Entry list released for Donegal International Rally

The 2017 Joule Donegal International Rally team is proud to reveal this year’s entry list, which is overflowing with quantity and undoubted quality. Every crew that crosses the start ramp will be part of an epic event. Eamon McGee is delighted to announce that the rally has attracted an entry of 180+ for the main field, while the historic and junior field are also running at full capacity. The only downside to this, is that organisers must include a reserve field in the main field as only 150 entries are permitted to start. The official launch of the Joule Donegal International Rally takes place on Friday, 2nd June at the County Council Offices starting at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome on the night.
With 11 World Cars in the line-up, the cream of Irish WRC’s will once again do battle with some of the best stages in Ireland. The bar has been set even higher this year, with names like Manus Kelly, Garry Jennings, Declan Boyle and Donagh Kelly to name just a few.
The main Clonakilty Blackpudding Championship is contested by R5 cars and is represented by 5 major manufacturers Ford, Hyundai, Skoda, Peugeot and Citroen. Keith Cronin in Citroen R5 came within 0.5secs of taking the overall win last year and it’s entirely possible that the overall winner may come from the likes of Sam Moffett, Alastair Fisher, Robert Barrable or Josh Moffett. Eleven crews will take to the start, so undoubtedly there are others who will have a say in the outcome.
In the modified field, almost 60 crews have entered in classes 13 and 14 alone, with the best Irish modified drivers wanting to be involved in the action. Names like McPhillips, Pringle, Gallagher, Kiernan or Hethrington don’t even need a first name for the rally fans that will be lining the roads of Donegal over rally weekend. The MKII Escort is still the car of choice by the vast majority of crews but interspersed are Darrians, Toyotas, BMWs, Honda, and Vauxhalls – all driven by crews who will be ensuring they have their say on where the silverware ends up at prizegiving on Sunday evening!
This year, the historic class has 20 entries including Ernie Graham and Ian Davies in BMW M3s, bringing back memories of the battles between Bertie Fisher and Austin McHale. Rally fans will also be keeping an eye out for Welsh visitors Dave Pritchard and Emyr Hall who made their first visit last year and are returning in 2017 with an even larger supporters’ club.
The Juniors have entries from every corner of Ireland; Jenna McCann leads the Clonakilty Blackpudding Junior championship but the young lady from Cavan will have a battle on her hands to take the laurels in Donegal. Drivers such as Eric Calnan, Jonny Treanor and Kevin McLaughlin will be going all-out to claim victory. Once again, the third weekend in June is shaping up to be another Donegal classic in the world of motorsport.
Main field international/ national seeded entry list
1 Manus Kelly Donall Barrett Glenswilly Impreza 7
2 Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Fermanagh Impreza 7
3 Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Lettermacaward Fiesta WRC 7
4 Donagh Kelly Conor Foley Frosses Focus 7
5 Sam Moffett Karl Atkinson Monaghan Fiesta R5 5
6 Alaistair Fisher Gordon Noble Ballinamalard Fiesta R5 5
7 Robert Barrable Damian Connolly Dublin Hyundai I20 R5 5
8 Josh Moffett James Fulton Monaghan Fiesta 5
9 Seamus Leonard Paul McLaughlin Tyrone Subaru S14 7
10 Derek McGarrity Dermot Falvey Belfast Fiesta WRC 7
11 Kevin Kelleher Donnacha O Callaghan Cork Subaru S14
12 Joseph McGonigle Ciaran Geaney Muff Fabia R5 5
