Irish Forest Rally Championship

The National Forestry Rally, Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally is a rallying series in the Republic of Ireland. It consists series of events, organized by a different motor club representing the region.

Irish Forest Rally Championship
CategoryRallying
CountryIreland
Inaugural season1978
Drivers' champion Cathan McCourt (2019)
Official websiteWebsite

The championship is regulated by Motorsport Ireland who are the governing body of Motorsports in the Republic of Ireland.

Seasons

2020

The 2020 calendar includes two changes, round 4 Cavan Forest Rally has been dropped in favor of Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally, and round 7 Lakeland Stages Rally replaced by Bushwhacker Rally.[1][2]

The Moonraker Forest Rally was initially scheduled 18 April, but later rescheduled to 28 March. Limerick Forest Rally on 1 March was postponed on the day due to snowfall, the new date proposed is 18–19 April.[3]

On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.[4][5] On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020.[6] After the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May,[7] Motorsport Ireland released a statement same day that in line with Phase 4 of this road map the suspension of all motor sports events is extended until the 20 July 2020. Rally events fall under Phase 5 of the guidelines and will not be considered until after the 10 August 2020.[8] On 19 May Motorsport Ireland cancelled the 2020 championship.[9] Clubs might still be able to run events if they wish but it won't hold championship status.

Only the round 1 took place before rounds 2-6 were postponed, and eventually all remaining rounds were cancelled.

2020 event calendar before cancellation
Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 16 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallyCarrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
2 1 March cancelledLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
3 28 March cancelledMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
4 17 May cancelledSean Conlon Memorial Forestry RallyTipperaryTipperary Car Club
5&6 25–26 July cancelledJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
7 26 September cancelledBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club

2019

The calendar consisted of seven events, with a reserve Bushwhacker Rally on 21 September, which ended up not being included as a championship round.

The overall champion: Cathan McCourt, Ford Fiesta R5 [10]

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1[11] 20 JanuaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
2[12] 3 MarchLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
3[13] 13 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
4[14] 18 MayDonegal Forest RallyBundoranDonegal Motor Club
5&6[15][16] 27–28 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
7[10][17] 7 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:

Pos Driver Car Class 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
  Points  Points (best 5)
1 Cathan McCourt Ford Fiesta R5 5 13 3 21 21 18 18 19 113 97
2 Michael Carbin Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 20 9 19 16 16 13 15 15 103 81
3 Sam Moffett Ford Fiesta R5 5 17 0 0 0 19 21 21 78 78
4 Niall McCullagh Ford Fiesta R5 4 15 2 11 19 14 13 17 91 78
5 Conor McCourt Ford Fiesta R5 5 11 2 1 18 17 16 16 81 78
6 Joe Hegarty Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 20 8 9 17 17 7 1 14 73 65
7 David Crossen Ford Escort Mk2 13 1 17 15 15 11 0 1 60 59
8 Martin McKenna Ford Fiesta WRC 7 0 2 7 13 15 14 10 61 59
9 Barry McKenna Ford Fiesta R5 5 16 1 1 0 21 19 0 58 58
10 Niall Henry Citroen DS3 R5 5 14 7 19 1 0 0 15 56 56

2018

The calendar consisted of seven events. Round 4 was pushed forward by two weeks.

The overall champion: Josh Moffet, Ford Fiesta R5

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1[18][19] 3 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
2 4 MarchLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
3 14 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
4 14 JulyCavan Forest Rally?Cavan Motor Club
5 29 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
6 1 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club
7 22 SeptemberBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:

Pos Driver Car Class 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
  Points  Points (best 5)
1 Josh Moffet Ford Fiesta R5 5 2 21 19 18 21 21 21 123 103
2 Barry McKenna Ford Fiesta R5 5 19 19 21 19 19 1 # 98 97
3 Cathan McCourt Citroen DS3 R5 5 1 17 1 15 17 19 19 89 87
4 Stephen McCann Ford Fiesta S2000 5 18 16 17 16 16 16 4 103 83
5 Andrew Purcell Ford Fiesta R5 5 21 18 1 21 18 1 # 80 79
6 Donall Sweeney Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 20 # 14 16 10 13 1 0 54 54
7 Conor McCourt Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 4 13 2 # 11 14 13 1 54 53
8 Adrian Hetherington Ford Escort RS1800 15 1 # 1 17 1 18 15 53 52
9 Shane McGirr Toyota Starlet RWD 13 1 11 13 13 12 1 0 51 50
10 Mickey Conlon Ford Escort Mk2 14 11 10 10 8 9 2 0 50 48
  • Note: # - did not start

2017

The calendar originally consisted of seven events, however round 2 was cancelled. The best 5 results counted towards championship points.

