Galway International Rally

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Galway International Rally
2020 Galway Rally logo.png
Category Rally
Inaugural season1971
Drivers' champion Flag of Ireland.svg Josh Moffett
Co-Drivers' champion Flag of Ireland.svg Andy Hayes
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Motorsport current event.svg Current season
European Rally Championship (1975-1982)
Galway International Rally
Dates5 February 2022 (2022-02-05) - 6 February 2022 (2022-02-06)
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s) County Galway
Country Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland
Most recent2022
Organised by Galway Motor Club
SponsorCorrib Oil
Website Website
Facebook page

The Galway Rally, or Galway International Rally, is an annual motorsport tarmac rallying event held in Galway, Ireland. Promoted and organised by Galway Motor Club, the rally was first ran in 1971. The Galway International Rally is the oldest International rally in Ireland. It has hosted the European Rally Championship stage every year between 1975 and 1982. In 1978 the Galway International Rally hosted the opening stage of the first Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. [1]

Contents

History

The rally ran annually as an International event from its inception in 1971, with only few exceptions. In 2002 it was run under as the "West International Rally". For various reasons, the events did not run in 1983, 1987, 2003 and 2018.

The Galway Rally was the first ever international rally run in Ireland in 1971. It was also the first round of the European Rally Championship run in Ireland (in 1975), introduced the first computer-generated result system (1975), represented the first round of the new Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (in 1978), saw the first female Clerk of the Course, Bridget Brophy (in 1982), and introduced the youngest Clerk of the Course of an any International Rally, Mike Smith (in 1988). [2]

2022 event

The season opening rally consisting of over 150 starters ran over two days, 15 stages and 194.4 kilometres around Loughrea area. [3] Scrutiny and Parc Ferme were located at Galway Racecourse, the start/finish podium was setup in the Eyre Square in Galway. The entry fee this year was €1195. [4]

2021 event

The 50th anniversary event was cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [5] As restrictions eased off in the second half of the year, the 2022 was expected to take place on the usual first weekend of February. [6]

2020 event

Due to low entries, the rally launch on 17 January 2020 was cancelled, and there was a risk that the event would not go ahead. [7] [8] On 20 January it was announced that the 2020 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally would take place as planned on Sunday 2 February 2020 with a repeat of the racing format from the previous year's event. The event, managed by Clerk of the Course Gary Leonard, consisted of 9 stages, totaling 104.6 km (65.0 mi). The event was the opening round of the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, and was run a week earlier than 2019 in order to avoid a clash with the opening British Rally Championship round, the Cambrian Rally. The participant entry fee for the event remained same as the previous year at €875. [9] The event started with 65 entries, 47 of them reached the finish, with Alastair Fisher as the overall winner. This was the only 2020 championship round that took place before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. On 28 April 2020, the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship was cancelled. [10]

2019 event

Originally planned as two day event, it was reduced to one day, 10 stage event after a consultation with participants. [11] The rally hosted Round 1 of 2019 ITRC and Round 2 of 2019 ITRC Historic championships. Craig Breen finished first overall, 14.4s ahead of Alastair Fisher. [12]

2018 event

The event was planned to go ahead in February 2018. However, in November 2017, it was announced that the event was to be cancelled due to a lack of "the necessary financial certainty that is required at this time". [13] The event organisers, the Galway Motor Club, also stated that "logistical issues" were among the reasons for cancellation.[ citation needed ]

2017 event

The event planning was counteracted by efforts to stop the rally. One local resident claimed that application for road closures was not properly dealt with. There were very strict conditions attached to the temporary road closure permission. After consultation with local politicians and the Galway County Council it was ruled that the organisers have complied with all of the procedures relating to a temporary road closure, and that the event is cleared to go ahead. [14]