14 Pauric Duffy Kevin Glynn Monaghan Fiesta R5 5
15 PJ McDermott Niall Burns Burt Impreza S12 7
16 Stuart Biggerstaff Anthony Nestor Down Impreza WRC 7
17 Aaron McHale Darragh Kelly Dublin Citroen DS3R5 5
18 Brendan Cumiskey Ronan O Kane Monaghan Skoda R5 5
19 Gary McPhillips James McNulty Monaghan Escort Mk2 14
20 Jonathan Pringle Paul Sheridan Cavan Escort Mk2 14
21 Damien Gallagher Mac Walsh Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
22 Kevin Eves William Lynch Pettigo Corolla 14
23 Gary Kiernan Ryan Moore Cavan Escort Mk2 14
24 Brian Brogan Damien McGettigan Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
25 Adrian Hethrington Ronan O Neill Tyrone Escort Mk2 14
26 Damian Tourish Domhnall McAlaney Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
27 Declan Gallagher John McCarthy Ardara Starlet RWD 13
28 Eugene Meegan Sarah Whelan Meath BMW M1 14
29 Wesley Petterson Johnny Baird Down Escort Mk2 14
30 Frank Kelly Michael Coady Tyrone Escort Mk2 14
31 Ryan Loughran Gareth Doherty Tyrone Escort Mk2 14
32 Kevin Gallagher Gerard Callaghan Rathmullan Darrian T90 GTR 14
33 Ian Barrett Paul McGee Kildare Darrian T90 GTR 14
34 Phil Collins Stephen McAuley UK Escort Mk2 14
35 Damian Toner Denver Rafferty Armagh Escort Mk2 14
36 Vivian Hamill Andrew Grennan Tyrone Escort Mk2 14
37 Aidan Wray Kieran McGrath Tyrone Evo 10 4
38 Colm Murphy Don Montgomery Limerick Subaru N12 B 4
39 Martin Doherty Ballybofey Escort Mk2 14
40 Patrick McHugh Pauric O Donnell Dungloe Escort Mk2 14
41 Martin McGee David McGee Milford Escort Mk2 14
42 Richard Whelan James Whelan Galway BMW M1 14
43 Brendan McDaid Karl Reid Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
44 John Bonner Leon Jordan Dungloe Escort Mk2 14
45 Kyle McGettigan Dale McGettigan Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
46 Paul Kirtley David Jones North Yorkshire Impreza WRC 20
47 JF Shovelin Kenny Bustard Bruckless Impreza WRC 15
48 Gary Cooney Darragh Mullan Letterkenny Impreza WRC 15
49 Barry McLaughlin Aodhan Gallagher Carrigart Escort Mk2 14
50 Paul Purtill Paul Kelly Limerick Escort Mk2 13
51 Columba Heena Glenn Alcorn Ardara Corolla 13
52 Daniel Conaghan Terence Magee Milford Escort Mk2 13
53 Michael Dunlop Robb Fagg Antrim Escort Mk2 13
54 Robbie Peoples Keith Stewart Kilmacrennan Escort Mk2 13
55 John Devlin John McCarthy Down Sunbeam 13
56 Michael Carbin Conor Mohan Monaghan Evo4 20
57 John Stone Danny McMenamin UK Fiesta 20
58 Lee Hastings Alistair Wylie Scotland Impreza 20
59 Ashley Dickson Ryan McCloskey Tyrone Evo 9 4
60 Cathan McCourt Brian Hoy Tyrone Evo 9 4
61 William Mavitty Fermanagh Evo 9 4
62 Brian O Keefe Sean Hayde Waterford Evo 9 4
63 Mark Boyle Charles Gallagher Dungloe Evo9 4
64 DeclanMcCroary Greachain MacEanraig Tyrone Evo X 20
65 Gavin Kelly Elaine Ní Shé Ranafast Evo 9 4
66 Liam Doherty Dermot McGettigan Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
67 Cormac Phelan Katja Auhl Roscommon Civic 13
68 Richard Tanahill Aileen Kelly Derry Peugeot 208 5
69 Marty Gallagher Dean O Sullivan Letterkenny Peugeot 208 R2 2
70 Callum Devine Derry Opel Adam 2
71 William Creighton Liam Regan Down Peugeot 208 2
72 Joseph Connolly Richard Connolly Kilkenny Fiesta R5 5
73 John Mulholland Jeff Case Antrim Skoda R5 5
74 John Coyne Stephen Joyce USA Porsche 997 GT3 6
75 Jim McDowall Charlotte McDowall Scotland Impreza 15
76 Gerard McQuaid Gary Quinlan Monaghan Escort Mk2 13
77 Peter Wilson Brendan McElhinney Meath Escort Mk2 13
78 Conor Watters Ardara Escort Mk2 14
79 Gary McElhinney Emmett Brosnan Donegal Escort Mk2 13
80 Stewart Morrison Alexander Corrigan Scotland Escort Mk2 13
81 William McFadden Daniel McBride Ramelton Escort G3 13
