Donegal International Rally

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The Donegal International Rally is an annual car race in County Donegal, Ireland. It is one of the most important events in the Irish rallying calendar since 1972,[1] and is one of the country's most challenging rallies.[2] Organized by the Donegal Motor Club, the annual event begins and ends in Letterkenny.[3]

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

History

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1972

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

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

2001

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

This was significant blow to the local economy. The event is estimated to be worth over €20Script error: No such module "String".million to the Donegal economy each year. The rally attracts approximately 120,000 spectators each year.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

2002

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 2.00Script error: No such module "String".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 future events.[6]

2008

File:Rally goers in Donegal - geograph.org.uk - 1142606.jpg
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 3.30Script error: No such module "String".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 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

On Saturday afternoon, 19 June, a co-driver died after the car he was in crashed on the Knockalla stage, south of Portsalon, shortly after 3Script error: No such module "String".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

The 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 SS2Script error: No such module "Unsubst". on the first day, but was back the second day under rally 2 rule.[14]

Due to high traffic and spectator volumes, SS7Script error: No such module "Unsubst". on the first day had to be cancelled as a safety measure.[15] On the third day of the rally, 23 June at approximately 12:30Script error: No such module "String".pm, 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 (police) 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

On 12 March, all motorsports events were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.[21] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events were suspended until 1 June.[22] On 28 April, the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association (TROA) announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship was cancelled.[23] There were hopes that the event could still go ahead anyway, as a non-counting round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

Shortly after the Motorsport Ireland announcement, messages on Facebook circulated that the Donegal Rally was cancelled.[24] Other sources claimed that it had been postponed.[25] Donegal Motor Club stepped in to correct the rumours that the event was not cancelled, and if permitted, would go ahead as planned on 19–21 June.[26] However, after the government released a roadmap on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[27] Motorsport Ireland released a statement the same day that, in line with Phase 4 of this roadmap, the suspension of all motor sports events was extended until the 20 July. Rally events fall under Phase 5 of the guidelines and would not be considered until after 10 August.[28] The restrictions continued into 2021.

2021

As the country remained subject to restrictions aimed at controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the TROA made an announcement on 3 February 2021 to cancel the 2021 Championship.[29][30] As vaccinations were progressing, at the end of May, Motorsport Ireland announced that motorsports events could resume from 7 June, subject to local restrictions.[31] Remaining restrictions made it impossible for the Donegal International Rally to take place. Instead, a virtual Donegal Rally was held on the traditional days of the event – a series of virtual interviews, videos of past rallies, and social media posts.[32]

2022

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 a maximum of 160 competitors, plus 25 historic and 25 junior competitors. The starting fee was €1,600. The event was labelled as the biggest rally of the year in Ireland.[33] 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.[34]

2025

The 2025 Wilton Donegal International Rally was held over three days between 20–22 June. It once again was part of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The rally consisted of 20 stages totalling 271 kilometres. It was won by Callum Devine for the third year in a row.[35] He finished just over 20 seconds ahead of Meirion Evans in second place. Former World Rally Championship driver and current ERC champion Hayden Paddon was a late entrant to the event and was second overall after the first day, however he retired from the rally after a roll on SS13.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[36]

