National Rally Championship
The National Rally Championship 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 consists of eight events that runs in 16 locations switching biennially.
| Category | Rallying |
|---|---|
| Country | Ireland |
| Inaugural season | 1966 |
| Drivers' champion |  Josh Moffett (2019) |
| Official website | Website |
The championship is regulated by Motorsport Ireland who are the governing body of Motorsports in the Republic of Ireland.
For sponsorship reasons the series were called Dunlop National Rally Championship between 2011 and 2014, and Triton National Rally Championship between 2015 and 2020.
Seasons
2020
At the 2019 awards ceremony on 16 November it was announced that 2020 championship will consist of seven rounds, six of which will be counting rounds. The change in biennial calendar is the drop of Sligo Rally in September and return of Carlow Rally in May.
The important championship sponsorship was offered to Triton Showers to extended for another year. Initially committed for five years term, Triton Showers agreed to remain as title sponsors for another year.[1]
On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[2] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[3] [4] After the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[5] 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.[6] On 19 May Motorsport Ireland cancelled the 2020 championship.[7] 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 2-5 were postponed, and eventually all remaining rounds were cancelled.
Calendar
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 March | Mayo Rally | Achill Island | Mayo & District Motor Club |
| 2 | 5 April cancelled | Circuit of Kerry Rally | Tralee | Kerry Motor Club |
| 3 | 10 May cancelled | Carlow Rally | Carlow | Carlow Motor Club |
| 4 | 24 May cancelled | Cavan Rally | Cavan | Cavan Motor Club |
| 5 | 9 August cancelled | Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally | Clonmel | Tipperary Motor Club |
| 6 | 13 September cancelled | Clare Rally | Sligo | Clare Motor Club |
| 7 | 10 October cancelled | Donegal Harvest Rally | Ballybofey | Donegal Motor Club |
2019
The 2019 season was launched on 26 January in Mondello Park,[8] sponsored by Triton for the fifth year in a row.[9] The calendar, consisting of the same eight biennial events was announced. The best seven scores will count, in addition, the final two rounds will offer bonus points.[10]
Awards
There will be overall awards and awards for each of the 20 classes. Other awards include the Motorsport Safety Team Group N award, the rally.ie award (highest two-wheel drive in overall classification) and the Mk. 2 Champions Trophy. The Juniors will compete for Junior Trophy (Class 16A) and the National Junior Award (Class 16), with the winner qualifying for selection process for the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award. Navigators will participate in separate scoring and will be also awarded.
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, YouTube and Motorsport.tv.[11]
| Class | Group | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | N | up to 1600cc (previously N1 & N2) |
| R1 | up to 1390cc - VR1A 1390-1600 cc - VR1B | |
| Class 2 | A | up to 1600cc (previously A5 & A6) |
| R2 | 1390-1600 cc - VR2B | |
| Kit cars | up to 1600cc | |
| N | 1601-2000 cc (previously N3) | |
| Class 3 | A | 1601-2000 cc |
| R2 | 1601-2000 cc - VR2C | |
| R3 | atmospheric 1601-2000 cc - VR3C turbo up to 1620cc nominal - VR3T diesel up to 2000cc nominal - VR3D | |
| Super 1600 | Super 1600 rally homologation | |
| Class 4 | N | over 2000 cc (N4 FIA Appendix J254) |
| Class 5 | R4 | FIA Appendix J260 |
| R5 | all R5 | |
| S2000 | Super 2000 Rally (atmospheric) | |
| Class 6 | R-GT | FIA R-GT homologation |
| Class 7 | A | over 2000 cc (previously A8) |
| WRC | 1.6T, 2.0T | |
| S2000 | S2000 Rally 1.6T 30 mm Restrictor (also known as Regional Rally Car - RRC) | |
| Class 9 | Modified | Modified cars up to 1450 cc, 2 wheel drive |
| Class 10 | Modified | Modified cars 1451 to 1650 cc, not more than 2 valves per cylinder, 2 wheel drive |
