Donegal Motor Club had a busy week at the Loughgall Stages Rally, Raven Rock Rally and the Ramelton Soap Box Race and the Donegal International Rally will be back on TV screens soon.
Loughgall Stages Rally
Last weekend saw some Donegal crews travel to North Armagh for the Loughgall Stages Rally. After last year’s win, the Inishowen and Glasha Motorsport crew of Aaron Mc Laughlin and Darren Curran started with number 1 on the door which saw great interest in the rally from Donegal Motor Club members.
With tight competition coming behind them in the form of Donegal Motor Club’s Garry Jennings with Brian Hoey on the notes to let Rory Kennedy away on holidays, they also had Aidan Wray in top form in his polo after a steady Donegal International Drive to contend with.
Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran
At the end of the day, Aaron Mc Laughlin and Darren Curran took the overall win again this year after Garry Jennings had engine trouble and Aidan Wray had turbo issues.
Further down the field, Convoy Brothers Daniel and Evan Mac Bride were out in there Honda civic and finished 49th overall after starting from 63rd on the road. Letterkenny man Brian Kelly finished a few cars behind in his blue Ford Fiesta and Justin McCauley calling the notes, finishing 56th overall after starting 66th on the road.
Ryan Mac Hugh and Declan Boyle
Craig Breen’s Raven Rock
Sunday’s attention turned to Waterford’s Raven Rock Rally which this year held a very special meaning to every Craig Breen fan around the world as this was Craig’s local rally, which he made famous with one of best friends Patrick Croke with their famous Youtube in car footage. Craig’s friends Mike Chen and Seán Hassett entered this year’s rally for a fitting tribute to their friend Craig Breen in a Skoda with a very special Craig Breen livery.
There was a big entry of Donegal Crews again made the trip to Waterford. The Mc Cafferty Bars sponsored Boyle family had Mathew Boyle with Gary Byrne on notes starting at number 53 and finishing 26th overall in their Fiesta. Older brother Micheal with Donegal Towns Dermot Mc Caffery was putting Dad Declan under pressure at times throughout the day and the crew appear to growing in confidence in their VW Polo. Declan had a good run in his C3 and finished 2nd overall behind the on form Josh Moffet in brother Sam’s Hyundai Car.
Other Donegal members were veteran Navi John Mc Caffery who started with Semaus Leonard. Convoy’s Dean O Sullivan was in the hot seat for Miaheal Carbin in his Evo.
Darren Curran the only man not happy, with just one rally result in the weekend, left the Loughgall celebrations on Saturday after his win to navi for Cavan’s Chris Armstrong on Sunday again where he had more champagne.
Dungloe’s Patrick Mc Hugh was also out with a change of Navi Enda Kennedy.
The most notable result especially for The Triton National Rally Championship was for Frosses crew Ryan Mac Hugh and Glenties Declan Boyle to come away with 1st in Class and 24th O/A at the Ravens Rock Rally after a full day of nip and tuck racing for the lead in the very competitive class.
Calvin Scott
Ramelton Soap Box Race
The biggest race of the weekend was actually in Donegal again where massive crowds gathered for The Lennon Festival’s now famous Soap Box Race in Ramelton. The overall winner was Donegal Club Member Calvin Scott who took the narrowest of wins by 0.3 of a second over another club member Ivan Simms which was as always a very enjoyable day. It was great to see Clubman Breandan Friel back on his feet again after his accident last year.
Soap Box winners
Donegal International Rally back on TV screens
This weekend many wait with excitement as we see the return of TV Coverage of this years 2023 Donegal International Rally going live on:
- TG4 08/07/23 @ 11:00am
- BT Sports 4 06/07/23 @ 01:00
- BT Sports 2 06/07/23 @ 16:00
- BT Sports 4 07/07/23 @ 14:00
- BT Sports 1 08/07/23 @ 04:15
- BT Sports 2 08/07/23 @ 15:00
More times to follow for other stations soon by following the Motor Club social pages.
With the Donegal International Rally being a 3-day Rally, On The Limit Sports could not fit all the excitement, action and individual classes into the 1 hour television slot.
With this in mind, On the Limit Sports will be releasing a 1.5 hour show on their YouTube channel after the event broadcast to show more of the great action that was captured at this year’s event.
The TV coverage was organised and sponsored this year by club members and supporters.
Donegal Motor Club want to give a special thanks goes to the people from all the club for making this happen this year with an estimated viewership of The Donegal International Rally being 400,000 viewers across the world with no cost to the club, only positive feedback.
