Joule Donegal International Rally / Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship Rd. 6

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davecoupe

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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?

GT86.jpg
 

RCT

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I see Breens pulled his entry. There will be a fair few re-seeds done I'd say, myself being one with finishing 26Th O/A long the road last year, they put me 92! Surprised there's not much chat about this event on here, being one of the biggest motorsport events on the island.
 

starletterry

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Its very quiet...usually more people chatting about it on here especially as it is THIS weekend! I will be down myself from Thursday onwards. Running a stage on the Friday, marshalling on the Saturday and running a stage on the Sunday. Any one coming down fancy marshalling even for one day give us a shout?
 

davecoupe

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I see Breens pulled his entry. There will be a fair few re-seeds done I'd say, myself being one with finishing 26Th O/A long the road last year, they put me 92! Surprised there's not much chat about this event on here, being one of the biggest motorsport events on the island.

Breen, Phil Collins etc.... Good few dropping out. Amazed you are that low in the seeding.

I might try and extract another viewing location from you on Thursday. Last years tip was a hike and a half but was well worth it lol
 

RCT

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Breen, Phil Collins etc.... Good few dropping out. Amazed you are that low in the seeding.

I might try and extract another viewing location from you on Thursday. Last years tip was a hike and a half but was well worth it lol

Yeah both my self and Devine are closely matched so unsure why that is and leading the class. Devine should be ahead of me tho because he won the last one. The stage starts past that big jump this year from what I have seen. I'll know better once I've done my recce.
 

davecoupe

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@davecoupe @RCT pm me if you want info on viewing locations. Im not far from trentagh myself

Im from Buncrana so know the stages well. @RCT finished in the top 10 last year ..... but also seems to be pretty decent at spotting photography locations from the recce car :p

Picked up a programme last night, I managed to get 2 of my pictures from last year into it, albeit one of them was a competition entry but still, I'm pretty chuffed.

Ill just leave this here too while Im at it:

11539226_1116481861701980_4400167588273719918_o.jpg
 

3-nicks

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Just read there on his twitter account that Daniel McKenna has withdrawed his entry in the kellys toyota millington powered gt86 due to a testing accident.
 

davecoupe

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There was no doubting which car the attention was on tonight anyway :p.

Had a good wander around scrutiny and the Parc Ferme this evening. Letterkenny was buzzing. The standard of preparation was better than I think I've ever seen at any rally I've been at. David Bogie and John Moynihan's escorts were simply immaculate.

Focus of Attention…. by David Harrigan, on Flickr

Ford Fiesta WRC by David Harrigan, on Flickr

Ford Escort Mk2 by David Harrigan, on Flickr

IMG_8703.jpg


Skoda Fabia by David Harrigan, on Flickr

Ford Escort Mk2 by David Harrigan, on Flickr

Declan Boyle by David Harrigan, on Flickr

Millington Diamond Ford Escort Mk2 by David Harrigan, on Flickr
 
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Nicky

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I should have been there doing service again.

Think I'll be skipping the whole rally now though.
 

bob

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Just leaving, got a house last minute in letterkenny too for the weekend :laughing: Goodluck to @RCT and all crews involved.
 
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davecoupe

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Awesome First day. Garry Jennings leading the International and Gary McPhillips leading the National.

Biggest upset of the day was 'the milkman' getting stuck in a ditch, gutted he is out because he was absolutely on it. Ive literally never seen a car being driven so close to the limit, awesome entertainment.

Garry Jennings by David Harrigan, on Flickr

McPhillips by David Harrigan, on Flickr
 

davecoupe

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@Jas Lad Atlantic Drive, High Glen and Fanad Head are the traditional Sunday stages. Not sure on f.c.d. Times.

I've a funeral to go to this morning but I'm hoping get the second run through one of them today.
 

jonspeed04

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Class rally as usual , just back in door from away Thursday night , glad Jennings won boyles fiesta & bogies mark 2 both unreal . The money being spoke about for fiesta is scary ..
 

Jason

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@Jas Lad Atlantic Drive, High Glen and Fanad Head are the traditional Sunday stages. Not sure on f.c.d. Times.

I've a funeral to go to this morning but I'm hoping get the second run through one of them today.
Just got this @Cess text me some stuff to give me a rough idea then got a program, headed to Glen Village and Fanad, tbh wish I went to Altantic as the views are better!
 

Artoir

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Looks like the weather was super. Last time I went it rained non stop!
 

davecoupe

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I got ate by midges on Friday, badly sunburnt on Saturday and then got absolutely soaked through on Glen on Sunday afternoon.

Donegal weather really lol
 
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