davecoupe
RMS Photographer
Its June.
Its nearly time to head to the Hills of Donegal.
Donegal Motor Club has a new sponsor on board for this year and are claiming this years event will be the biggest and best in the history of the Donegal rally, which will take something special. In 6 days’ time the longest and toughest event on the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship will start, and a multitude of battles will be fought out over 3 days of fast, technical rallying in the hills. The route covers 20 competitive stages, comprising some of the toughest, most famous and most scenic stages in Europe such as Knockalla, Atlantic Drive, Glen Village and Gartan Lake to name but a few.
A star studded field is lined up to take to the stages, with the international field being lead over the ramp by last year’s winner Declan Boyle, who will be debuting his brand new Ford Fiesta WRC on the event, followed over the line by the current leader of the ITRC Donagh Kelly in his Ford Focus WRC and former Donegal winner Gary Jennings in his S12 Impreza.
But, as per usual, the real interest in Donegal will be the national battle…. or more specifically the modified battle. An internationally renowned field of stars from the world of rallying and beyond will be taking to stages to try and upset the local crews in the already ultra-competitive class, with talents such as European Rally Championship competitor Craig Breen swopping his Peugeot 306 ERC car for a trusty Mk2 Escort to compete in the national category. Craig will be joined in similar modified mk2 escorts by Roadracing star Michael Dunlop, last year’s national winner Gary McPhillips, English regular Phil Collins and Scottish visitor David Bogie, who has been so taken by the Donegal Tarmac in recent years that he has built an escort especially for this years rally.
Attempting to upset the Escort dominance of the Modified class will be the reigning Irish National Champion Declan ‘the flying milkman’ Gallagher in the mighty RWD Starlet.
But there is no doubting the car all the fans will be craning their neck to see, the brand new Davy Greer prepared Toyota GT86 rally car that will be driven by former National class winner, Pirelli star driver winner and reigning British Rally Champion Daniel Mckenna.
So, who is packing the rain gear, wellies, suncream and shorts and heading to the hills?
Its nearly time to head to the Hills of Donegal.
Donegal Motor Club has a new sponsor on board for this year and are claiming this years event will be the biggest and best in the history of the Donegal rally, which will take something special. In 6 days’ time the longest and toughest event on the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship will start, and a multitude of battles will be fought out over 3 days of fast, technical rallying in the hills. The route covers 20 competitive stages, comprising some of the toughest, most famous and most scenic stages in Europe such as Knockalla, Atlantic Drive, Glen Village and Gartan Lake to name but a few.
A star studded field is lined up to take to the stages, with the international field being lead over the ramp by last year’s winner Declan Boyle, who will be debuting his brand new Ford Fiesta WRC on the event, followed over the line by the current leader of the ITRC Donagh Kelly in his Ford Focus WRC and former Donegal winner Gary Jennings in his S12 Impreza.
But, as per usual, the real interest in Donegal will be the national battle…. or more specifically the modified battle. An internationally renowned field of stars from the world of rallying and beyond will be taking to stages to try and upset the local crews in the already ultra-competitive class, with talents such as European Rally Championship competitor Craig Breen swopping his Peugeot 306 ERC car for a trusty Mk2 Escort to compete in the national category. Craig will be joined in similar modified mk2 escorts by Roadracing star Michael Dunlop, last year’s national winner Gary McPhillips, English regular Phil Collins and Scottish visitor David Bogie, who has been so taken by the Donegal Tarmac in recent years that he has built an escort especially for this years rally.
Attempting to upset the Escort dominance of the Modified class will be the reigning Irish National Champion Declan ‘the flying milkman’ Gallagher in the mighty RWD Starlet.
But there is no doubting the car all the fans will be craning their neck to see, the brand new Davy Greer prepared Toyota GT86 rally car that will be driven by former National class winner, Pirelli star driver winner and reigning British Rally Champion Daniel Mckenna.
So, who is packing the rain gear, wellies, suncream and shorts and heading to the hills?