Winners

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Year Driver Co-Driver Car Notes
1972 Template:Flagicon Cahal Curley Template:Flagicon Peter Scott BMW 2002 [37]
1973 Template:Flagicon Cahal Curley Template:Flagicon Terry Harryman Porsche Carrera
1974 Template:Flagicon Cahal Curley Template:Flagicon Victor Armstrong Porsche Carrera
1975 Template:Flagicon Achim Warmbold Template:Flagicon John Davenport BMW 2002
1976 Template:Flagicon Brian Nelson Template:Flagicon Malcolm Neill Porsche Carrera
1977 Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman Template:Flagicon Austin Frazer Lancia Stratos HF
1978 Template:Flagicon Ari Vatanen Template:Flagicon Peter Bryant Ford Escort RS1800
1979 Template:Flagicon Brian Nelson Template:Flagicon Rodney Cole Ford Escort RS1800
1980 Template:Flagicon Jimmy McRae Template:Flagicon Mike Nicholson Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1981 Template:Flagicon John Lyons Template:Flagicon Bill Moffett Ford Escort RS1800
1982 Template:Flagicon John Lyons Template:Flagicon Bill Moffett Ford Escort RS1800
1983 Template:Flagicon Vincent Bonner Template:Flagicon Seamus McGettigan Ford Escort RS1800
1984 Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman Template:Flagicon Ronan Morgan Opel Manta 400
1985 Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman Template:Flagicon Ronan Morgan Porsche 911 SC RS
1986 Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman Template:Flagicon Ronan Morgan MG Metro 6R4
1987 Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher Template:Flagicon Austin Frazer Opel Manta 400
1988 Template:Flagicon Mark Lovell Template:Flagicon Terry Harryman Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1989 Template:Flagicon David Llewellin Template:Flagicon Phil Short Toyota Celica GT-Four
1990 Template:Flagicon Austin McHale Template:Flagicon Dermot O'Gorman BMW M3
1991 Template:Flagicon James Cullen Template:Flagicon Ellen Morgan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1992 Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher Template:Flagicon Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1993 Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher Template:Flagicon Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1994 Template:Flagicon Stephen Finlay Template:Flagicon Roy Campbell Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995 Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher Template:Flagicon Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1996 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon George Millar Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1997 Template:Flagicon Austin McHale Template:Flagicon Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1998 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon James O'Brien Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1999 Template:Flagicon James Cullen Template:Flagicon Ellen Morgan Subaru Impreza 555
2000 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S5 WRC
2001 Event did not run, foot-and-mouth disease outbreak [38]
2002 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S6 WRC Event Cancelled after SS2 [39]
2003 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S7 WRC
2004 Template:Flagicon Eugene Donnelly Template:Flagicon Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [40]
2005 Template:Flagicon Eugene Donnelly Template:Flagicon Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC [41]
2006 Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt Template:Flagicon James O'Brien Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 05 [42][43]
2007 Template:Flagicon Sébastien Loeb Template:Flagicon Daniel Elena Citroën C4 WRC [44]
2008 Template:Flagicon Eugene Donnelly Template:Flagicon Paul Kiely Škoda Fabia WRC Event Stopped after SS11 [45]
2009 Template:Flagicon Gareth MacHale Template:Flagicon Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 [46]
2010 Template:Flagicon Gareth MacHale Template:Flagicon Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06 Event Stopped after SS11 [47]
2011 Template:Flagicon Tim McNulty Template:Flagicon Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [48]
2012 Template:Flagicon Garry Jennings Template:Flagicon Neil Doherty Subaru Impreza S14 WRC 08 [49]
2013 Template:Flagicon Sam Moffett Template:Flagicon James O'Reilly Subaru Impreza WRC [50]
2014 Template:Flagicon Declan Boyle Template:Flagicon Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [51]
2015 Template:Flagicon Garry Jennings Template:Flagicon Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [52]
2016 Template:Flagicon Manus Kelly Template:Flagicon Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [53]
2017 Template:Flagicon Manus Kelly Template:Flagicon Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [54]
2018 Template:Flagicon Manus Kelly Template:Flagicon Donall Barrett Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 07 [55]
2019 Template:Flagicon Sam Moffett Template:Flagicon James Fulton Ford Fiesta RS WRC Event stopped after SS15 [56]
2020 Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Event cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Template:Flagicon Josh Moffett Template:Flagicon Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5 [57]
2023 Template:Flagicon Callum Devine Template:Flagicon Noel O Sullivan Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2024 Template:Flagicon Callum Devine Template:Flagicon Noel O Sullivan Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 [58]
2025 Template:Flagicon Callum Devine Template:Flagicon Noel O Sullivan Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 [59]
* as of 2022[37]
Driver most wins
Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt 6
Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman 4
Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher 4
Driver most starts
Template:Flagicon Robbie Peoples 29
Template:Flagicon Daniel Conaghan 28
Template:Flagicon Ivan Stewart 28
Template:Flagicon James Cullen 25
Template:Flagicon Thomas Keys 25
Template:Flagicon Austin MacHale 24
Template:Flagicon Seamus Gallagher 23
Template:Flagicon Damien Gallagher 23
Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher 22
Most stage wins
Template:Flagicon Bertie Fisher 110
Template:Flagicon Andrew Nesbitt 103
Template:Flagicon Austin MacHale 81
Template:Flagicon Billy Coleman 61
Template:Flagicon James Cullen 60

Sponsors

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 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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  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Rally ended as a mark of respect to deceased spectator – Highland RadioScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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