Posted: October 7, 2022 1:21 PM - 9526 Hits
Round 8 - 2022 National Rally Championship
Round 5 - 2022 Border Rally Championship
Round 8 - 2022 Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series (J1600 and JR2/ Rally4)
Posted: October 7, 2022 1:21 PM
"In light of the serious incident that has occurred in Creeslough
today, Donegal Motor Club in consultation with Motorsport
Ireland has decided to postpone the 2022 Donegal Harvest Rally
which was due to take place on Saturday October 8th.
Our thoughts are with all who have been affected at this time."
Donegal Motor Club
Posted: October 5, 2022 2:45 PM
The Teac Bhillie Donegal Harvest Rally, hosts the final J1600 (Class 16) and JR2/Rally4 (Class 2) rounds of the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series this Saturday and while Dylan Eves has stamped his authority on the J1600 section, it’s all to play for in the JR2/Rally4 category.
With four different drivers scoring maximum points on the seven rounds to date, It leaves a scenario where either Ryan Cadwell, Kyle McBride or Aoife Raftery can leave the foot of Mount Errigal in North West Donegal, as JR2/Rally4 victors of the dual surface series and share in the fantastic prize fund on offer, including training, coaching and support to the value of a massive €45000 through the Team Ireland Foundation as a result of support from John Coyne.
The highest placed eligible drivers in the dual surface J1600 and JR2/Rally4 Junior Rally Series also secure nominations for the prestigious Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award.
Recent British Academy Trophy Champion Kyle McBride currently tops the standings having competed in all seven rounds of the tar and gravel championship thus far, while a quartet of top finishes (three on gravel and one on tar) has Ryan Caldwell poised in a strong position, but when drop scores come into play it potentially opens the door for Aoife Raftery, who has already drove her Fiesta to top points in Round 4 at the Circuit of Munster, to secure the crown in Donegal.
Meanwhile the J1000 section of the series still has two rounds remaining where 9 of the 12 registered young drivers could mathematically claim the title as they make the change from gravel to tar for the final two rounds. Momentum favours Jack Brennan after the recently crowned J1000 Irish Forestry Champion made an outing in a Rally5 Fiesta at GSMC Stages but when they return to their J1000 cars several drivers like Mossie Costello, Jack Harris and Danny Brady will be mounting a charge at the upcoming Carrick and Carlow Sprint Events in November and December.
Speaking of the 2022 series to date, Co-Ordinator John Quill said
“The competition has proved to be intense, many drivers that I’ve spoken to have said that it offered them the best place to learn everything you need in rallying. Every surface that has been included, the smooth gravel, wet tarmac and fast dry smooth tarmac, has given them a fantastic learning opportunity and the prospect to progress in the sport through the support is unrivalled”.
Posted: October 5, 2022 2:41 PM
Official Rally Programmes available to buy in the following outlets
Posted: October 2, 2022 2:26 PM
On Saturday next, the eighth and final round of the Triton Showers-backed Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship, the Teac Bhillie Donegal Harvest Rally, brings competitors to one of the most northerly villages in Ireland - Gortahork - beneath the shadows of Mount Errigal in north west Donegal. In a season where Monaghan’s Josh Moffett and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5) wrapped up the series with six straight wins, there is still much to play for on this nine-stage event. Third overall, the rally.ie award, the Mk. 2 Challenge and various class positions will be determined in Donegal where, not surprisingly, it’s a capacity entry with some thirty crews on a reserve list.
Derry’s Callum Devine, who won last year’s event that was based in Donegal town, is the top seed in his VW Polo GTi R5. On the Donegal International Rally last June, he crashed out of the lead and that event remains unfinished business. However, “the Harvest” is also a much coveted event and he will be keen to defend his crown successfully. Former Triton champion Monaghan’s Sam Moffett will be one of his chief rivals, he will campaign a Ford Focus WRC and it will be interesting to see how it will compare with Devine’s R5.
Dubliner Robert Barrable (Ford Fiesta Rally2), seeded at number three, is already guaranteed runner-up spot in the Triton series but he will be aiming to follow up the acquisition of maximum points in Galway with a similar achievement in Donegal. Former triple national champion Declan Boyle (VW Polo GTi R5) will try and end the season on a high note after a number of non-finishes. It’s also been a patchy season for another ex-national champion Warrenpoint’s Peadar Hurson (Ford Fiesta WRC).
