Posted: November 26, 2019 10:19 AM - 18090 Hits
Posted: November 26, 2019 5:53 AM
Thanks to the outstanding uptake from entries for Déjà Vu Donegal 2019, the generosity of those that attended the Gala Dinner, and the contributions from those who enjoyed the event, we are delighted to present the Donegal Hospice with a €25,000.00 donation.
The cooperation we received from the Donegal people and organisations in putting this event together was quite outstanding and we would like to thank:
Posted: August 26, 2019 9:33 AM
When Déjâ Vu Donegal ‘comes to town’ this weekend, Donegal will reverberate to the sound of 160 very special cars, driven by very special people, The response to the event that fires up the memories of almost fifty years of rallying in the county, will bring smiles to all and much needed funds to the Donegal Hospice.
The Hotspots on the 120 mile route on Saturday. 31st August will be the 10.00am start atJacksons Hotel in Ballybofey; the mid-day lunch at the Singing Pub on Atlantic Drive and the Ramelton Rumble (3 – 5pm), where the cars will be on show for two hours before they head off into their parade through the famous town stage.
CHAMPIONS GALORE
The six-time winner Andrew Nesbitt leads the cavalcade in the spectacular WRC Subaru S10 once driven by World Champion Petter Solberg, and similar to the one in which the Armagh driver set fastest time on every stage in 2000 to win the rally.
All twelve former winners have gone to enormous lengths to mirror the machines that they drove in the past or to borrow almost priceless cars. Eugene Donnelly, a three time winner, will be in a Mk. II Ford Escort previously driven by the first ever Rally World Champion, Bjorn Waldegard. Look out for the five-time Belgium Champion Patrick Snijers in an ex-works Mk I Escort and the multiple British and Circuit of Ireland Champion, Jimmy McRae in an immaculate Group B Opel Manta 400.
The Ramelton Festival Committee are helping us to turn back the clock to recreate the days when the sound of Donegal International Rally cars ricocheted off their walls and hopped over their kerbs. During the Ramelton Rumble the public will have time to wander along the Shore Road, view the cars at close quarters, take some selfies and collect autographs from their rallying heroes.
Come and enjoy the show and help to fill the Donegal Hospice’s collection buckets when the largest ever Déjà Vu Motorsport events comes to the hills next weekend.
Posted: August 16, 2019 9:04 AM
Déjâ Vu Donegal will honour the memory of Manus Kelly, who was so tragically killed during the Joule Donegal International Rally this year.
First, and most importantly, we are delighted to announce that Bernie Kelly, Manus’s widow, will be our guest at the Gala Dinner on Saturday, 31st August.
All cars will carry a commemorative sticker and the over 160 crews are being asked to make a slow pass at the scene of Mandy's accident on the Fanad stage, in memory of the much missed driver who had intended to be with us at Déjà vu.
We have also commissioned a special montage commemorating Mandy
(see above), and a limited number of copies of these canvas prints will be auctioned at the Gala Dinner with the proceeds going to the Donegal Hospice.
