- Donegal International Rally
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Donegal International Rally 
Donegal International Rally logo.Category Rally Country or region County Donegal, 
IrelandInaugural season 1972 Drivers' champion Gareth McHale Official website http://www.donegalrally.ie/ 
Current seasonThe Donegal International Rally is an annual sporting event held in County Donegal, Ireland. It is one of Ireland's oldest annual rally competitions and is a top event in the Irish Rallying calendar.[1] It has a reputation for being one of the country's most challenging rallies.[2] The event begins and concludes in Letterkenny.[3]
Contents
History
The event began in 1972 with Cahal Curley the first winner. The event was postponed for the two consecutive years of 2001 and 2002 due to the Foot-and-mouth disease[4] and a serious accident. The rally was abandoned in 2008 after a spectrator was hit by a driver.
In 2006 Toni Kelly became the youngest ever female participant in the Donegal International Rally. Kelly was 17 at the time of the event and a fifth-year student at Loreto Convent in Letterkenny.[5]
The rally attracts approximately 50,000 spectators each year. The event is estimated to be worth over €20 million to the Donegal economy each year. The event was previously sponsored by Shell. The current sponsors of the Donegal International Rally are Topaz Energy and The Mount Errigal Hotel.[1]
2002 event
Crowds at the 2008 Rally in Donegal Town.
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.[6] 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 all future events.[7]
2008 event
At the 2008 event an 18-year-old spectator died after being hit by a car driven by Welsh driver Elfyn Evans, at 3.30pm. The accident happened at Ballyare, about four miles from Letterkenny. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was crossing the road and was hit by one of the competing cars. The scene was described as horrific by witnesses.[8][9][10] The road was closed and did not re-open for some time. Organisors cancelled the rally for the rest of the day and later announced that the 2008 event would be abandoned as a mark of respect[11][12] Eugene Donnelly was announced as winner as he led the rally at the time of the accident.
2010 event
On Saturday Afternoon 19 June 2010, a co-driver died after the car he was in crashed off of a cliff on the Knockalla stage, south of Portsalon, of the event shortly after 3pm. The Car, a white Citreon C2, fell 400 to 500 ft down the side of the hill but came to a stop in the trees at the edge of a cliff. Thomas Maguire, Aged 26, from Longwood, County Meath was killed and his driver, Shane Buckley, critically injured.The road was closed until the next day, where the Rally officials placed a wreath on the side of the road, where he went off. A group on Facbook was created as a sign of respect. 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.[13]
Winners
Year Winner Car Notes 1972 Cahal CurleyBMW 2002 1973 Cahal CurleyPorsche Carrera 1974 Cahal CurleyPorsche Carrera 1975 
Achim WarmboldBMW 1976 Brian NelsonPorsche Carrera 1977 Billy ColemanLancia Stratos 1978 
Ari VatanenFord Escort 1979 Brian NelsonFord Escort 1980 
Jimmy McRaeVauxhall Chevette 1981 John LyonsFord Escort 1982 John LyonsFord Escort 1983 Vincent BonnerFord Escort 1984 Billy ColemanOpel Manta 1985 Billy ColemanPorsche 911 1986 Billy ColemanAustin Metro 1987 
Bertie FisherOpel Manta 1988 
Mark LovellFord Sierra 1989 David LlewellinToyota Celica 1990 Austin McHaleBMW M3 1991 James CullenFord Sierra 1992 Bertie FisherSubaru Legacy 1993 Bertie FisherSubaru Legacy 1994 Stephen FinlayFord Escort 1995 Bertie FisherSubaru Legacy 1996 Andrew NesbittToyota Celica 1997 Austin McHaleToyota Celica 1998 Andrew NesbittToyota Celica 1999 James CullenSubaru Impreza 2000 Andrew NesbittSubaru Impreza WRC 2001 Event did not run (Foot-and-mouth disease) - [2] 2002 Event Cancelled Andrew NesbittSubaru Impreza WRC [3] 2003 Andrew NesbittSubaru Impreza WRC 2004 Eugene DonnellyToyota Corolla WRC [4] 2005 Eugene DonnellyToyota Corolla WRC [5] 2006 Andrew NesbittMitsubishi Lancer WRC [6] [7] 2007 
Sebastian LoebCitroën C4 WRC [8] [9] 2008 Event Cancelled Eugene Donnelly- [10] 2009 Gareth McHaleFord Focus [11] 2010 Gareth McHaleFord Focus [12] 2011 Tim McNultySubaru WRC [13] References
- ^ a b Donegal International Rally - Topaz Sponsorship Secures Future of Donegal International Rally
- ^ Jardine attempts vertical climb on Donegal. | Rally UK News
- ^ Donegal geared up for International Rally - RTE News
- ^ Shell Donegal International rally postponed - RTE News
- ^ Teenager with real driving ambition, Irish Independent, June 9, 2006
- ^ Two marshals killed at Donegal Rally - RTE News
- ^ Governing body to inspect safety at rally events - RTE News
- ^ Spectator dies in rally collision - RTE News
- ^ Tragedy halts Donegal Rally - RTE News
- ^ Spectator dies in rally accident BBC News
- ^ Rally ended as a mark of respect to deceased spectator - Highland Radio
- ^ Donegal Rally cancelled after 18-year-old man killed - Irish Independent
- ^ [1]
External links
- Official Site
- Donegal International Rally on Bebo
- Donegal International Rally Past Winners
- James McDaid Crash Video - 1986
- Donegal International Rally 2008 preview
- Donegal International Rally 2007
- Donegal International Rally Images on Letterkenny Guide
- Donegal International Rally Images on Flickr
- Donegal International Rally Images on Rally Retro
Categories:- Rally competitions
- Sport in County Donegal
- Sport in the Republic of Ireland
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