Donegal International Rally

History

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.

This was significant blow to the local economy. The event is estimated to be worth over €20million to the Donegal economy each year. The rally attracts approximately 120,000 spectators each year.

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 2.00pm. Three men were also injured. The remaining stages of the event were cancelled after the serious accident on Stage Two. 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.

2008

At the 2008 event, an 18-year-old spectator died after being hit by a competing car at 3.30pm. The accident happened at Ballyare, about four miles from Letterkenny. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. 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 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 3pm. 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.

2019

The Rally continued to be a counting round of the FIA Celtic Rally Trophy since 2016. The event attracted a lot of international attention, including Ken Block who showcased his Ford Escort Cosworth. Ken crashed out at Special Stage 2 on the first day, but was back the second day under rally 2 rule.

Due to high traffic and spectator volumes, Special Stage 7 on the first day had to be cancelled as a safety measure. On the third day of the rally, 23 June at approximately 12:30pm, 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." 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. Following the funeral mass, Kelly's brothers and friends carried his coffin across the Donegal International Rally ramp.

2020

On 12 March, all motorsports events were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.{{cite web |access-date=2020-03-14 |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320161102/http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/20-03-12/Motorsport_Ireland_Statement_on_Covid-19.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-03-20 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418144609/http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/20-03-20/MOTORSPORT_IRELAND_STATEMENT_ON_COVID-19.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-04-28 |archive-date=19 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519194340/http://motorsportireland.com/news/20-04-28/2020_Irish_Tarmac_Rally_Championship_Cancelled.aspx |url-status=dead

Shortly after the Motorsport Ireland announcement, messages on Facebook circulated that the Donegal Rally was cancelled. Other sources claimed that it had been postponed. 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. However, after the government released a roadmap on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0501/1136167-road-map-details/ |access-date=2020-05-10 |access-date=2020-05-10 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814015618/http://www.motorsportireland.com/news/20-05-06/A_MESSAGE_FROM_THE_CEO_PRESIDENT_OF_MOTORSPORT_IRELAND-3136838252.aspx |url-status=dead

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. As vaccinations were progressing, at the end of May, Motorsport Ireland announced that motorsports events could resume from 7 June, subject to local restrictions. 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.

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. 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.

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.{{Cite web |title=Devine does Donegal triple, Paddon crashes

Winners

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Sponsors

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

References

1. "Jardine attempts vertical climb on Donegal. {{!}} Rally UK News".
2. (2012-09-11). "Donegal geared up for International Rally - RTÉ Sport".
3. (2001-03-28). "Shell Donegal International rally postponed".
4. (2002-06-21). "Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally".
5. (2002-06-23). "Rally safety to be reviewed".
6. (2008-06-14). "Spectator dies in rally collision".
7. (2012-09-09). "Tragedy halts Donegal Rally - RTÉ Sport".
8. (2008-06-15). "Spectator dies in rally accident".
9. (December 2016)
10. (15 June 2008). "Donegal Rally cancelled after 18-year-old man killed".
11. "RTÉ Sport: Co-driver killed in Donegal Rally accident".
12. "Rally.ie - Stories - Donegal International Rally - 21-23 Jun 19".
13. (21 June 2019). "Ken Block crashes out of Donegal Rally on SS2 – Donegal Daily".
14. (22 June 2019). "Rally fans issued with safety warning as stage cancelled – Donegal Daily".
15. (25 June 2019). "Taoiseach pays tribute to Manus Kelly". [[Highland Radio]].
16. McNulty, Chris. (June 23, 2019). "County councillor Manus Kelly killed in crash at Donegal rally". [[Irish Times]].
17. (June 23, 2019). "Man killed in Donegal International Rally crash named as Manus Kelly". [[RTE News]].
18. (27 June 2019). "Rally car leads cortege at Manus 'Mandy' Kelly's funeral". [[Irish Times]].
19. (27 June 2019). "Manus Kelly touched so many people's hearts, mourners told". [[RTE News]].
20. "Log in or sign up to view".
21. "Rally.ie - Stories - Donegal International Rally - 19-21 Jun 20 - POSTPONED".
22. "Log in to Facebook".
23. "Cancellation of 2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship". Coleraine Chronicle.
24. (3 February 2021). "2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship called off".
25. "Motorsport Ireland confirms gated motorsport can restart from June 7th".
26. "Donegal Int Rally".
27. (11 May 2022). "Details revealed for 2022 Donegal International Rally".
28. "Gardaí satisfied as 'only' 58 arrests made at Donegal International Rally".
29. (21 June 2025). "Rally: Paddon rolls his Hyundai on Knockalla".
30. "Donegal Rally".
31. (28 March 2001). "Shell Donegal International rally postponed".
32. (21 June 2002). "Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally".
33. "Donnelly wins Donegal Rally - RTÉ Sport".
34. (18 June 2005). "Donnelly takes Donegal rally win".
35. (18 June 2006). "Nesbitt wins Donegal Rally".
36. "Nesbitt wins Shell Donegal International Rally {{!".
37. (17 Jun 2007). "Loeb a class apart in Donegal".
38. (14 June 2008). "Tragedy halts Donegal Rally".
39. (2009-06-28). "McHale follows familiar footprints to win Donegal International Rally - Donegal Today".
40. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2010".
41. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2011".
42. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2012".
43. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2013".
44. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2014".
45. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2015".
46. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2016".
47. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2017".
48. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2018".
49. (23 June 2019). "Newly elected councillor Manus Kelly killed in Donegal rally; navigator injured".
50. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2022".
51. "Rally Results - Donegal International Rally, 2024".