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Galway International Rally

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Galway International Rally
CategoryRally
Inaugural season1971
Drivers' championRepublic of Ireland Josh Moffett
Co-Drivers' championRepublic of Ireland Andy Hayes
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
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
CountryRepublic of Ireland Ireland
Most recent2022
Organised byGalway Motor Club
SponsorCorrib Oil
WebsiteWebsite
Facebook page

The Galway Rally, 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]

History

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

Galway Rally boasts as the first ever International Rally run in Ireland (1971), the first round of the European Rally Championship run in Ireland (1975), the first computer-generated result system (1975), the first round of the new Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in (1978), the first female Clerk of the Course, Bridget Brophy (1982), the youngest Clerk of the Course of an any International Rally, Mike Smith (1988).[2]

2022 event

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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

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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

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Due to low entries the rally launch on 17 January was cancelled, and there was a risk that the event will not go ahead.[7][8] On 20 January it was announced that the 2020 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally is going to take place as planned on Sunday 2 February with a repeat of the racing format which made the previous year's event a success. 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 last 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 the Tarmac Rally Organisers' Association announced that the 2020 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is cancelled.[10]

2019 event

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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

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The event was planned to go ahead in February, however, in November 2017 it was announced that the event is being cancelled due lack of "the necessary financial certainty that is required at this time".[13] Event organisers Galway Motor Club also quoted logistical issues as a reason for cancellation. [citation needed]

2017 event

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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]

2016 event

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Roll of Honor

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Year Full Event Name Overall winner Co-driver Car
2022 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5
2021 No event, COVID-19 pandemic
2020 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Alastair Fisher Gordon Noble Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2019 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Craig Breen Paul Nagle Ford Fiesta R5
2018 Galway International Rally Cancelled
2017 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2016 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2015 Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally Donagh Kelly Kevin Flanagan Ford Focus RS WRC '08
2014 Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2013 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Keith Cronin Marshall Clarke Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05
2012 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Darren Gass Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza S10 WRC '04
2011 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Tim McNulty Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2010 Safety Direct Galway International Rally Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC '06
2009 Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paddy Toner Škoda Fabia WRC
2008 Galway International Rally Mark Higgins Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12 WRC '06
2007 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Ford Focus RS WRC '06
2006 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2005 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2004 First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally Tapio Laukkanen Harri Kaapro Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01
2003 no event
2002 West International Rally Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98
2001 Galway International Rally Cancelled
2000 West International Rally Cancelled
1999 Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555
1998 Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1997 Statoil Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
1996 Statoil Galway International Rally Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555
1995 Statoil Galway International Rally Frank Meagher Pat Moloughney Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1994 Statoil Galway International Rally Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS
1993 Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
1992 Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International Rally Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS
1991 Skoda Sport Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Dermot O'Gorman BMW M3
1990 Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Ronan McNamee BMW M3
1989 Lydon House Bakery Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Ronan Morgan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1988 Lydon House Galway International Rally Mark Lovell Roger Freeman Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
1987 no event
1986 Clarenbridge Crystal Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Porsche 911 SC RS
1985 Galway International Rally Austin MacHale Christy Farrell Opel Manta 400
1984 Agip Galway International Rally Brendan Fagan Ronan McNamee Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR
1983 no event
1982 BP Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400
1981 Galway International Rally Ger Buckley Mr Murphy Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR
1980 Galway International Rally Jimmy McRae Frank Main Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS
1979 Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Frank O'Donoghue Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1978 Galway International Rally John Taylor Phil Short Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1977 Galway International Rally Roger Clark Jim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1976 STP Galway International Rally Billy Coleman Jim Porter Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
1975 STP Galway Rally Dessie McCartney Terry Harryman Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7
1974 Galway Rally no data no data
1973 STP Galway Rally Adrian Boyd Beatty Crawford Ford Escort RS 1600 MKI
1972 STP Galway Rally Ronnie McCartney Dessie McCartney Triumph 2.5 Pi
1971 STP Galway International Rally Cathal Curley Austin Frazer Ford Escort Twin Cam

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

Driver Most Wins Most Starts
Austin MacHale 6 23
Eugene Donnelly 4 12
Billy Coleman 3 12
Mark Lovell 2 2
Jimmy McRae 2 5
Kenny McKinstry 2 10
Bertie Fisher 2 12
Garry Jennings 2 14
Frank Meagher 1 12
Pat Kelly 0 17
Tommy Flanagan 0 14
Eamonn Boland 0 13
David Quigley 0 13
Tom Flaherty 0 13
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References

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  1. ^ "Galway Rally". EWRC Results. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Galway International Rally is feeling nostalgic". Facebook. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Corrib Oil Galway International Rally 2022".
  4. ^ "2022 Corrib Oil Galway International Rally Press Release 2".
  5. ^ "What makes the Galway Rally so special?". 6 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Galway International Rally event in Galway, Ireland".
  7. ^ "Rally.ie - Stories - Galway International Rally - 2 Feb 20".
  8. ^ """".
  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. Retrieved 23 December 2019.