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Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

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Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
CategoryRallying
CountryIreland / Northern Ireland
Inaugural season1978
Drivers' championRepublic of Ireland Keith Cronin (2024)
Official websiteWebsite

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) is the premier rallying series in Ireland. It is held annually and is promoted by the Tarmac Rally Organisers’ Association (TROA). The Championship takes place over seven events, based in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland, using special stages, which are run against the clock, on closed public tarmac roads.

The overall Championship title is contested by drivers and co-drivers using cars homologated in FIA classes RC2 (R5/ Rally2), RC3, RC4, RC5 and RG-T. Right Hand Drive Group R5 derivative cars, conforming to Group R5 specification as per Group R5 homologation papers (except for a right-hand drive conversion) can also be used.[1]

Since 2016, WRC cars have not been eligible to score Championship points. However, competitors using WRC cars are able to win events outright.[2][3]

Three other championships, the ITRC Junior Championship, the ITRC Historic Championship and the ITRC Modified Tarmac Championship, run in parallel with the ITRC, but with different regulations.

History

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The ITRC was created following the establishment of TROA in late 1977, when the organisers of the five Irish International rallies and the Manx International Rally came together with the idea of forming a championship. The inaugural Championship began in 1978 and consisted of six events: the Galway International Rally; Circuit of Ireland Rally; Donegal International Rally; Ulster Rally; Cork 20 International Rally; and the Manx International Rally.

The first major change to the series came in 1983, when the Rally of the Lakes attained International status and was installed as the final event in that year's championship.[4] The addition of the Killarney-based round made up for the loss of the Galway International Rally, which did not run. The following year, the Galway International Rally returned and the Rally of the Lakes was retained, expanding the Championship to seven rounds from 1984 on.[5]

The next significant change took place in 2002, when the Jim Clark Rally was added to the series,[6][7] taking the Championship to eight rounds overall. The Jim Clark Rally was the first Scottish event to form part of the Championship, until it was dropped in 2010, along with the Manx International Rally,[8] mainly due to a decline in the number of ITRC competitors entering both events.

The Championship reverted to seven rounds in 2015, when the West Cork Rally joined the ITRC as a full round, having previously been part the Modified Tarmac Championship calendar in 2014.[9]

Current Format and Event Calendar

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The Irish Tarmac Championship consists of seven rounds:[10]

  • Galway International Rally
  • West Cork Rally
  • Easter Stages Rally
  • Killarney Rally of the Lakes
  • Donegal International Rally
  • Ulster Rally
  • Cork 20 International Rally

Previous Events

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The following events have also been included in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in the past:

  • Circuit of Ireland Rally
  • Jim Clark Rally
  • Manx International Rally
  • Summit 2000 Rally - a one off event, organised by Enniskillen Motor Club, that took place in May 2000, following the cancelation of three key rounds from that year's calendar. The Ulster Rally was undergoing organisational restructuring and was not part of the Championship; the Galway International Rally had suffered from adverse public relations after a series of incidents relating to anti-social behaviour and decided to sit the year out; while the Circuit of Ireland organisers faced a lack of entries and a date clash with the Rally of the Lakes and as a result cancelled the event.[11]

Points System

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Competitors best scores in 5 out of 7 rounds are used to calculate the final Championship standings. Every driver and co-driver finishing each round in the top 10 are awarded championship points, with the winner receiving 17 points. Each finisher outside of the top 10 receives 1.5 points.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
17 14 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3

A bonus system normally operates during the final round, with additional points on offer to the winners of each leg of the event, as well as for final positions.[12][13][14][15]

2022 season

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In July 2021, TROA released a statement regarding their intention to run a full championship in 2022.[16]

Killarney & District Motor Club announced that the Killarney Historic Rally will take place on 27 November 2021. This rally will count as the opening round of the ITRC Historic Championship.[17][18]

With COVID-19 restrictions effectively coming to an end, a full 2022 calendar was announced by Motorsport Ireland and TROA.[19][20]

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 5-6 February Galway International Rally Galway Galway Motor Club
2 19-20 March West Cork International Rally Clonakilty Cork Motor Club
3 15-16 April Easter Stages / Circuit of Ireland Rally Dundrod Ulster Automobile Club
4 30 April–1 May Killarney International Rally of the Lakes Killarney Killarney Motor Club
5 17–19 June Donegal International Rally Letterkenny Donegal Motor Club
6 30-31 July Cork 20 International Rally Cork Munster Motor Club
7 19-20 August Ulster International Rally Newry Northern Ireland Motor Club
8 26 November Killarney Historic Rally Killarney Killarney & District Motor Club
Results
Round Driver Co-driver Car
1 Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5
2 Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5
3 Alastair Fisher Gordon Noble Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
4 Callum Devine Noel O'Sullivan Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
5 Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5

