The Limerick Forestry Rally is an annual motorsport forest rallying event held in County Limerick, Ireland. Promoted and organised by Limerick Motor Club, the rally is the second round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship, South East Stages Rally Championship and Junior Rally Series.
| Category | Rally |
|---|---|
| Inaugural season | 1979 |
| Drivers' champion |  Keith Power |
| Co-Drivers' champion | Mark O'Sullivan |
| Irish Forest Rally Championship | |
 Current season | |
| South East Stages Rally Championship | |
| Current season | |
| Junior Rally Series | |
| Limerick Forest Rally | |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 2021 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | County Limerick |
| Country | Ireland |
| Most recent | 2019 |
| Organised by | Limerick Motor Club |
| Sponsor | Keltec Engineering T Junction Cars |
| Website | Website |
History
editThe even was added to the calendar by Limerick Motor Club in late 70s, while the club's main event, Circuit of Munster ran since 1949. The event ran irregularly, with 2020 being first time that the even ran three years in a row.
2021
editCOVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021, and all motorsports events remained suspended. The Irish Forest Rally Championship was by default cancelled, although no announcement was made. 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.[1] There was no championship, but some of the Irish Forest Rally event dates were announced, Limerick Forest Rally not being one of them.
2020
editThe 2020 event was the second round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship, the South East States Rally Championship and the Junior Rally Series. Directed by the Clerk of the Course Anthony Nestor, very compact event route consisted of 68.3 stage kilometers and 178.5 road kilometers divided into 6 stages. This year's entry fee was €653.[2] [3] [4]
Despite Storm Jorge passing over Ireland, the rally was anticipated to go ahead as scheduled. However, due to snowfall during the night before the rally the start was initially delayed, and later the event was postponed.[5] The new proposed date was 18–19 April. On 12 March the event was postponed again in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[6] [7] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[8] After the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[9] 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.[10] On 19 May Motorsport Ireland cancelled the 2020 championship.[11] Club hoped it might still be able to run the event as non-championship, however the restrictions continued into 2021.
2019
editThe event was stopped at SS2 because of "freak-blizzard" that unexpectedly hit the area. Many competitors slid off the road, until the road was blocked.[12] [13]
2018
editThe rally was originally scheduled for the 3 March, however due to possible effects of Storm Emma the event was rescheduled to 24 March.[14]
Roll of Honor
edit| Year | Full Event Name | Overall winner | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Keltec Engineering Limerick Forest Rally | cancelled | ||
| 2019 | Treaty Plant Hire Limerick Forest Rally | Keith Power | Mark O'Sullivan | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2018 | Treaty Plant Hire Limerick Forest Rally | Josh Moffett | Stephen Thornton | Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 2016 | Lyons of Limerick Forest Rally | Josh Moffett | Emmet Sherry | Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 2013 | West Limerick Forest Rally | Philip Morrow | Jonny Hart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2008 | Limerick Forestry Rally | Ray Breen | Craig Breen | Ford Focus RS WRC '04 |
| 2007 | Tom White Memorial Forestry Rally | Kevin Lynch | David Moynihan | Ford Focus RS WRC '04 |
| 2000 | Thomond Forestry Rally | D. McNeil | F. Regan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1998 | Thomond Forestry Rally | D. Kelly | G. Shinnors | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1982 | Limerick Forestry Rally | no data | ||
| 1981 | Limerick Forestry Rally | Ray Benskin | Ford Escort 1600 | |
| 1979 | Spring Forestry Rally | Austin McHale | Joe McGee | Ford Escort RS200 |
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Motorsport Ireland confirms gated motorsport can restart from June 7th".
- ^ "Limerick Forestry Rally - 1 Mar 20". rally.ie. 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "2019 Forestry Rally". Limerick Motor Club. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "Keltec Engineering Limerick Forest Rally 2020". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "Statement Regarding Limerick Forest Rally - Valvoline Forest Rally Championship". rally.ie. 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- ^ "West Cork Rally 2020: Postponed". West Cork Rally .com. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- ^ "At a glance: What restrictions are going to be lifted and when?". RTÉ.ie. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- ^ "A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO & PRESIDENT OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND". 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED". 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- ^ "Limerick Forest Rally Cut Short Due To Heavy Snow". 2019-03-19. Retrieved 2020-02-18 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Countdown Begins to 2020 Valvoline Forestry Season". Motorsport.ie. 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "Treaty Plant Hire Limerick Forest Rally – Rd2 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship". Irish Motorsport News. 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "Limerick Forestry Rally". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.