Posted: July 30, 2019 5:31 PM
Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (TBA)
Patrick Snijers/TBA (TBA)
Cathal Curley/TBA (TBA)
David Wylie/Antony Warmbold (BMW 2002Ti)
Brian Nelson/Maxime Nelson (TBA)
Jimmy McRea/Campbell Roy (Chevette HSR)
John Lyons/Wendy Lyons (81 Ford Escort MkII)
Vincent Bonner/TBA (84 Opel)
Alistair Fisher/TBA (Escort Mk 2)
Austin MacHale /TBA (BMW M3)
James Cullen/Patrick Brides (Escort MkII)
Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (TBA)
Gareth McHale/TBA (TBA)
Gary Jennings/TBA (Mini)
Declan Boyle/TBA (TBA)
Niall McShea/TBA (87 Ford Orion)
Adrian Boyd/Caryl Love (71 Alpine Renault)
Rosemary Smith/Pat Fay (Sunbeam Tiger)
Dennis Biggerstaff/Anne Biggerstaff (83 MGMetro 6R4)
Donagh Kelly/Anita Kelly (Metro 6R4)
Dessie Nutt/Michael Nutt (65 Austin Cooper S)
David Greer/Sandra Greer (91 Ford)
John Mulholland/Johnny Mulholland (77 Lancia Stratos)
Andy Johnson/Heather Johnson (79 Chevette HS)
Francis Tuthill/Veronica Lord (65 Porsche)
Maria Callanan/Tom Callanan (54 Triumph TR2)
Ian Corkill/Roz Corkhill (Mni)
Chris Patterson/Christel Patterson (82 VW Beetle)
Brian Powley/Jennifer (Porsche)
Phil Short/Lynn Short (18 Audi RS Coupe)
Derek Smyth/Anne Smyth (67 Morris Cooper S)
Wesley Patterson /TBA (85 Opel Manta)
Trevor Agnew/Angus Watt (72 Porsche )
Robin Allingham/Robert Allingham (90 BMW)
Trevor Barlow/Mark Nesbitt (71 Mini Cooper S)
James Bearns/Karen McIlroy (09 Focus RS)
Jimmy Bearns/Liz Bearns (18 Focus RS)
Alastair Bell /TBA (72 Datsun240Z)
Brian Boyd/Rodney Cole (91 Lancia Integrale)
Harry Brown/Raymond McKee (74 Hillman Avenger)
Paul Brownless/Alistair Johnston (03 Porsche 911 Turbo)
Aiden Caddye/Donal Caddye (88 Porsche 944 Turbo)
Sean Casey/Christina Casey (85 Opel Manta)
Stephen Catterson/TBA (80 Vauxhall Chevette)
Gary Cllulow/Claire Clulow (05 Porsche)
Andrew Connor/Kevin Connor (81 Vauxhall Chevette)
Paul Cooke/Hillary Cooke (76 TR7 V8)
Connor Corkill/TBA (Mini)
Patrick Coyle/Marcella Coyle (79 Mini Cooper)
Beatty Crawford/Heather Crawford (Porsche Cayman)
Brian Crawford/Finian Hannigan (78 Sunbeam Talbot)
Niall Creighton /TBA (88 Porsche 911)
Niall Creighton /TBA (65 Lotus Cortina Mk1)
Derek Crossan/TBA (TBA)
Conor Curley/Pat McCourt (TBA )
Daniel Daly/Sharon Boyle (19 Hyundai)
Brian Devine/TBA (72 Hillman Avenger)
Joseph Devlin/Brenda Devlin (83 Ford Capri)
Colm Dillon/Gary Dillon (04 Ford Falcon)
Hugh Dillon/Terence Dillon (73 Hillman Avenger)
Brian Doherty/Colette Doherty (96 Ford Escort)
Timothy Duggan/Gary Duggan (97 SEAT Ibiza (M Fisher))
Mike Dunnion/TBA (79 Vauxhall Chevette HSR)
Jackson Eagleson/Patricia Eagleson (16 Mazda MX5)
John Elkin/Raymond McLaughlin (93 Porsche 911 Carrera 2)
Michael Erwin/Joan Erwin (10 Porsche)
Richard Erwin/Jacqueline Erwin (07 Porsche)
Clive Evans/Teresa Evans (78 Porsche 911)
Mark Feely/Kevin Kennedy (94 Toyota)
Denis Ferry/Michael McClafferty (16 Ford Mustang)
Barry Foley/TBA (85 Metro 6R4)
Conor Foley/Peadar Foley (73 Mk1 Escort)
Daniel Friel/Aisling Freil (69 Escort MkI)
Hugh Gallagher/Fiona Gallagher (09 BMW)
James Gallagher/TBA (92 Peugeot 205)
Drexel Gillespie/Maurice Beckett (65 Sunbeam Tiger)
Kevin Glendenning/Danny McMenamin (95 Subaru Impreza)
Joey Greenan/TBA (BMW 2002 Ti)
Derek Harden/TBA (15 Porsche)
Martih Harley/TBA (05 Porsche)
James Harley/Jimmy Harley (94 Honda)
Harold Hassard/Raymond Donaldson (89 Merc 190 Cosworth)