82 Tommy O Connell Emmett Sherry Derry Escort Mk2 13
83 William Kenneally Finbarr Fogarty Cork Escort Mk2 13
84 Barry McKenna Arthur Kiearns New York Escort Mk2 14
85 Seamus Hegarty Naill McDaid Letterkenny Escort Mk2 14
86 Johnny Jordan Gary McNern Inver Starlet RWD 11R
87 Anthony Hand Peter Deery Monaghan Escort Mk2 11R
88 Leonard Craig Conal McNulty Ardara Starlet RWD 11R
89 James McCarville Paddy McCruddan Monaghan Escort Mk2 11R
90 Brendan Friel JP Boyle London Corolla 11R
91 Barry Treanor Colm Connolly Monaghan Escort Mk2 11R
92 Andrew McLoone William Kehoe Tyrone Chevette HSR 13
93 Dermot Cannon Bobby Trimble Glenties Escort Mk2 14
94 Donal Kelly Shane Byrne Glenswilly Civic 11F
95 Michael Boyle Dermot McCafferty Lettermacaward Civic 11F
96 JP Logue James Logue Kilmacrennan Civic 11F
97 Liam McMullan John Coll Dunfanaghy Civic 11F
98 Adrian Cannon Lettermacaward Civic 3
99 Lee McLaughlin Aaron McLaughlin Carndonagh Evo5 20
100 Denis Ferry Dunfanaghy Evo9
101 Adrian Sweeney Shane Buckley Ballybofey Peugeot 207 11F
102 Conor McCrossan Connor Murphy Tyrone Fabia S2000 22
103 Andrew Burke Colin Keegan Galway Citroen DS3 3
104 James Wilson Gavin Doherty Armagh Peugeot 208 2
105 David Kelly James Conwell Donegal Citroen C2 2
106 Andrew Hegarty Eoin Kelly Ramelton Escort Mk2 13
107 Damian Campbell Declan McGarrity Fermanagh Escort Mk2 13
108 Joe McQuillan Ashley Boulton Antrim Impreza 20
109 Mickey Peoples Francie Devine Derry Escort Mk2 13
110 Stanley McKeown Nigel Gourley Tyrone Escort Mk2 13
111 John Dolan John Mc Ginley Newtown Escort Mk2 13
112 Liam McIntyre Stephen McGing Donegal Evo 9 22
113 Kevin Kelly Keith Harris Letterkenny Escort Mk2 13
114 Sean (JT) Warnock Andy Hayes Down Escort Mk2 13
115 Roy Jarvis Adam Milner North Yorkshire Fiesta R2 11F
116 William Vance Billy Vance Castlederg Evo8 15
117 Andy Heekin Derek Lynch Canada Impreza 15
118 Kevin Bradley Oliver Harvey Letterkenny impreza 15
119 Vincent Collins Jane Collins Roscommon Impreza 12
120 Anthony McCann Damian McCann Antrim Escort Mk2 12
121 Michael McDaid Daire Maguire Fermanagh Escort Mk2 12
122 Roy Baldrick Dermot Friel Letterkenny Sunbeam 13
123 Declan Hall Chris Corr Armagh Corolla 11R
124 Damien McCauley Shaun McMacken Letterkenny Escort Mk2 11R
125 Paddy McDaid Timmy Lunn Termon Escort Mk2 11R
126 Barry McGill Derek Heena Carrick Escort Mk2 9
127 Damian O Reilly Cavan Escort Mk2 9
128 Gene McDonald Emmett Kelly Cavan Escort Mk2 9
129 Gerard Gibbons Letterkenny Escort Mk2 11R
130 Sean Heraghty Grannia McElhinney Ramelton Corolla 11R
131 Peter McCarry Michelle McGinley Creeslough Escort Mk2 13
132 Ruairi McGarrity Martin McGarrity Fermanagh Peugeot 106 11F
133 Kevin Charles Hugh Hunter UK Fiesta ST 2
134 Nick Barnett Martin Brady Bristol Civic 22
135 Johnny Wilhare Cahir Wilhare Carrigart Civic 11F
136 Christopher Boyce Pascal Dillon Tyrone Civic 3
137 Mark Ewing Ballybofey Civic
138 Shane Carr Ciaran Carr Ramelton Nova 10
139 John Kelly Niall Kelly Monaghan Corolla 10
140 Andrew Stewart Cormac Molloy Convoy Evo 15
141 Gavin McMenamin Darren Gallagher Letterkenny Corolla 11R
142 Brian Maguire Chritopher Gray Leeds Peugeot 205 13
143 Alan Browne Michael Donnellan Kilkenny Impreza 20
144 Sean Brogan Daniel Callaghan Letterkenny Civic 11F
145 Alaistair Glenn Lee Simpson Lifford Peugeot 206 2
146 Eamon McLaughlin Steven Boyle Derry Nova 10
147 Paul Crosby Tricha Greavy Australia Starlet RWD 11R
148 Damien Cullen Danny Cannon Milford Civic 11F
149 Stephen Gallinagh Sean Doherty Killygordan Corsa 9
150 Glenda Boyle Jasmine Boyle Manorcunningham Civic
151 Enda McBride Mark McLaughlin Carndonagh Civic 11F
152 Clive McGonigle Steven Tinney Convoy Escort Mk2 13