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

Seasons

2022

With COVID-19 restrictions effectively being lifted, full event calendar has been announced. Killarney Forestry Rally returned to the calendar after 15 years. Midland Forest Rally is scheduled for a debut, and the round 7 details are yet to be announced. Limerick Forest Rally, Lakeland Stages Rally and Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally have been dropped this year.
RoundDatesEventRally HQOrganizer
120 FebruaryKillarney Forestry RallyCastleislandKillarney and District Motor Club
210 AprilWillie Loughman Forest RallyCarrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
322 May cancelledMidland Forest RallyDrumshanboMidland Motor Club
42 JulyMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
514 AugustJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
617 SeptemberBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club
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Round 1 of the event was stopped after rally driver Eoin McCarthy crashed heavily on stage 4. The competitor was transferred to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. His co-driver Daniel O'Brien only suffered minor injuries.
Round 3 of the event was cancelled 16 days before the rally as the organizers lost access and use of tracks of up to 1/3 of the rally mileage.

2021

COVID-19 pandemic continued into 2021, and all motorsports events remained suspended. The Irish Forest Rally Championship was by default cancelled, although no announcement was made. As the vaccinations were progressing, at the end of May Motorsport Ireland announced that motorsports events can resume from 7 June, subject to local restrictions. There was no championship, but some of the Irish Forest Rally event dates were announced. Bushwhacker Rally and Lakeland Stages Rally were also announced by Northern Ireland's motor clubs.
EventProposed dateOrganizerStatus
Moonraker Forest Rally31 JulyMunster Car ClubPostponed indefinitely on 6 July.
Bushwhacker Rally18 AugustOmagh Motor ClubEntries opened 26 August. Starting grid consisted of 114 starters.
Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally22 AugustCork Motor ClubCancelled on 4 July.
Lakeland Stages Rally4 SeptemberEnniskillen Motor ClubCancelled on 26 August.
Sean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally23 OctoberTipperary Car ClubNot planned originally, announced on 25 September.

2020

The 2020 calendar included 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.
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.
On 12 March all motorsports events were postponed in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
On 20 March, Motorsport Ireland issued a statement that all motorsport events are suspended until 1 June 2020. After the government released a road map on easing the COVID-19 restrictions on 6 May, 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. On 19 May Motorsport Ireland cancelled the 2020 championship. 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.
RoundDatesEventRally HQOrganizer
116 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallyCarrick-on-SuirCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
21 March cancelledLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
328 March cancelledMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
417 May cancelledSean Conlon Memorial Forestry RallyTipperaryTipperary Car Club
5&625–26 July cancelledJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
726 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
RoundDatesEventRally HQOrganizer
120 JanuaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
23 MarchLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
313 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
418 MayDonegal Forest RallyBundoranDonegal Motor Club
5&627–28 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
77 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:

2018

The calendar consisted of seven events. Round 4 was pushed forward by two weeks.
The overall champion: Josh Moffet, Ford Fiesta R5
RoundDatesEventRally HQOrganizer
13 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
24 MarchLimerick Forest RallyRockchapelLimerick Motor Club
314 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
414 JulyCavan Forest Rally?Cavan Motor Club
529 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
61 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club
722 SeptemberBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:

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
RoundDatesEventRally HQOrganizer
112 FebruaryWillie Loughman Forest RallySlieverueCarrick-on-Suir Motor Club
2 '4 MarchSean Conlon Memorial Forestry Rally TipperaryTipperary Car Club
38 AprilMoonraker Forest RallyBallyvourneyMunster Car Club
413 MayDonegal Forest RallyBundoranDonegal Motor Club
530 JulyJim Walsh Forest RallyMallowCork Motor Club
62 SeptemberLakeland Stages RallyEnniskillenEnniskillen Motor Club
723 SeptemberBushwhacker RallyOmaghOmagh Motor Club

Top 10 drivers overall:'''

  • Note: # - did not start

Sponsors

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

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.