2021 season

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In February 2021, the TROA decided to cancel the 2021 Championship. [21] Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were still subject to restrictions designed to curb the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the TROA announcement cited the uncertainty surrounding the running of championship events during 2021.[22] At the point the decision was taken to cancel the Championship, the opening three rounds of the Championship had already been called off.[23]

2020 season

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The 2020 season commenced with the opening round in Galway in February 2020.[24][25][26] The West Cork Rally was cancelled on 12 March 2020, due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.[27][28] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events were suspended until 1 June 2020, which led to the postponement of the following rounds.[29] Amidst on-going restrictions aimed at curbing the effects of the pandemic, the board of directors and executive of TROA made the unanimous decision to cancel the 2020 Championship on 28 April 2020.[30][31][32]

2020 event calendar before cancellation
Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer Status
1 2 February Galway International Rally Galway Galway Motor Club Ok
2 14–15 March West Cork International Rally Clonakilty Cork Motor Club Cancelled
3 10-11 April Easter Stages / Circuit of Ireland Rally Dundrod Ulster Automobile Club
4 2–3 May International Rally of the Lakes Killarney Killarney Motor Club
5 19–21 June Donegal International Rally Letterkenny Donegal Motor Club
6 21–22 August Ulster International Rally Newry Northern Ireland Motor Club
7 26–27 September Cork 20 International Rally Cork Munster Motor Club

2019 season

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Galway International Rally returned to the calendar in 2019, following the cancellation of the 2018 event. The Easter Stages Rally replaced the Circuit of Ireland Rally event for the third year in a row.

The overall champion was Craig Breen, co-driven by Paul Nagle, after winning five rounds.[33][34]

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 10 February Galway International Rally Galway Galway Motor Club
2 16–17 March West Cork Rally Clonakilty Cork Motor Club
3 2 June Easter Stages Rally Dundrod Ulster Automobile Club
4 4–5 May Rally of the Lakes Killarney Killarney Motor Club
5 21–23 June Donegal International Rally Letterkenny Donegal Motor Club
6 16–17 August Ulster Rally Newry Northern Ireland Motor Club
7 28–29 September Cork 20 Rally Cork Munster Motor Club

Top 10 ITRC drivers overall: [35] [36]

Pos Driver Car 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
  Points
1 Craig Breen Ford Fiesta R5
Hyundai i20 R5 		17 17 17 17 0 17 0 85
2 Alastair Fisher Ford Fiesta R5 14 14 8 14 12 10 0 72
3 Callum Devine Ford Fiesta R5 0 8 10 12 17 14 0 61
4 Meirion Evans Hyundai i20 R5
Škoda Fabia R5 		1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 10 12 25.5 52
5 Jonathan Greer Ford Fiesta R5 7 1.5 12 DNF 0 DNF 21 41.5
6 Josh Moffett Ford Fiesta R5
Hyundai i20 R5 		12 7 1.5 DNF 14 DNF 0 34.5
7 Desi Henry Škoda Fabia R5
Ford Fiesta R5 		8 DNF 14 10 0 0 0 32
8 Martyn England Ford Fiesta R5 0 DNF 1.5 0 0 0 18 19.5
9 Sam Moffett Ford Fiesta R5 DNF 10 7 DNF 0 0 0 17
10 Keith Lyons Ford Fiesta R5 1.5 DNF 0 DNF 0 0 15 16.5

