About the Circuit -
First organised in 1931
General Information
The Circuit of Ireland Rally is the second oldest rally in the world. Steeped in history, many epic battles can be recounted after almost 80 years of rallying on the Emerald Isle.
Originally known as the Ulster Motor Rally, the event was first organised in 1931. During those early days, it was run from multiple starting points, similar to the Monte Carlo Rally.
Over the years, the event expanded and eventually transformed into a true 'circuit' of Ireland. The changes saw a new name for the event - Circuit of Ireland Rally - and competitors tackled more than 1000 stage miles around the island, in what was a five-day marathon rally organised by the Ulster Automobile Club.
During those golden years, the event was the longest tarmac rally in the world, and attracted many world famous names to Irish shores. The likes of Colin McRae, Hannu Mikkola and Henri Toivonen are just a few select names that have graced the 'Circuit' stages.
Of course, there were also the likes of British stars, such as Russell Brookes and Jimmy McRae, who contested the event when it was a round of the British Rally Championship. In fact, McRae still holds the honour of being the most successful driver to contest the 'Circuit', with seven victories to his name.
Modern day rallying requires shorter, more compact events, and the 'Circuit' has moved with the times. The event now runs with a compact two-day format, but has retained its prestigious name and remains as a tough challenge for competitors.
The 2012 event is just around the corner and is set to get even better!
Previous Winners
Ulster Motor Rally
1931 Jimmy McCaherty/Winslow Trimble - Austin 16 Saloon
1932 William McMullan/D McMullan - Alvis Sport Twenty
1933 Stanley Orr/No record - Austin 7
1934 Wilnor Jones/Miss Mildred Hamilton -Standard 10
1935 Wesley Shaw/Billy Drennan - Triumph Southern Cross
Circuit of Ireland Trial
1936 Basil Clarke/Ronnie Adams/Wick Holmes - Austin 16 Kempton Saloon
1937 Wesley Shaw/Max Johnston - Triumph Vitesse Saloon
1938 Graham Chambers/Charlie Hicks -MG
1939 Billy Michael/Grahame Dow -Wolseley
1940/45 Rally suspended during WWII
1946 Artie Bell/No record -Riley
1947 Jack McMichael/H Shilliday -MG
1948 No Rally - Petrol Rationing
1949 Chris Lindsay (alone) -Ford Special
1950 Dermot Johnson/Greti Johnson/M Johnson -Allard
1951 Alan Hopkinson/Mrs A Hopkinson -MG TD
1952 Derek Johnston/George Bryson -MG TD
1953 Wilbert Todd/Geoffrey McCrea -Dellow
1954 Mervyn Glover/Tommy Lynn -Dellow
1955 Robin McKinney/Sally McKinney -Triumph TR2
Circuit of Ireland Rally
1956 Robin McKinney/Sally McKinney - Triumph TR2
1957 No Rally - Suez Crisis
Circuit of Ireland International Rally
1958 Paddy Hopkirk/Jack Scott - Triumph TR3A
1959 Kevin Sherry/Seamus De Barra - VW
1960 Adrian Boyd/Maurice Johnston - Austin Healey Sprite
1961 Paddy Hopkirk/Jack Scott - Sunbeam Rapier
1962 Paddy Hopkirk/Jack Scott - Sunbeam Rapier
1963 Ian Woodside/Esler Crawford - Austin Healey Sprite
1964 Ronnie McCartney/Terry Harryman - Mini Cooper S
1965 Paddy Hopkirk/Terry Harryman - Mini Cooper S
1966 Tony Fall/Henry Liddon - Mini Cooper S
1967 Paddy Hopkirk/Terry Harryman - Mini Cooper S
1968 Roger Clark/Jim Porter - Ford Escort Twin Cam
1969 Roger Clark/Jim Porter - Ford Escort Twin Cam
1970 Roger Clark/Jim Porter - Ford Escort RS1600
1971 Adrian Boyd/Beatty Crawford - Ford Escort Twin Cam
1972 No Rally
1973 Jack Tordoff/Phil Short - Porsche Carrera
1974 Cathal Curley/Austin Frazer - Porsche Carrera
1975 Billy Coleman/Paul Phelan - Ford Escort RS1600
1976 Billy Coleman/Dan O'Sullivan - Ford Escort RS1800
1977 Russell Brookes/John Brown - Ford Escort RS1800
1978 Russell Brookes/John Brown - Ford Escort RS1800
1979 Pentti Airikkala/Risto Virtanen - Vauxhall Chevette HS
1980 Jimmy McRae/Mike Nicholson - Vauxhall Chevette HSR
1981 Jimmy McRae/Ian Grindrod - Opel Ascona 400
1982 Jimmy McRae/Ian Grindrod - Opel Ascona 400
1983 Russell Brookes/Mike Broad - Vauxhall Chevette
1984 Billy Coleman/Ronan Morgan - Opel Manta 400
1985 Jimmy McRae/Ian Grindrod - Opel Manta 400
1986 David Llewellin/Phil Short - MG Metro 6R4
1987 Jimmy McRae/Ian Grindrod - Ford Sierra Cosworth
1988 Jimmy McRae/Rob Arthur - Ford Sierra Cosworth
1989 Jimmy McRae/Rob Arthur - Ford Sierra Cosworth
1990 David Llewellin/Phil Short - Toyota Celica GT-4
1991 Colin McRae/Derek Ringer - Subaru Legacy
1992 Frank Meagher/Michael Maher - Ford Sierra Cosworth
1993 Austin McHale/Dermot O'Gorman - Toyota Celica
1994 Stephen Finlay/Dessie Wilson - Ford Escort Cosworth
1995 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy - Subaru Impreza
1996 Stephen Finlay/Robbie Philpott - Ford Escort Cosworth
1997 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy - Subaru Impreza
1998 Austin McHale/Brian Murphy - Toyota Celica GT-4
1999 Bertie Fisher/Rory Kennedy - Subaru Impreza
2000 No Rally
2001 No Rally - Foot & Mouth Disease
2002 Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien - Subaru Impreza WRC
2003 Derek McGarrity/Chris Patterson - Subaru Impreza WRC
2004 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman - Subaru Impreza WRC
2005 Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman - Subaru Impreza WRC
2006 Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely - Toyota Corolla WRC
2007 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy - Subaru Impreza S11 WRC
2008 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey - Subaru Impreza S12B WRC
2009 Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner - Skoda Fabia WRC
2010 Derek McGarrity/James McKee - Subaru Impreza S12B WRC
2011 Derek McGarrity/James McKee - Subaru Impreza S11 WRC