| Class 11F | Modified FWD | Modified FWD cars 1451 to 1650 cc, more than 2 valves per cylinder, 2 wheel drive |
| Class 11R | Modified RWD | Modified RWD cars 1451 to 1650 cc, more than 2 valves per cylinder |
| Class 13 | Modified | Modified cars 1651 to 2100 cc, more than 2 valves per cylinder, 2 wheel drive |
| Class 14 | Modified | Modified cars 2101 to 3500 cc, 2 wheel drive Max 2 valves per cylinder over 3000 cc |
| Class 15 | 4WD | Four-wheel drive cars whose homologation has expired |
| Class 16 | Juniors | Appendix 29.1 Article 21 |
| Class 18 | Historics | Articles 17–19, Appendix 29.1 |
| Class 19 | Historics | Appendix K |
| Class 20 | Modified | Modified Four-wheel drive Cars |
Calendar
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[12] | 24 February | Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Rally | Abbeyleix | Birr & District Motor Club |
| 2 | 24 March | Midland Rally | Longford | Midland Motor Club |
| 3 | 28 April | Monaghan Rally | Monaghan | Monaghan Motor Club |
| 4 | 2 June | Circuit of Munster | Limerick | Limerick Motor Club |
| 5 | 30 June | Raven’s Rock Rally | Waterford | Carrick-On-Suir Motor Club |
| 6[13] | 14 July | Sligo Rally | Sligo | Connacht Motor Club |
| 7 | 25 August | Galway Summer Rally | Galway | Galway Motor Club |
| 8 | 27 October | Fastnet Rally | Skibbereen | Skibbereen & District Car Club |
Results
A total of 113 competitors have participated in at least one championship event.
Top 10 drivers overall:
|
- Note: # - did not start
2018
ALMC Stages Rally event originally scheduled on 15 July was cancelled prior to season start as the ALMC felt that there is lack of commitment to the event from the rally drivers, because there are too many rallies in June - July period. ALMC Stages Rally event was taking place since 1984.
Sligo Rally was admitted to the calendar instead, but rescheduled from 15 to 8 of July due to 'exceptional weather conditions' and fears that the heat will melt the road surface. However the heatwave persisted and this date was also cancelled. Eventually the rally took place on 2 September.
Carlow Mini Stages Rally organized by Carlow Motor Club and held on 20 May was not a championship counting round. Best five rounds out of seven counted towards championship title.
Calendar
| Round | Dates | Event | Rally HQ | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 March | Mayo Rally | Achill Island | Mayo & District Motor Club |
| 2 | 8 April | Circuit of Kerry Rally | Tralee | Kerry Motor Club |
| 3 | 27 May | Cavan Rally | Cavan | Cavan Motor Club |
| 4 | 12 August | Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally | Sligo | Tipperary Motor Club |
| 5 | 2 September | Sligo Rally | Clonmel | Connacht Motor Club |
| 6 | 16 September | Clare Rally | Sligo | Clare Motor Club |
| 7 | 13 October | Donegal Harvest Rally | Ballybofey | Donegal Motor Club |
Results
Top 10 drivers overall:
|
- Note: # - did not start
References
- "TRITON SHOWERS TO REMAIN IN NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP". Motorsport Ireland. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
- "Circuit of Kerry Rally 2020 – POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE". Kerry Motor Club. 2020-03-14. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
- "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.
- "Triton Showers National Rally Championship Returns". Northern Sound FM. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- "Irish National Rally Championship". Irish Examiner Ltd. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "2019 Triton Championship Launches". rally.ie. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- "Irish National Rally Championship". Motorsport.tv Digital, LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Boyle opts for WRC Power". Belfast Telegraph. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Irish National Rally Championship". Independent.ie. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Current Standings". Motorsport Ireland. Retrieved 31 July 2019.