Seamus Heron/Rodger Whiteside (80 Opel Ascona)
George Jennings/TBA (68 Mini Cooper S)
Bari Kane/Sorcha Little (87 Toyota Celica 165)
Augustine Kearney/Anna Kearney (84 Peugeot)
Eamon Kelly/Derek McErlean (78 Opel Ascona 400)
Donal Kelly/John Kelly (73 Mini Clubman 1275)
Adrian Kielt/Seamus Murray (TBA)
Patrick Kirk/John McElhonney (TBA)
Brian Matthews/Brenda Matthews (95BMW840CI)
Paul Mc Devitt/John Bonner (84 Toyota)
Alastair Mc Ilroy/TBA (83 Alfasud Sprint)
Willie Mc Vicker/TBA (62 Mini)
P.J. McAlister/Bill Hoy (97 Porsche 911)
Tom McBrearty/Noel Carr (85 Opel manta GTE)
John Joe McBride/Sheamus McBride (57 Porsche 356)
Joe McBride/Michelle McBride (89 Porsche 911)
Greg McCormack/Caroline Mcormack (78 Ford Escor)
Seamus McCusker/TBA (00 Escort G6)
Cathal McElhinney/TBA (08 Porsche)
Bian McGarraghy/Aundrea Roberts (77 MkII Ecort)
Donal McGettigan/Maureen McGettigan (97 Porsche 911)
Desi McGlade/Jenifer Bagwell Powley (11 Porsche Caymen S)
Kevin McGlynn/Tony McHugh (85 Opel Manta 400R)
Kevin McGonagle/Peter Doherty (82 Vauxhall Cavalier)
Martin McGrath/Anita Lennon (67 Sunbeam Tiger)
Paul McGrath/Evelyn McGrath (75Porsche911)
Paric McGurn/Patsy Keenan (73 Mini Clubman)
Kevin McHugh/Maurice McHugh (73 Porsche 911 Rothmans)
Gary McIllhenny/Lily Kelly (00 Subaru)
Davey Mcilroy/Seamus McCusker (84 Opel Manta 200)
Brian McKay/Gerard McKay (78 Lancia Stratos)
Tony McLoughlin/Conn Williamson (88 Porsche)
Roger McMahon /Bridin McMahon (86 Ford Sierra)
Conor McMeel/Sean Devlin (80 Escort MK2 Group 4)
Frank McMullan/Michael McMullan (90 Sierra Cosworth)
Harry McPetrie/Eunan Kelly (75 Mercedes 280E)
Gary Milligan/Robert Milligan (82 Mini Cooper)
Frank Morning/Joseph Morning (88 Opel manta)
Padraig Mulhall/TBA (77 Saab 96V4)
Adrian Mulholland/Conor McGee (71 Escort RS 1600)
Paul Murphy/TBA (98 Nissan)
Peter Murphy/Sheila Murphy (NA)
Denis Nagle/Irene O'Donovan (TBA )
Richard Nelson/Gillian Nelson (Mini)
Philip Nicholson/John Foran (78 FordEscort Mk2)
Leo Nulty/TBA (78 Mercedes 350 SL)
Seamus O'Connell/Sean Magee (79 Escort)
Peter O'Donoghue/ Mary O'Donoghue + 1petergaa@eircom.net (N/A)
Tony O'Kane/TBA (68 Lotus Cortina)
Ronan O'Kane/Bernie O'Kane (86 Porsche)
Joey O'Shey/Joey O'Shey (80 Opel Manta 400)
Denis Orr/Kade Gilchrist (98 Lexus 300 GS)
Bryan Pearson/William Kennedy (68 Alfa Romeo)
Karl Reid/TBN (84 Toyota Corolla)
Paul Reid/Georgina Reid (Focus RS)
Kevin Robb/Jane Robb (74 Opel Manta)
Elkin Robinson/David McAuley (80 Porsche )
John Scanlon/Bobby Walsh (16 Mercedes)
Steven Sheridan/Stevie Sheridan (73 MG Midget)
Richard Sobey/Chris Henry (17 Porsche Boxter)
Ernest Stewart/TBA (73 Chrysler Hunter GLS)
Alex Strathdee/Jack Strathdee (N/A)
Terrance Taggart/Rosie Taggart (77 Ford Escort)
Harold Thompson/Keith Thompson (78 Talbot Sunbeam)
Kevin Timoney/Enda Timony (00 Mini Cooper)
Ciaran Timoney/John Timony (10 Focus RS)
John Timoney/Kevin Kieran (10 Ford Focus RS)
Sean Treacy/Mo Tracey (69 Lancia Fulvia HF)
Alan Tyndall/Lynn Tyndall (Aston Martin V8 Vantage)
John Unkles/Elaine Unkles (83 Opel Manta 400)
Fred Ward/Barbara Ward (73 Toyota)
John Ward/Hugh Martin Molloy (98 Subaru Impreza)
Ken Welby/Doreen Welby (85 Porsche Carrera 3.2)
P.J. Wilhare/TBA (79 Escort RS2000)
David Wilson/Stephen McAuley (79 Ford Escort)
Iain Wright/Pamela Barbour (72 Ford Escort)
Posted: July 24, 2019 9:03 AM
"Closing entries earlier than expected due to unprecedented demand."
