EUGENE DONNELLY IS back on his favourite stretches of tarmacadam and aiming to roll back the years.
The ‘Genie’ from Maghera, a five-time Irish Tarmac Champion, won the Donegal International Rally three times during an illustrious time at the top of the sport.
One of Irish rallying’s most iconic figures, Donnelly is back at the wheel and set to tackle next weekend’s Joule Donegal International Rally in a Mini WRC.
“It’s been a good few years since I’ve done Donegal,” Donnelly told Donegal Sport Hub.
[adrotate group=”11″]“A lot of changes have happened in Irish motorsport, from the demise of the WRC to the up-and-coming R5 cars.
“It’s an opportunity to get the Mini out and stretch its legs. It’s six years since I did Donegal. It’s the best rally in the country and I just felt it was time to go again.”
Donnelly is seeded fourth, but said: “I’d love to be on the pace, but I don’t see it happening.”
Donnelly estimates that he has done ‘only seven or eight events’ since he last competed in Donegal back in 2009.
[adrotate group=”70″]He said: “I had ten fantastic years at a very high level and 30 years of competing. There comes a point where you have to break.
“No man can complain when he’s won five Championships and won Donegal three times.”
For all of his achievements in the sport, Donnelly still counts Donegal as top of his list.
He said: “It’s the history of it and the stages. The terrain just warms to producing a really good rally. Spectators love Donegal too.
“The Donegal people put a massive effort into this. People just embrace it and that brings people back here.
“Everywhere I go in Donegal, I’m always made feel very welcome. I’ve such fond memories here.
“As a boy, this was always an iconic event. I love coming back here.”
Donnelly recalls coming to Donegal with his brother Charlie and hearing the stories and memories being recounted.
In 2004, Donnelly, having finished second to Andrew Nesbitt the previous year, won the first of his three Donegal Internationals.
[adrotate group=”46″]“I never in my wildest dreams thought I could win Donegal, let alone come back and win it twice,” he said.
Donnelly, with Paul Kiely on the notes, won by a minute and a half from Derek McGarrity after Nesbitt crashed off with just five stages left.
A year later, in 2005, Nesbitt was leading the way before he came acropper on Knockalla and Donnelly siezed control to win by 42 seconds from Tim McNulty, before being awarded the 2008 event, cut short due to the death of a spectator at Ballyare.
Donnelly’s first two wins were in the WRC Corolla while he did 2008 in a Skoda Fabia. Paddy Toner will be calling the notes for Donnelly next weekend.
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/eugene-donnelly-ahead-of-return-to-donegal-international-rally
Tags: