Irish Forest Rally Championship
| Category | Rallying |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Inaugural season | 1978 |
| Drivers' champion |  Cathan McCourt (2019) |
| Official website | Website |
The National Forestry Rally, Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally is a rallying series in the Republic of Ireland. It consists series of events, organized by a different motor club representing the region.
The championship is regulated by Motorsport Ireland who are the governing body of Motorsports in the Republic of Ireland.
Seasons[]
2021[]
COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021, and all motorsports events remained suspended. The Irish Forest Rally Championship was by default cancelled, although no announcement was made. As the vaccinations were progressing, at the end of May Motorsport Ireland announced that motorsports events can resume from 7 June, subject to local restrictions.[1] There was no championship, but some of the Irish Forest Rally event dates were announced. and were also announced by Northern Ireland's motor clubs.
| Event | Proposed date | Organizer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postponed indefinitely on 6 July.[2] | |||
| 18 August | Entries opened 26 August. Starting grid consisted of 114 starters.[3] | ||
| Cancelled on 4 July.[4][5] | |||
| Cancelled on 26 August.[6] | |||
| 23 October | Not planned originally, announced on 25 September.[7][8] |
2020[]
The 2020 calendar included two changes, round 4 has been dropped in favor of , and round 7 replaced by .[9][10]
The was initially scheduled 18 April, but later rescheduled to 28 March. Limerick Forest Rally on 1 March was postponed on the day due to snowfall, the new date proposed is 18–19 April.[11]
On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[12][13] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[14] After the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[15] Motorsport Ireland released a statement same day that in line with Phase 4 of this road map the suspension of all motor sports events is extended until the 20 July 2020. Rally events fall under Phase 5 of the guidelines and will not be considered until after the 10 August 2020.[16] On 19 May Motorsport Ireland cancelled the 2020 championship.[17] Clubs might still be able to run events if they wish but it won't hold championship status.
Only the round 1 took place before rounds 2-6 were postponed, and eventually all remaining rounds were cancelled.
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 February | Willie Loughman Forest Rally | Carrick-on-Suir | |
| 2 | 1 March cancelled | Limerick Forest Rally | Rockchapel | |
| 3 | 28 March cancelled | Ballyvourney | ||
| 4 | 17 May cancelled | Tipperary | ||
| 5&6 | 25–26 July cancelled | Mallow | ||
| 7 | 26 September cancelled | Omagh |
2019[]
The calendar consisted of seven events, with a reserve on 21 September, which ended up not being included as a championship round.
The overall champion: , Ford Fiesta R5[18]
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[19] | 20 January | Willie Loughman Forest Rally | Slieverue | |
| 2[20] | 3 March | Limerick Forest Rally | Rockchapel | |
| 3[21] | 13 April | Ballyvourney | ||
| 4[22] | 18 May | Bundoran | ||
| 5&6[23][24] | 27–28 July | Mallow | ||
| 7[18][25] | 7 September | Enniskillen |
Top 10 drivers overall:
|
2018[]
The calendar consisted of seven events. Round 4 was pushed forward by two weeks.
The overall champion: , Ford Fiesta R5
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[26][27] | 3 February | Willie Loughman Forest Rally | Slieverue | |
| 2 | 4 March | Limerick Forest Rally | Rockchapel | |
| 3 | 14 April | Ballyvourney | ||
| 4 | 14 July | ? | ||
| 5 | 29 July | Mallow | ||
| 6 | 1 September | Enniskillen | ||
| 7 | 22 September | Omagh |
Top 10 drivers overall:
|
- Note: # - did not start
2017[]
The calendar originally consisted of seven events, however round 2 was cancelled. The best 5 results counted towards championship points.
The overall champion: Sam Moffet, Ford Fiesta WRC
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 February | Willie Loughman Forest Rally | Slieverue | |
| 2 (cancelled) | 4 March | Tipperary | ||
| 3 | 8 April | Ballyvourney | ||
| 4 | 13 May | Bundoran | ||
| 5 | 30 July | Mallow | ||
| 6 | 2 September | Enniskillen | ||
| 7 | 23 September | Omagh |
Top 10 drivers overall:
|
- Note: # - did not start
Sponsors[]
The main event sponsors are the Coillte - the national forestry company, and Valvoline - the overall title sponsor.
Other sponsors include: M O’Brien Plant Hire, Suirway Forklifts, Gordon Automotive, Andrew Fanning Motor Factors, Automatic Fire & Integrated Solutions, EARS Motorsport Ireland Ltd, Exact Signs, SVS Productions, Onthepacenote.com, Pat Kerley Windows & Doors, C and M Motors, Modern Tyres.
Broadcasting[]
The TV coverage is captured by On the Limit Sports. The viewers can view the series on TG4 and RTE Player in Ireland, as well as on satellite channel and Motorsport.tv.
References[]
- ^ https://www.motorsportireland.com/Public/MI_News/2021/MI-confirms-21-restart.aspx
- ^ https://rallyinsight.com/2021/07/06/moonraker-postponed-cork-forestry-cancelled-as-rally-crisis-continues/
- ^ http://www.omaghmotorclub.co.uk/events/bushwhacker-rally/
- ^ https://corkmotorclub.com/club-statement-2021-forestry/
- ^ https://rally.ie/index.php/stories/210704-173924#210704-174011
- ^ https://rally.ie/index.php/stories/210826-143655
- ^ https://tipperarymotorclub.weebly.com/
- ^ https://www.rally.ie/index.php/stories/210926-141338
- ^ "2020 Calendar :: Irish Forest Rally, Dublin, Ireland". www.irishforestrally.com.
- ^ "rally.ie - Stories - 2020 Irish Forest Rally Championship". rally.ie.
- ^ "Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20". rally.ie. 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- ^ "Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20 - POSTPONED". rally.ie. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- ^ "At a glance: What restrictions are going to be lifted and when?". 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- ^ "A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO & PRESIDENT OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND". 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- ^ "MOTORSPORT IRELAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED". 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
- ^ a b "Motorsport Ireland News > Lakelands Rally concludes the 2019 Forestry Championship". motorsportireland.com.
- ^ "2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship Round 1 Preview - Carrick on Su :: Irish Forest Rally, Dublin, Ireland". www.irishforestrally.com.
- ^ "2019 Forestry Rally". www.limerickmc.ie.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Highl, News (May 18, 2019). "Victory for Cathan McCourt in Donegal Forestry Rally".
- ^ "Rally ready to roar around Mallow". independent.
- ^ "Motorsport Ireland News > 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship Rounds 4 & 5 Preview". www.motorsportireland.com.
- ^ "Henry/Connolly in command at Lakeland Rally". www.irishexaminer.com. September 9, 2019.
- ^ Latest Sport. "Midwest Radio - Success for Murphy family at Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally". Midwestradio.ie. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
- ^ "Urgent Notice to all Competitor's". www.carrickonsuirmotorclub.com.
External links[]
- Rally racing series
- Rally competitions in Ireland