Irish Tarmac Rally Champions

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Season Driver Co-driver Car
1978 Scotland John Taylor John Jensen Ford Escort RS1800
1979 Northern Ireland Brian Nelson Rodney Cole Ford Escort RS1800
1980 Scotland Jimmy McRae Frank Main Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1981 Scotland Jimmy McRae Ian Grindrod Opel Ascona 400
1982 Republic of Ireland John Coyne Christy Farrell Lotus Sunbeam
1983 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Christy Farrell Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1984 Republic of Ireland Billy Coleman Ronan Morgan Opel Manta 400
1985 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Christy Farrell Opel Manta 400
1986 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Christy Farrell Opel Manta 400
1987 England Mark Lovell Roger Freeman Ford Sierra Cosworth
1988 England Mark Lovell Terry Harryman Ford Sierra Cosworth
1989 England Russell Brookes Diekman/Wilson/Brown Ford Sierra Cosworth
1990 Northern Ireland Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy BMW M3
1991 Northern Ireland Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Ford Sierra Cosworth
1992 Northern Ireland Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1993 Northern Ireland Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Legacy RS
1994 Northern Ireland Kenny McKinstry Robbie Philpott Subaru Legacy RS
1995 Republic of Ireland Frank Meagher Pat Moloughney Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1996 Northern Ireland Bertie Fisher Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza 555
1997 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica GT-Four ST185
1998 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Brian Murphy Toyota Celica GT-Four ST185
1999 Northern Ireland Ian Greer Dean Beckett Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
2000 Northern Ireland Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S5 WRC 99
2001 Cancelled due to foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
2002 Northern Ireland Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S6 WRC 2000
2003 Northern Ireland Derek McGarrity Dermot O'Gorman Subaru Impreza S8 WRC 2002
2004 Northern Ireland Derek McGarrity Dermot O'Gorman Subaru Impreza S9 WRC 2003
Northern Ireland Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2005 Northern Ireland Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2006 Northern Ireland Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla WRC
2007 Northern Ireland Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12 WRC 2006
2008 Republic of Ireland Eamonn Boland Damien Morrisey Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 2007
2009 Northern Ireland Eugene Donnelly Paddy Toner Škoda Fabia WRC
2010 Republic of Ireland Gareth MacHale Brian Murphy Ford Focus RS WRC 06
2011 Republic of Ireland Tim McNulty Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S12B WRC 2007
2012 Northern Ireland Darren Gass Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza S10 WRC 2004
2013 Northern Ireland Garry Jennings Kevin Flanagan (co-driving for Donagh Kelly) Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07
2014 Republic of Ireland Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC
2015 Republic of Ireland Donagh Kelly Ciaran Geaney (co-driving for Joe McGonigle) Ford Focus WRC
2016 Republic of Ireland Keith Cronin Mikie Galvin Citroën DS3 R5 2016
2017 Republic of Ireland Sam Moffett Karl Atkinson Ford Fiesta R5
2018 Republic of Ireland Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Ford Fiesta R5
2019 Republic of Ireland Craig Breen Paul Nagle Ford Fiesta R5
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022 Republic of Ireland Josh Moffett Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5

Broadcasting

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Coverage of events has been provided by On the Limit Sports since 2003.[37] The ITRC is available to view on a variety of platforms, including television (TG4, BT Sport) and on demand via internet streaming services.

References

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  1. ^ "Statement from T.R.O.A. regarding R5 RHD Derivative Cars – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  2. ^ "Tarmac Rally Organisers Association to make a crunch call on levelling the road". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  3. ^ Walsh, Martin (2015-07-17). "Motorsport: Donegal dispute leaves Irish Tarmac Rally Championship future uncertain". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  4. ^ "Rally of the Lakes Down Through the Years". homepage.tinet.ie. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  5. ^ "History – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  6. ^ "McHale Aims for Highland Fling in First Jim Clark Rally!". www.rally.ie. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  7. ^ "ITRC: 2002 Irish Tarmac rally preview". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  8. ^ "Irish drop Manx rally from series". Manx Radio. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  9. ^ "West Cork Rally to join the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in 2015 – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  10. ^ "Events – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  11. ^ "The event that put Fermanagh on the rally map". Impartial Reporter. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  12. ^ "Rallying: Cork '20' International Rally 2007". Sport Ireland. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  13. ^ "Cork '20' Returns West". FleetCar.ie. 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  14. ^ "Cork set for exciting championship finale – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  15. ^ "Cork 20 International Rally always draws the crowds to Leeside". echo live. 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  16. ^ "TROA confirms intent to run full 2022 Irish Tarmac Championship". 14 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Rallying to return to Killarney as Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally is a go!". 6 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Rally.ie - Stories - Killarney Historic Stages Rally - (Sat) 27 Nov 21".
  19. ^ "Upcoming Events".
  20. ^ "Events".
  21. ^ "Cancellation of 2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship". www.colerainechronicle.co.uk. Coleraine Chronicle. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  22. ^ "2021 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship called off". DirtFish. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Irish Tarmac Rally Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Fisher savours 'special' first ITRC win". www.colerainechronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  25. ^ "Fisher breaks his duck with commanding Galway victory". Impartial Reporter. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  26. ^ "Alastair Fisher shatters his hoodoo and grabs win in Galway". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  27. ^ Hall, Adam (2020-03-12). "West Cork Rally postponed as Motorsport Ireland suspends March events". Rally Insight. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  28. ^ Lindroos, Pontus (2020-03-12). "West Cork Rally postponed due to coronavirus". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  29. ^ "Motorsport Ireland Statement on COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  30. ^ "Irish Tarmac Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  31. ^ "Fisher backs Irish Tarmac cancellation call". DirtFish. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  32. ^ Kenny, John (2020-04-28). "Irish Tarmac Rally Championship cancelled".
  33. ^ "Breen and McErlean win titles at Ulster Rally". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  34. ^ Fullerton, Simon (2019-08-20). "Ulster Win Hands Breen Tarmac Title". Ulster Rally. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  35. ^ "Standings". ITRC. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  36. ^ "Results". ewrc-results. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  37. ^ "About Us". On The Limit Sports. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
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