ITRC 2022

davecoupe

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Thankfully, there is a full calendar of Irish Tarmac Rallying planned for this year and the regular season opener was in Galway at the weekend.

Easily the wettest conditions I've ever stood out in at a rally, it was absolutely atrocious, worse than Rally Ireland weather ....... but at least the rain helped to wash the roads which had loads of mud pulled out onto them following the recce.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes took the victory, closely followed by Merrion Evans and Jonathan Jackson with Callum Devine sir and Brian Hoy rounding out the top 3. It was a good return to form for Josh who said "everything just clicked", but the top 3 could have been very different at the end as both Merrion and Callum had big moments on the last stage Meirion bounced off a few Galway stone ditches 4 km from the end and was carrying a broken wheel in the back of the Polo which miraculously was still holding air and Callum had a big cut out of the sidewall of his tyre on the finish ramp

Anyway, few pics from Galway

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davecoupe

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This is well worth a watch.

Its from the Black Road stage on Sunday morning where Merrion was 16 seconds faster than Josh Moffett to make Sunday a proper battle. He took over 1:15 out of everyone else except Callum and Josh.

We drove this stage on Saturday night and just where they turn onto the Black Road the water was up to the sills of my Octavia.

 
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DC.

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Every time I see these local R5/Rally 2 cars I’m amazed that each one has a local tyre supplier.

Are there really that many local tyre companies?
 

davecoupe

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Round 2 of the ITRC this weekend in West Cork. Easily the most scenic rally on this island, I don’t think anything even comes close.

First time the ITRC regulars have been out on dry tar in around 3 years…..I certainly got a wake up this morning with the pace. Unreal.

Anyway, a few snaps from today:

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DC.

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Pure class. Fantastic to see Irish rallying back to this standard. All young lads too so the future is bright.

Pictures are, as ever, brilliant.
 

davecoupe

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Pure class. Fantastic to see Irish rallying back to this standard. All young lads too so the future is bright.

Pictures are, as ever, brilliant.
Cheers.

The pace at the pointy end this weekend was unbelievable. From the my view on the ditches they were taking every single millimetre out of the road….. and scrapping over 10ths of seconds at the pointy end. On the second run through Sam’s Cross, Meirion Evans said he pushed as hard as he dared ….. and 4 drivers all finished within the same second as him.

Great result in the end for Moffett, 3 wins from 3 outings this season in the i20, he seems to have it dialled in for Irish tarmac now and looks like the man to beat in both the tarmac and national championships.

Callum Devine and Jonny Greer were really unlucky on Sunday. Callum was right at the pointy end all weekend and gearbox let go with 3 stages to go. Jonny Greer went up a bank on tbe last stage when he was in 3rd.

Turned out well for Ali Fisher and Gordon Noble. They were both delighted with 3rd after being 20 odd second off the lead on the first day.

William Creighton’s wee Rally3 fiesta was absolutely class. An 8th overall will have a good few younger drivers looking at those as alternatives to R5’s and it would be great to see, they are pretty cool to watch.
 

DC.

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It’s so good I’m actually thinking of going to watch a round of either the National or the ITRC. Haven’t said that in years.
 

davecoupe

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Easter stages / Circuit of Ireland has a very spectator friendly layout this year if you want to dip your tow back in easily.

Not an appropriate layout for a national rally nevermind an international rally imho and it will be an absolute mess if it’s a wet/****ty weekend …. but it’s ideal for casual spectators.
 
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Cess

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Friday 15th April

Stages 1/3/5 - Orra Lodge

Stages 2/4/6 - Lisle's Hill

Saturday 16th April

Stages 7/9/11 - Cairncastle

Stages 8/10/12 - Glendun

All long used tests which have featured in previous editions of the Circuit of Ireland and Ulster rallies. Glendun is a real classic stage.
 

DC.

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Equal fastest ‘Up the Gap’ therefore sharing the Bertie Fisher Memorial Trophy. Fantastic.

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WSK

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Will be there, hoping for Alastair to claim the top spot!

Damp start today it looks like
 
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DC.

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Will be between Fisher, Devine and J. Moffett I think.

Hopefully a close battle.
 

FM155

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Matt Edwards up there and not used to the car yet. Yeooooo! Looks like a good battle shaping up.
 
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DC.

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Anyone on Facebook can follow Onthepacenote for live stage end interviews and clips from the stages.
 
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