The overall champion: Sam Moffet, Ford Fiesta WRC

Round Dates Event Rally HQ Organizer
1 12 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
2 (cancelled) 4 MarchSean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally TipperaryTipperary Car Club
3 8 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
4 13 MayDonegal Forest RallyBundoranDonegal Motor Club
5 30 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
6 2 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club
7 23 SeptemberBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:

Pos Driver Car Class 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
  Points  Points (best 5)
1 Sam Moffet Ford Fiesta WRC 5 19 - 19 # 21 19 19 97 97
2 David Crossen Ford Escort Mk2 13 10 - 11 19 18 16 12 86 76
3 Gerard Lucey Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 20 13 - 16 16 16 13 # 74 74
4 Jonny Leonard Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 20 14 - 15 1 19 2 16 67 66
5 Josh Moffett Ford Fiesta R5 5 21 - 21 # # 21 # 63 63
6 Jordan Hone Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 4 1 - 14 2 17 15 8 57 56
7 Adrian Hetherington Ford FIesta R5 15 16 - 17 1 1 1 18 54 53
8 Mickey Conlon Ford Escort Mk2 13 8 - 9 17 11 # 5 50 50
9 Liam Regan Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 20 11 - 13 # # 12 14 50 50
10 Enda McCormack Subaru Impreza S10 7 7 - 12 13 15 2 # 49 49
  • Note: # - did not start

Sponsors

The main event sponsors are the Coillte - the national forestry company, and Valvoline - the overall title sponsor.

Other sponsors include: M O’Brien Plant Hire, Suirway Forklifts, Gordon Automotive, Andrew Fanning Motor Factors, Automatic Fire & Integrated Solutions, EARS Motorsport Ireland Ltd, Exact Signs, SVS Productions, Onthepacenote.com, Pat Kerley Windows & Doors, C and M Motors, Modern Tyres.

Broadcasting

The TV coverage is captured by On the Limit Sports. The viewers can view the series on TG4 and RTE Player in Ireland, as well as on satellite channel and Motorsport.tv.

References
  1. "2020 Calendar :: Irish Forest Rally, Dublin, Ireland". www.irishforestrally.com.
  2. "rally.ie - Stories - 2020 Irish Forest Rally Championship". rally.ie.
  3. "Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20". rally.ie. 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  4. "Motorsport Ireland Statement on Covid-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  5. "Munster CC Moonraker Forestry Rally - DATE CHANGE 28 Mar 20 - POSTPONED". rally.ie. 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  6. "MOTORSPORT IRELAND STATEMENT ON COVID-19". Motorsport Ireland. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  7. "At a glance: What restrictions are going to be lifted and when?". 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  8. "A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO & PRESIDENT OF MOTORSPORT IRELAND". 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  9. "MOTORSPORT IRELAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELLED". 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  10. "Motorsport Ireland News > Lakelands Rally concludes the 2019 Forestry Championship". motorsportireland.com.
  11. "2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship Round 1 Preview - Carrick on Su :: Irish Forest Rally, Dublin, Ireland". www.irishforestrally.com.
  12. "2019 Forestry Rally". www.limerickmc.ie.
  14. Highl, News (May 18, 2019). "Victory for Cathan McCourt in Donegal Forestry Rally".
  15. "Rally ready to roar around Mallow". independent.
  16. "Motorsport Ireland News > 2018 Valvoline Motorsport Ireland National Forest Rally Championship Rounds 4 & 5 Preview". www.motorsportireland.com.
  17. "Henry/Connolly in command at Lakeland Rally". www.irishexaminer.com. September 9, 2019.
  18. Latest Sport. "Midwest Radio - Success for Murphy family at Willie Loughman Memorial Forest Rally". Midwestradio.ie. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  19. "Urgent Notice to all Competitor's". www.carrickonsuirmotorclub.com.
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