Roll of honour

YearFull Event NameOverall winnerCo-driverCar
2024Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Keith Cronin Mikie Galvin Ford Fiesta Rally2
2023Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Meirion Evans Jonathan Jackson Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2022Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5
2021No event (COVID-19 pandemic)
2020Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Alastair Fisher Gordon Noble Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2019Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Craig Breen Paul Nagle Ford Fiesta R5
2018No event (Cancelled)
2017Corrib Oil Galway International RallyGarry JenningsRory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2016Corrib Oil Galway International RallyGarry JenningsRory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2015Colm Quinn BMW Galway International RallyDonagh KellyKevin Flanagan Ford Focus RS WRC '08
2014Colm Quinn BMW Galway International RallyDeclan BoyleBrian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2013Safety Direct Galway International RallyKeith CroninMarshall Clarke Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05
2012Safety Direct Galway International RallyDarren GassEnda Sherry Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04
2011Safety Direct Galway International RallyTim McNultyPaul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2010Safety Direct Galway International Rally Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC '06
2009Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paddy Toner Škoda Fabia WRC
2008Galway International RallyMark HigginsRory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12 WRC '06
2007First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Ford Focus RS WRC '06
2006First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2005First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2004First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Tapio Laukkanen Harri Kaapro Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01
2003No event
2002West International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98
2001No event (Cancelled)
2000No event (Cancelled)
1999Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555
1998Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1997Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
1996Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555
1995Statoil Galway International RallyFrank MeagherPat Moloughney Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1994Statoil Galway International RallyKenny McKinstryRobbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS
1993Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
1992Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International RallyKenny McKinstryRobbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS
1991Skoda Sport Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman BMW M3
1990Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Ronan McNamee BMW M3
1989Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Ronan Morgan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1988Lydon House Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Roger Freeman Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1987No event
1986Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Porsche 911 SC RS
1985Galway International RallyAustin MacHaleChristy Farrell Opel Manta 400
1984Agip Galway International RallyBrendan FaganRonan McNamee Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR
1983No event
1982BP Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400
1981Galway International RallyGer BuckleyMr Murphy Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR
1980Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Frank Main Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS
1979Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Frank O'Donoghue Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1978Galway International RallyJohn TaylorPhil Short Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1977Galway International RallyRoger ClarkJim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1976STP Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Jim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1975STP Galway RallyDessie McCartneyTerry Harryman Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
1974Galway RallyNo dataNo data
1973STP Galway RallyAdrian BoydBeatty Crawford Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI
1972STP Galway RallyRonnie McCartneyDessie McCartney Triumph 2.5 Pi
1971STP Galway International RallyCathal CurleyAustin Frazer Ford Escort Twin Cam

Top drivers with most wins (>1) / most starts (>11). (As of 2022)

DriverMost WinsMost Starts
Austin MacHale 623
Eugene Donnelly 412
Billy Coleman 312
Mark Lovell 22
Jimmy McRae 25
Kenny McKinstry 210
Bertie Fisher 212
Garry Jennings 214
Frank Meagher 112
Pat Kelly 017
Tommy Flanagan 014
Eamonn Boland 013
David Quigley 013
Tom Flaherty 013

References

  1. ↑ "Galway Rally". EWRC Results. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  2. ↑ "Galway International Rally is feeling nostalgic". Facebook. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2019.[ better source needed ]
  3. ↑ "Corrib Oil Galway International Rally 2022". ewrc-results.com.
  4. ↑ "2022 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 2". rally.ie.
  5. ↑ "What makes the Galway Rally so special?". rallyinsight.com. 6 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Galway International Rally event in Galway, Ireland". galwaytourism.ie.
  7. ↑ "Stories - Galway International Rally - 2 Feb 20". rally.ie.
  8. ↑ "2020 Corrib Oil Galway Interntional Rally is Go". motorsportireland.com.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Corrib Oil Galway International Rally 2020". rally.ie. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship Cancelled". Motorsport Ireland. 28 April 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Galway International Rally Returns for 2019". motorsport.ie. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Breen opens with victory in the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally". Galway Advertiser. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "2018 Galway International Rally - NOT GOING AHEAD". rally.ie. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Galway Rally will run on original route despite protest". Connacht Tribune. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
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