Posted: June 18, 2019 7:11 AM
When Vincent Bonner and Seamus McGettigan broadsided their Group 4 Escort through the streets of Letterkenny on the last stage of the 1983 Donegal international Rally the crowds could not contain themselves with joy as they cheered the first Donegal pair to win their own International.
That victory triggered the greatest celebrations in the event’s history which started in Letterkenny and ended during the following week with a cavalcade through Vincent’s home town of Dungloe.
Vincent and Seamus will be joining the bulging list of former winners who will be joining the parade as it winds its way through the iconic stages that have made the Donegal Rally world famous.
Posted: May 30, 2019 10:13 AM
Patrick Snijers, seven times Belgium Rally champion, Dutch Rally Champion in 1992 and European Rally Champion in 1994, will be a celebrity guest at Déjà Vu Donegal, the event that is giving it’s support to the Donegal Hospice.
The debonair Belgium has recorded an astonishing 104 wins in his long rallying career including a runner up spot in the World Rally Championship Rallye Sanremo in 1993. He first caught the attention of the Irish fans in 1988 when he won the Manx International, a counting round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, driving his distinctive BMW M3 in its Bastos/Castrol livery and incidentally on Northern Ireland plates.
Although Patrick never rallied in Donegal he turned many heads and hearts on his five appearances at the Lurgan Park Rally and his one outing on the Toshiba Rally in the Antrim forests.
“Patrick became a resident in Lurgan Park between 1995 and ’99 showing us just what a professional he was as he adapted to that highly specialist event and won it on his third attempt in 1998.” remembers Plum Tyndall who recorded all the Belgium’s drives for RPM Motorsport.
Posted: May 20, 2019 6:44 AM
Eugene Donnelly, three times winner of the Donegal International Rally, is the latest of the former winners who will be in Donegal at the end of August for Déjà vu Donegal, the rally reunion that is surpassing all expectations.
Eugene will be accompanied by Paul Kiely who co-drove when he won in a Toyota Corolla WRC in 2004 and 2005. Paddy Toner was alongside ‘The Genie’ in 2008 in a Skoda Fabia WEC when the County Derry driver had his third Donegal win.
“We knew the response in Donegal would be massive but we had no conception of
how big. With three months still to go, we already received 135 entries, giving us no option but to start a reserve list. It is not just the numbers, the quality is
outstanding. Seven former winners have now signed up and five more have
indicated their intention to join us.”
Posted: May 9, 2019 1:21 PM
Andrew Nesbitt, six-time Donegal International Rally winner, will be in the Parade of Power when the crews leave Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey at 10.00 am on Saturday, 31 August, on a 120 mile trip of nostalgia over many of the famous Donegal stages.
Andrew’s record breaking run started in 1996. In '98 James O'Brien joined him in the co-drivers seat and this highly successful partnership went on to win again that year and four more times. Their last victory was in 2006 when they beat fellow factory Mitsubishi Lancer team driver, Mark Higgins, by 27 seconds.
We have received 130 entries and will soon be starting a reserve list.