Dubliner Gareth MacHale, who took his right hand drive VW Polo GTi R5 to victory in Galway last August, will relish the competition in the north-west as he continues to get valuable seat time. Meanwhile, Omagh’s Seamus Leonard (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is another driver that hasn’t enjoyed the best of fortune this season. Problems on the opening rounds in Claremorris and Birr put a title bid on the back foot, a strong result in the Harvest could prompt a title bid next season.
The Donegal trio of Carndonagh’s Aaron McLaughlin (Ford Fiesta WRC), Muff’s Joe McGonigle (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Eamonn Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) round off the top ten. Kelly recently clinched the Junior category of the British Rally Championship and also a nomination for the 2022 Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award. On his R5 debut in the opening Triton round in Claremorris last March, he netted a fine fifth overall, a similar result given the opposition, would be an equally fine achievement on Saturday next.
In a season where he gradually picked up his pace, Meath’s Tim McNulty (VW Polo GTi R5) a national champion eleven years ago, will be hoping to continue the trend on the nine stage rally.
The battle for third overall in the championship involves Monaghan’s Michael Carbin (Mitsubishi Evo VIII), Maynooth’s Paul Barrett (Citroen C3) and Castlederg’s Gareth Sayers (Ford Fiesta Rally2), all of whom are within a point of each other while top two-wheel drive contender Armagh’s Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) is seven points behind Sayers.
Barrett debuted Citroen C3 in Galway and the Donegal experience should help him get accustomed to the vagaries of his new car. It’s more likely that Black will concentrate on annexing the rally.ie award for the top two-wheel drive finisher in the national series - his rivals are the Ford Escort duo of Donegal’s Patrick McHugh and Limerick’s Ed O’Callaghan, however, both need Black to hit trouble to deny him the honour. O’Callaghan holds the aces in the quest for the Escort Mk. 2 Challenge Trophy where McHugh is his main rival, indeed, barring a major upset, O’Callaghan seems destined to win the category.
Meanwhile, the entry also features the Ford Fiesta R5 pair of Tyrone’s Aidan Wray and Cavan’s Stephen McCann while Donegal’s Michael Boyle will debut a VW Polo GTi R5.
In the two wheel drive category and apart from those previously mentioned, Donegal duo Kevin Gallagher (Darrian T90 GTR) and Kevin Eves (Toyota Corolla) will have Monaghan pair Gary McPhillips and Dessie Keenan along with Tyrone’s Adrian Hetherington, all in Escorts, as extra opposition.
Elsewhere, the strong Donegal contingent features Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi EvoIX), PJ McDermott (Ford Fiesta WRC) and Stuart Darcy (Proton).
Former national champion Donagh Kelly will campaign a BMW M3 in the Historic category while former Irish Tarmac champion John Coyne will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3, they are seeded at 42 and 89 respectively.
Within the various classes of the Triton series, Class 2 is nicely poised between Drumkeeran’s Keelan Grogan (Peugeot 208 R2) and Tyrone’s Dara Leonard (Ford Fiesta) while in Class 16, Cahir’s Joe Browne (Honda Civic) and Roscommon’s Darragh Kelly (Honda Civic) are vying for the class victory with Browne holding the advantage.
