THE DONEGAL RALLY has been described before as the ‘jewel’ in the Irish Tarmac Rally calendar and the 2016 event promises to be no different.
But just what attracts crews to Donegal?
Crews are this week putting the final touches to the machinery that they’ll send out on Friday morning, each with their own goal, their own aim for three gruelling, testing days of intense rallying.
At the weekend’s recce, Donegal Sport Hub spoke to a number of Donegal regulars ahead of the latest instalment of one of this county’s most storied chapters.
John Bonner’s father, Vincent, created history in 1983 when he became the first Donegal driver to win the rally. Vincent remains an iconic figure and John, a late comer albeit, has followed his dad into the sport.
[adrotate group=”11″]“The excitement is starting to build up now,” Dungloe man John says.
“You just have to be on it from the Friday morning. The local men always put in a big effort. Every man’s pace is up.”
Aaron MacHale grew up on a diet of rallying and saw his father, the great Austin MacHale, win Donegal in 1990 and 1997.
Aaron’s brother Gareth won in Donegal in 2009 and 2010. Aaron is a regular competitor here and will again have Paul McGee, the Milford-based Garda Sergeant, on the notes, this year in a Skoda Fabia.
Aaron says: “There is no other event that captures the imagination like Donegal. We’ve seen some classic battles in Donegal over the years.”
Milford’s Daniel Connaghan muses that he’s ‘close on 20’ when it comes to the amount of times he’s taken part. He had some trouble with the car lately, but is raring to go.
He says: “We were waiting until Wednesday for an engine so it was back to the spanners again! The stages here are a real challenge and you can’t hang behind in Donegal.”
Darragh Kelly from Donegal Town has served as PRO of the Motor Club, but is also a dab hand behind the wheel.
[adrotate group=”70″]Having finished last year in a C2R2 Citroën, Kelly is in a back-wheel drive car for the first time this year and he tackles Donegal in the Escort.
He says: “Getting up to the speed is the one for us because the race starts early on the Friday morning. I’ve adapted alright to it so far.”
John McCafferty will be competing in Donegal for a remarkable 38th time as he calls the notes for Seamus Leonard. A native of Omagh, Leonard has finished second in Donegal – behind Garry Jennings in 2012.
Leonard says: “I haven’t done much this last few years, but I always try to get out for Donegal. The competition is always good and heavy here.
[adrotate group=”46″]Coolboy man Liam Doherty is in action either as a driver or navigator for the 20th year in a row this year.
Doherty will have Dermot McGettigan as co-driver in the Escort. Doherty says: “A lot of the stages are at the backdoor. There are a few wee changes. It’s a good rally and it’s the time we look forward to every year.”
It’s 30 years now since Robbie Peoples first competed in Donegal in 1986. He’s only missed ‘a couple’ since.
“It’s a weakness,” the Kilmacrennan man says.
“I haven’t thought about rallying since the Harvest Rally. There’s always just something that keeps you going. It’s vicious.”
[adrotate group=”37″]Letterkenny crew Damien Gallagher and Mac Walsh are 22 years at it now and have hopes of competing again at the upper end of the national rally.
Damien says: “They have just flown in and it’s nice to put that run of years together. We’ve had some great highs and some massive lows.”
Listen to the full podcast below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/donegal-sport-hub-podcast-33-look-ahead-to-2016-donegal-rally
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