Posted: April 12, 2019 5:58 AM
John Lyons and Brian Nelson, both double winners of the Donegal International Rally will join the Déjà Vu Donegal party on the 30-31 August. Almost four months still to go and there are over eighty entries!
?John Lyons will be reunited with a Mk II Escort similar to the car he drove on the 1981 and ’82 events. The former bank official was a hero in Donegal on many occasions before he and Bill Moffett won the big prize in a Downtown Radio sponsored and Sydney Meeke prepared Group 4 Escort in 1981. They went on to repeat that feat the following year.
Brian Nelson is the only person to have won both of Ireland’s premier racing and rallying championships.
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His first Donegal win was in 1975 in an ex-racing Porsche 911 co driven by the late Malcolm Neill. Rodney Cole was in the hot seat when Brian sprayed the champagne for a second time in 1997 in a David Sutton prepared Group 4 Mk II Escort.
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Posted: March 27, 2019 12:25 PM
Jimmy McRae, the 1980 Donegal International victor and multiple British and Irish rally champion, is the sixth former Donegal winner who will be attending Déjå Vu Donegal, the massive rally reunion which will take place on the 30-31, August 2019.
Jimmy will be reunited with a Vauxhall Chevette HSR, similar to the Group 4 car that he and Mike Nicholson drove to victory thirty-nine years ago. The full time Dealer Team Vauxhall driver, had won his first of seven Circuit of Ireland Rallies that year and his Donegal win eased him on his way to the Irish Tarmac Championship.
The Vauxhall pair finished nine seconds ahead of John Price’s Porsche after early leaders Bertie Fisher (Escort RS) and John Lyons (G2 Opel Kadett) had retired.
Jimmy revisited ‘The Hills’ on many occasions. In 1981 he was second in his Vauxhall Chevette and second again in 1991 in a a Sierra Cosworth. And he appeared in the top ten in 1993 driving a Group N Audi Quattro and in 1995 in a Porsche 911. And of course his World Rally Championship son Colin came to Donegal in 2006 for a ‘fun run’ in a Metro 6R4.
EARLY BIRD FEES A MONTH TO GO
Sixty-five crews have already taken advantage of the ‘Early Bird’ entry fees – Registration - £175 (€195), Gala Dinner - £85 (€95), which have now just a month to run before they increase on the 1st. May to - Registration £200 (€105) and Gala Dinner £95 (€105).
MAGNIFICENT MOTORS
The entries already include Mk I and Mk II Ford Escorts, Minis, Opel Manta 400s, Vauxhall Chevettes, BMW 2002 Ti’s, Hillman Avengers, Porsches, a Metro 6R4 and an Aston Martin, but the car requirements are open to all as you only need to have “something with four wheels that they are proud of”, to quote the organisers, to take part in the tour.
Posted: March 4, 2019 4:39 PM
Two time winner of the Donegal International Rally, Austin MacHale, will be returning to ‘The Hills’ for Déjà vu Donegal on the 30-31 August. The multiple Irish Rally Champion will be reunited with his Extravision BMW M3, the car that finally brought him success in the north west in 1990.
The Dubliner had encountered cruel luck on his earlier attempts to win in Donegal as three punctures on the penultimate stage robbed him of victory in 1983, Billy Coleman pipped him in 1984 and ’85 and he had an accident while leading in 1986. But perseverance paid when he and Dermot O’Gorman braved the adverse conditions in 1990 to beat Bertie Fisher’s similar M3 by one second.
Brian Murphy sat in with Austin when he took his second Donegal victory in a Toyota Celica ST185 in 1997, the year that the Dubliner secured his fourth Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
Forty-five crews have already taken advantage of the ‘early bird’ entry fees and Austin joins the growing list of former Donegal winners that includes Cathal Curley, John Lyons, and James Cullen.
There will be Mk I and Mk II Escorts, Ascona and Manta 400 Opels, BMW 2002 Ti’s, and Porsche 911’s joining the Chevette on the tour, but the car requirements are open to all as you only need “something with four wheels that they are proud of”, to quote the organisers.
WEEKEND FORMAT.
Posted: February 5, 2019 3:28 PM
Antony Warmbold, who like his father is an accomplished rally driver, will pilot the actual car that his dad Achim used to win the Donegal International Rally in 1975, during Dèjà Vu Donegal on 30-31 August.
This rare 2002Ti model, is being brought back to Donegal by its current owner David Wylie, forty-four years after the German became the first foreigner to win the international. It is one of only two BMW 2002 rally cars built by BMW Motorsport with a Formula Two engine and the only one that survives – the sister car having been converted to a racing car and scrapped shortly after winning its class in the 1975 Le Mans 24 hour race. After BMW closed their rally programme, Achim (who won the 1972 TAP Rally Portugal with his regular co-driver Jean Todt, who is now the FIA President), competed in the 1975 season under the KWS banner.
Warmbold and John Davenport won the Sachs Winter Rally in Germany and then came and conquered Donegal. But 1975 wasn’t the last time that Warmbold’s car was seen in Ireland as in 1976 Belfast BMW Dealer David Agnew bought the 2002Ti and competed in various Irish rallies over the next two years.
DÈJÀ VU DONEGAL
Over one hundred and thirty crews in their historic, classic, and sporting cars are expected to take part in the two-day retro festival which will be based in Ballybofey, Donegal. Following a welcome reception on Friday evening there will be a 120-mile tour over many of the classic Donegal rally stages on Saturday and a gala dinner that evening where the participants will be able to mingle with many past winners and other rallying personalities.
EARLY BIRD FEES
Registration for Dèjà Vu Donegal is open on www.rpm-motorsport.com/tours/donegal.php with reduced ‘early bird’ rates for the tour and the gala dinner available up to the 1st. May.
Grace Boyle the Donegal Hospice Chairperson, said that Dèjà Vu Donegal will be a highlight in their fund raising year and thanked the organisers for making them the designated charity.
Three former winners, Cathal Curley (1972, ’73, ’74), John Lyons (1981, ’82) and James Cullen (1991, ’99) were present at the launch at the Donegal Oil Company’s premises in Letterkenny with the replica Porsche 911, (similar to Cathal’s 1974 winning car) that was supplied by Elkin Robinson.
Posted: January 15, 2019 2:51 PM
Deja Vu Motorsport is bringing another of its rally reunion extravaganzas to the friendliest of all rally lands – Donegal, and the DONEGAL HOSPICE has been chosen as the designated charity.
“We are delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary from this spectacular event which will bring so many former Donegal International Rally winners and competitors and their cars back to The Hills for the parade through the classic Donegal rally stages” said Geraldine Casey the Hospice Chairperson, speaking at today’s launch in Letterkenny.
“Our Dèjà Motorsport events have visited Killarney, Belfast and Sicily and have raised over €100,000 for deserving charities. There is none more deserving than the Donegal Hospice so we are delighted to be bringing this event to the most friendly rallying county in the land.” said Alan (Plum) Tyndall, former Donegal Rally Press Officer and Producer of the RPM television programmes, and Dr. Beatty Crawford, former international rally navigator and Circuit of Ireland winner, who organise the Dèjà Vu Motorsport events.
Cathal Curley and a Porsche 911, similar to the one that the Derryman drove to victory in one of his three wins which kicked off the event in 1972, ‘73 and ’74, was also present to announce the outline format of the two-day event.
HEROES, MAGIC MOTORS & MEMORABLE MILES
An anticipated gathering of over 130 crews will assemble on
30-31 August to reacquaint themselves with their Donegal rallying heroes and many of the fabulous cars that were driven at high speed through ‘The Hills’. However this time will be a more leisurely tour over many of the stages that made the Donegal International Rally a ‘must do’ event over the years.
GALA DINNER
Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey has been chosen as the event headquarters and the weekend of memories will climax with a Gala Dinner with top level entertainment and personality interviews.
WEEKEND OF MEMORIES
The event will open on Friday evening with Registration and a Welcome Reception. On Saturday the 120-mile route will take in many of the famous special stages including Glen, Knockalla, Atlantic Drive and Ramelton.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
Registration will open on the 1st. February 2019 on the RPM website (link below) when participants can take advantage of the ‘Early Bird’ registration rates until 1st. May.