Fiesta RS WRC Event stopped after SS15 [53]
2020 Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022   Josh Moffett   Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5 [54]
2023   Callum Devine   Noel O Sullivan Volkswagen Polo R5
2024   Callum Devine   Noel O Sullivan Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 [55]
* as of 2022[34]
Driver most wins
  Andrew Nesbitt 6
  Billy Coleman 4
  Bertie Fisher 4
Driver most starts
  Robbie Peoples 29
  Daniel Conaghan 28
  Ivan Stewart 28
  James Cullen 25
  Thomas Keys 25
  Austin MacHale 24
  Seamus Gallagher 23
  Damien Gallagher 23
  Bertie Fisher 22
Most stage wins
  Bertie Fisher 110
  Andrew Nesbitt 103
  Austin MacHale 81
  Billy Coleman 61
  James Cullen 60

Sponsors

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

References

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  1. ^ "Jardine attempts vertical climb on Donegal. | Rally UK News". Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  2. ^ "Donegal geared up for International Rally - RTÉ Sport". archive.md. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Shell Donegal International rally postponed". RTÉ.ie. 28 March 2001.
  4. ^ "Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally". RTÉ.ie. 21 June 2002.
  5. ^ "Rally safety to be reviewed". RTÉ.ie. 23 June 2002.
  6. ^ "Spectator dies in rally collision". RTÉ.ie. 14 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Tragedy halts Donegal Rally - RTÉ Sport". archive.md. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Spectator dies in rally accident". 15 June 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. ^ Rally ended as a mark of respect to deceased spectator – Highland Radio[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Donegal Rally cancelled after 18-year-old man killed". independent. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. ^ "RTÉ Sport: Co-driver killed in Donegal Rally accident". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  12. ^ "Rally.ie - Stories - Donegal International Rally - 21-23 Jun 19".
  13. ^ "Ken Block crashes out of Donegal Rally on SS2 – Donegal Daily".
  14. ^ "Rally fans issued with safety warning as stage cancelled – Donegal Daily".
  15. ^ "Taoiseach pays tribute to Manus Kelly". Highland Radio. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019.
  16. ^ McNulty, Chris (23 June 2019). "County councillor Manus Kelly killed in crash at Donegal rally". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Man killed in Donegal International Rally crash named as Manus Kelly". RTE News. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Rally car leads cortege at Manus 'Mandy' Kelly's funeral". Irish Times. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Manus Kelly touched so many people's hearts, mourners told". RTE News. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  21. ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  22. ^ "2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Cancelled". Motorsport Ireland. 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Log in or sign up to view". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Rally.ie - Stories - Donegal International Rally - 19-21 Jun 20 - POSTPONED".
  25. ^ "Log in to Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  26. ^ "At a glance: What restrictions are going to be lifted and when?". RTÉ.ie. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. ^ "A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO & PRESIDENT OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND". 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Cancellation of 2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship". www.colerainechronicle.co.uk. Coleraine Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  29. ^ "2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship called off". DirtFish. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Motorsport Ireland confirms gated motorsport can restart from June 7th".
  31. ^ "Donegal Int Rally". Twitter. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Details revealed for 2022 Donegal International Rally". 11 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Gardaí satisfied as 'only' 58 arrests made at Donegal International Rally".
  34. ^ a b "Donegal Rally".
  35. ^ "Shell Donegal International rally postponed". RTÉ.ie. 28 March 2001. Archived from the original on 20 September 2007.
  36. ^ "Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally". RTÉ.ie. 21 June 2002.
  37. ^ "Donnelly wins Donegal Rally - RTÉ Sport". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013.
  38. ^ "Donnelly takes Donegal rally win". 18 June 2005.
  39. ^ "Nesbitt wins Donegal Rally". RTÉ.ie. 18 June 2006.
  40. ^ "Nesbitt wins Shell Donegal International Rally | BreakingNews.ie". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011.
  41. ^ "Loeb a class apart in Donegal". 17 June 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016.
  42. ^ "Tragedy halts Donegal Rally". RTÉ.ie. 14 June 2008.
  43. ^ "McHale follows familiar footprints to win Donegal International Rally - Donegal Today". 28 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  44. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2010".
  45. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2011".
  46. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2012".
  47. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2013".
  48. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2014".
  49. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2015".
  50. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2016".
  51. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2017".
  52. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2018".
  53. ^ "Newly elected councillor Manus Kelly killed in Donegal rally; navigator injured". 23 June 2019.
  54. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2022".
  55. ^ "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2024". results.shannonsportsit.ie. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
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