THE 2016 Harvest Stages rally, sponsored by the Bayview Hotel in Killybegs and named by Donegal Motor Club in honour of the late Martin Howley, skipper of the Atlantic Challenge, is set to run on Saturday 8th October 2016.
The Rally, one of the hottest tickets on the Irish motorsport calendar, is the final round of the Triton Showers National Rally championship and also the final round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally series, which consists mainly of the rallies ringed around the border with Northern Ireland.
Picture caption: The late Martin Howley.
It doesn’t stop there.
The Donegal Motor Club’s own internal championship, supported by Donegal Commercials in Letterkenny, will also be fought out in Killybegs.
[adrotate group=”82″]So three major Irish rally championships will fall to be decided in just one day. On a Saturday – but not just any old Saturday.
There are parallels here with the surfing world, where the legendary film “Big Wednesday” tells the story of four friends who grow up with surfing as their passion.
Their life stories are related to surfing the big sea swells that come every decade. But, later in life, they are among the very few to dare take on the biggest waves ever seen, which arrive on the fabled, spectacular, Big Wednesday.
After a gap of some 16 years Killybegs, home of the Irish fishing fleet and tales of epic journeys, will join with the Motor Club and swell with more than 170 rally crews in common celebration of one of its finest ever Skippers; a true Captain of industry.
Saturday the 8th October 2016 is going to be known as the “Big Saturday” for Irish Rally drivers and rally fans. Spectators can look forward to some of the best viewing all year on stages with good access points.
[adrotate group=”76″]Clerk of the Course Karl Reid has commented that the route is one of the most compact ever, the travel distance between the 8 stages being less than the total of just under 120kms of stages on offer. This will allow plenty of service time for crews to work on their cars, or take a look at Ireland’s majestic fishing fleet.
Competitors are advised that entries open on Sunday 28th August and close on 28th September 2016. Priority entries must be submitted by 11th September 2016. Entry forms and full Rally Regulations are available from the donegalmotorclub.com website. Contact regarding the event should be made by E- mail to: secretaryharvestrally@gmail.com.