Posted: September 28, 2022 5:11 AM
1 Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
2 Sam Moffett/Conor Foley (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
3 Robert Barrable/Paddy Robinson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
4 Declan Boyle/James O'Reilly (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
5 Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
6 Gareth Machale/Brian Murphy (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
7 Seamus Leonard/John McCaffrey (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [14]
8 Aaron McLaughlin/Darren Curran (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
9 Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
10 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (VW Polo GTI R5) [18]
11 Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
12 Aidan Wray/Niall Burns (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
14 Stephen McCann/John McCabe (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
15 Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
16 Paul Barrett/Kevin Reilly (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
17 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
18 Kevin Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
19 Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Toyota Corolla) [14]
20 Gary McPhillips/ TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
21 Dessie Keenan/Jason McKenna (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
22 Michael Carbin/Dean O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
23 Trevor Bustard/Kenney Bustard (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [9]
24 PJ McDermot/Alan Harryman (Ford Fiesta WRC) [1]
25 Colin O'Rourke/Shane Gilhooly (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
26 Stuart Darcy/ TBA (TBA) []
27 Adrian Hetherington/Ronan O'Neill (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
28 Ed O'Callaghan/Raymond Scott (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
29 Jason Black/Karl Egan (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
30 Patrick McHugh/Pauric O'Donnell (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
31 Kevin McLaughlin/Aodhan Gallagher (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
32 John Bonner/Johnny Baird (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
33 Martin McGee/Kevin Kearney (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
34 Brian Brogan/Damian McGettigan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
35 Niall Devine/Liam McIntyre (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
36 Cal McCarthy/Eric Calnan (Citroen DS3 R5) [5]
37 Johnny Jordan/Gary McNern (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
38 John Warren/Ruthann O'Connor (Toyota Corolla) [13]
39 Johno Doogan/Ciaran Marron (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
40 William McFadden/Demi McFadden (Ford Escort G3) [13]
41 Raymond Conlon/ TBA (TBA) []
43 Daniel Breslin/Patrick Boyle (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
44 Sarah Purcell/Gavin Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
45 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
46 Michael McCollum/Michael Pearson (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
47 Gavin Kelly/Gerry Doohan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
48 Kevin Wilson/Martin Farren (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
49 JF Shovelin/Emmet Brosnan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
50 Padraig Egan/Tomas Ryan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
51 Simon Chapman/Peter Foy (Proton Millington) [20]
52 Barry McLaughlin/Conal McNulty (Ford Escort Mk1) [14]
53 Paddy McDaid/Timmy Lunn (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
54 Daniel Conaghan/Terence Magee (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
55 Alexander Cochrane/Chris Johnston (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
56 Terry Donnelly/Gareth Donnelly (Skoda Fabia S2000) [20]
57 Rory Thomas/Aidan Thomas (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
58 Dylan Donoghue/Kirsty O'Callaghan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
59 Andrew Gillespie/Stephen Doogan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
60 Johnny O'Connor/Michael Breen (Mitsubishi Mirage RS) [20]
61 Dara Leonard/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Fiesta) [2]
62 Ryan Caldwell/Grace O'Brien (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
63 Casey Jay Coleman/Adam Coffey (Ford Fiesta) [2]
64 Kyle McBride/Darren Curran (TBA) [2]
65 Liam McMullan/Christy McLaughlin (Honda Civic) [11F]
66 Sam Johnston/Gary McCrudden (Honda Civic) [11F]
67 JP Logue/James Logue (Honda Civic) [11F]
68 Lee McLaughlin/Aaron McCarron (Honda Civic) [11F]
69 Gavin Russell/Charles Gallagher (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
70 Neil Martin Brogan/Darragh O'Donnell (Honda Civic) [11F]
71 Conal Hegarty/Declan Boyle (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
72 Martin McPhillips/Ciaran Tynan (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
73 Corey Eves/Pascal McCarney (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
74 Michael Cahill/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
75 Brian Armstrong/ TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
76 Mickey Conlon/Paul McPhillips (Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2) [12]
77 Ryan McArdle/Ronan Comerford (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
78 Shaun Murphy/Damien McKenna (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
79 Damian Campbell/Declan McGarrity (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
80 Stephen McDonagh/Fran McDonagh (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
81 Dermot Cannon/Bobby Trimble (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
84 Conor Wilson/Sean Marsh (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
85 Ruairi McGarrity/Martin McGarrity (Citroen DS3 R3) [3]
86 Martin O'Donnell/ TBA (Honda Civic Type R) [2]
87 Declan Campbell/Kevin Creighan (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
88 Patrick Bonner/ TBA (Ford Escort RS2000) [12]
89 John Coyne/Eoin Treacy (Ford Fiesta Rally3) [4]
90 Lee Hastings/Alistair Wyllie (Subaru Impreza) [20]
91 Brian Comiskey/Declan Campbell (Subaru Impreza) [15]
92 Shane Carr/Ciaran Carr (Vauxhall Nova) [11F]
93 Chris McLaughlin/Hayley Baskin (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
94 Roy Baldrick/Dermot Friel (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
95 Greg McGroary/Eugene Doherty (Ford Escort) [13]
96 Bernard McGinley/ TBA (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
97 Keelan Grogan/Ayrton Sherlock (Peugeot 208 R2) [2]
98 Benny Rodgers/Keith Harris (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
99 Robbie Allen/ TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
100 Ronan Quinn/Kevin Heffernan (Ford Escort) [13]
101 Kieran Roarty/Michael Odonnell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
102 Hazel O'Callaghan/Kirsty O'Callaghan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
103 Dermot McGroary/Colin Arnold (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
104 Pauric Gillespie/Shane Dillon (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
107 Patrick Bradley/Niall McDaid (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
108 Seán Brogan/ TBA (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
109 Kieran McGinley/Danny McCloskey (Honda Civic) [11F]
110 Pádraig Coll/Aidan Sweeney (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
111 Ross Wasson/Ales Davies (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
112 Gerard Gibbons/Chris Harley (Ford Escort) [11R]
113 Craig Rahill/Conor Smith (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
114 Thomas McGlinchey/Tony Curran (Opel Kadett) [12]
115 Micheal Rodgers/Kasey McKeon (Honda Civic Type R) [3]
116 Aoife Raftery/Geraldine McBride (Ford Fiesta) [2]
117 Anthony O'Brien/Conor Lappin (Ford Escort) [11R]
118 Patrick Coyle/Thomas McCullagh (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
119 Seamus Rogers/Anthony McGettigan (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
120 Jordan Greene McGee/Liam Egan (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
121 Gavin Sheill/Ken Blanche (Ford Fiesta ST) [1]
122 Nicholas Alcorn/James McGlinchey (Honda Civic) [11F]
125 Teighearnan Kelly/Conal Doherty (Honda Civic) [1]
126 Rory Carroll/John Conway (Ford Escort) [12]
127 Stephen Gallagher/Sean Mitchell (Honda Civic) [1]
128 Stuart Rankin/Liam McGlynn (Honda Civic) [11F]
129 Josh Harris/ TBA (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
130 Eamon Sweeney/Patrick Gallagher (Honda Civic EK4) [1]
131 Dara Bonner/Michael Bonner (Honda Civic) [11F]
132 Damien Cullen/Danny Cannon (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
133 Enda McBride/Kyle McDaid (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
134 Jason Mooney/Don Mooney (Ford Fiesta ST) [13]
135 David Gordon/Darren McNamee (Rover MG ZR) [9]
136 Timothy Duggan/Barry McBride (Seat Ibiza) [3]
137 Michael Curran/ TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
138 Dan McFadden/Eimear McFadden (Honda Civic EG6) [11F]
139 John McClafferty/James Friel (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [10]
140 Keith Stewart/Oliver Doherty (TBA) []
141 Angus Johnson/George McMillen (Vauxhall Corsa B) [9]
143 Gerry McIntyre/Paul Clarke (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4) [20]
147 Shane McLaughlin/Steven Boyle (Vauxhall Nova) [10]
149 James Doherty/Annmarie Doherty (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
151 Brian Rudden/Eamonn Rudden (Vauxhall Chevette) [10]
Historics
42 Donagh Kelly/Gerard Callaghan (BMW M3) [19]
82 Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
83 David Armstrong/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
142 Malcolm Pedlow/John Henderson (BMW 2002) [18]
150 Ivan Warwick/Claire Rodgers (Audi Quattro) [19]
Junior
105 Darragh Kelly/Jack Kelly (Honda Civic) [16]
106 Dylan Eves/Damien Sheridan (Honda Civic) [16]
123 Conor McKeown/Cahir Loftus (Honda Civic) [16]
124 Ryan Diver/Dylan Baskin (Honda Civic) [16]
144 Daniel Ferry/Andrew Gardiner (Honda Civic) [16]
145 Seamus Browne/ TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
146 Patrick Brogan/Craig Alcorn (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [16]
148 Jack Green/ TBA (Honda Civic EK4) [16]