West Cork Rally

The West Cork Rally is an annual motor sport event held in Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Promoted and organised by Cork Motor Club, the rally began in 1977 and has run on, or near St. Patricks Weekend ever since with just two exceptions (1987 & 2001). It is a popular two day event which attracts a lot of interest across Ireland and the U.K. with many competitors and spectators travelling to the rally each year.It was a counting round of the Irish National Rally Championship for a number of years in the early days. In 2015 it became a full round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for the first time. While it became known as predominantly a clubman rally, it has run under an International Permit on two occasions, 1986 & 2016.

Early Years (1977 - 1980)

The first West Cork Rally took place on the 18 & 19 March 1977, and from an initial entry of 80 cars, 68 made the start with 28 classified finishers. Ger Buckley & John Caplice were scheduled to do the event, but in the week leading up to the rally Billy Coleman was looking to drive his cousins car. The plan was for Billy to drive and Ger to co-drive, but after a test Ger decided it was not for him and that his regular co-drvier John Caplice would sit with Billy instead. John Caplice said he wasn't aware of this until the morning of the rally when he arrived in Clonakilty! However the partnership was very successful and they took a very comprehensive win.

The second event in 1978 saw the rally upgraded to a counting round of the new Shellsport Stages Rally Championship (the modern day National Championship). An ambitious route under the watchful eye of the relatively youthful Michael 'Bones' O'Connor saw the 21 stage rally start in Clonakilty and end up in Bantry for the lunch halt. The same stages were tackled in reverse all the way back towards Clonakily that day with a total of thirteen tough test in mainly appalling weather. The second day had eight more stages, and the weather didn't let up, but Mick & Anne O'Connell were the victors in somewhat controversial circumstances. They were off the road for over 20 minutes on a stage that was ultimately cancelled. Ger Buckley his closest rival wasn't happy and appealed the decision to the RIAC, but the O'Connells were eventually awarded the win. The event lost its championship status for 1979, but that didn't hinder its progress as by 1980 upwards of 160 crews were starting the event, many of the them travelling from all parts of the U.K.

The Zanussi Years (1981 - 1986)

1981 saw Zanussi come on board as the events first major title sponsors and Tony Pond became the first overseas driver to win the rally in aVauxhall Chevette HSR.

Tarmac Championship Years (2014 - 2016)

Donagh Kelly created history on the 2016 event when he became only the second driver to win the rally three times, and the first achieve this in successive years.

Roll of Honour

Year Driver Co-driver Car
1977 Republic of Ireland Billy Coleman John Caplice Ford Escort RS1800
1978 Republic of Ireland Mick O'Connell Anne O'Connell Ford Escort RS1800
1979 Republic of Ireland Ger Buckley John Caplice Ford Escort RS1800
1980 Republic of Ireland Billy Coleman Brendan Neville Ford Escort RS1800
1981 England Tony Pond Ronan Morgan Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1982 England Russell Brookes Ronan Morgan Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1983 Republic of Ireland Demi Fitzgerald Leo Whyte Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1984 Republic of Ireland Richie Heeley Vincent Meade Ford Escort RS1800
1985 Republic of Ireland Richie Heeley Vincent Meade Ford Escort RS1800
1986 Republic of Ireland Frank Meagher Trevor Hughes Ford Escort RS1800
1987 No Rally - Insurance Crisis
1988 Wales Geoff Kitney Alan McCann Darrian T9
1989 Republic of Ireland Bill Connolly Tom Meaney Opel Manta 400
1990 Republic of Ireland Austin McHale Ronan McNamee BMW M3
1991 Republic of Ireland Bill Connolly Tom Meaney BMW M3
1992 Wales John Price Mike Bowen MG Metro 6R4
1993 Wales John Price Mike Bowen MG Metro 6R4
1994 Republic of Ireland Liam O'Callaghan James O'Brien Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4
1995 Wales Bob Fowden Gerry Hynes Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1996 Republic of Ireland Liam O'Callaghan James O'Brien Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
1997 Wales Bob Fowden Gerry Hynes Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1998 Republic of Ireland Donal O'Donovan Pat Lordan Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4
1999 Wales Bob Fowden Gerry Hynes Ford Escort RS Cosworth
2000 Republic of Ireland Stephen Murphy Mickey Joe Morrissey Subaru Impreza 555
2001 No Rally - Foot & Mouth Disease
2002 Wales Melvyn Evans Aled Davies Ford Escort WRC
2003 Northern Ireland Kenny McKinstry Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza WRC
2004 Republic of Ireland Donie O'Sullivan Paul Nagle Ford Focus WRC
2005 Republic of Ireland Denis Cronin Helen O'Sullivan Subaru Impreza WRC
2006 Wales Melvyn Evans Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza WRC
2007 Republic of Ireland Michael Barrable Dermot O'Gorman Ford Focus WRC
2008 Republic of Ireland Donie O'Sullivan Paul Nagle Subaru Impreza WRC
2009 Republic of Ireland Liam McCarthy Kieran Murphy Toyota Corolla WRC
2010 Republic of Ireland Tim McNulty Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza WRC
2011 Republic of Ireland Robert Barrable Damien Connolly Skoda Fabia S2000
2012 Republic of Ireland Daragh O'Riordan Tony McDaid Subaru Impreza WRC
2013 Republic of Ireland Brian O'Mahony John Higgins Subaru Impreza WRC
2014 Republic of Ireland Donagh Kelly Kevin Flanagan Ford Focus WRC
2015 Republic of Ireland Donagh Kelly Kevin Flanagan Ford Focus WRC
2016 Republic of Ireland Donagh Kelly Conor Foley Ford Focus WRC

References

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