Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

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.

Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
CategoryRallying
CountryIreland / Northern Ireland
Inaugural season1978
Drivers' champion Craig Breen (2019)
Official websiteWebsite

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

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 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 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 back 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

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:

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

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]

2020 season

The 2020 season commenced with the opening round in Galway in February 2020.[16][17][18] The West Cork Rally was cancelled on 12 March 2020, due to the global Covid-19 outbreak.[19][20] 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.[21] Amidst on-going restrictions aimed at curbing the effects of the pandemic, the board of directors and executive of TROA made a unanimous decision to cancel the 2020 Championship on 28 April 2020.[22][23][24]

2020 event calendar before cancellation
Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 2 FebruaryGalway International RallyGalwayGalway Motor Club
2 14–15 MarchWest Cork International RallyClonakiltyCork Motor Club
3 10-11 AprilEaster Stages / Circuit of Ireland RallyDundrodUlster Automobile Club
4 2–3 MayInternational Rally of the LakesKillarneyKillarney Motor Club
5 19–21 JuneDonegal International RallyLetterkennyDonegal Motor Club
6 21–22 AugustUlster International RallyNewryNorthern Ireland Motor Club
7 26–27 SeptemberCork 20 International RallyCorkMunster Motor Club

2019 season

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.[25] [26]

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 10 FebruaryGalway International RallyGalwayGalway Motor Club
2 16–17 MarchWest Cork RallyClonakiltyCork Motor Club
3 2 JuneEaster Stages RallyDundrodUlster Automobile Club
4 4–5 MayRally of the LakesKillarneyKillarney Motor Club
5 21–23 JuneDonegal International RallyLetterkennyDonegal Motor Club
6 16–17 AugustUlster RallyNewryNorthern Ireland Motor Club
7 28–29 SeptemberCork 20 RallyCorkMunster Motor Club

Top 10 ITRC drivers overall: [27] [28]

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

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

Broadcasting

Coverage of events has been provided by On the Limit Sports since 2003.[29] The ITRC is available to view on a variety of platforms, including television (TG4, BT Sport) and on demand on internet streaming services.

References
  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. "Motorsport: Donegal dispute leaves Irish Tarmac Rally Championship future uncertain". Irish Examiner. 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2020-12-31. |first= missing |last= (help)
  4. "Rally of the Lakes Down Through the Years". homepage.tinet.ie. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  5. "History – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  6. "rally.ie - Stories - 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. admin (2010-07-25). "Cork '20' Returns West". FleetCar.ie. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  14. "Cork set for exciting championship finale – #ITRC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  15. Fri; Sep, 27; 2019 - 10:25 (2019-09-27). "Cork 20 International Rally always draws the crowds to Leeside". echo live. Retrieved 2020-12-31.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. "Fisher savours 'special' first ITRC win". www.colerainechronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  17. "Fisher breaks his duck with commanding Galway victory". Impartial Reporter. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  18. "Alastair Fisher shatters his hoodoo and grabs win in Galway". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  19. Hall, Adam (2020-03-12). "West Cork Rally postponed as Motorsport Ireland suspends March events". Rally Insight. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  20. Lindroos, Pontus (2020-03-12). "West Cork Rally postponed due to coronavirus". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  21. "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  22. "Irish Tarmac Championship cancelled". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  23. "Fisher backs Irish Tarmac cancellation call". DirtFish. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  24. Kenny, John (2020-04-28). "Irish Tarmac Rally Championship cancelled". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. "Breen and McErlean win titles at Ulster Rally". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  26. Fullerton, Simon (2019-08-20). "ULSTER WIN HANDS BREEN TARMAC TITLE". Ulster Rally. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  27. "Standings". ITRC. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  28. "Results". ewrc-results. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  29. "About Us". On The Limit Sports. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
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