NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Round four of the 2025 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship has attracted a star-studded entry list, with Donegal International Rally fans set for an enticing spectacle.
Championship leader Callum Devine will wear Donegal’s number one doorcard as he looks to make it three Donegal wins in a row alongside his Kerry-based co-driver, Noel O’Sullivan. With Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards taking a break from their rallying commitments, Devine faces fresh opposition aboard his Skoda Fabia Rally2.
Double European Rally Champion and World Rally Championship event winner Hayden Paddon steps into Edwards’ Hyundai i20 Rally2 for the three-day event. Although Donegal will be the New Zealander’s debut event in Ireland, his dominant start-to-finish victory on Wales’ asphalt stages of Rali Ceredigion is proof that he will be able to utilise his asphalt abilities on Donegal’s iconic tests.
More international stars will vie for Donegal glory as two of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy’s leading drivers make the trip to the hills. Recent Rally Poland podium finishers Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne will drive a brand new Ford Fiesta Rally2 in Donegal. M-Sport’s 160th Fiesta Rally2 will be built, prepared, and serviced by the Cumbrian outfit, marking a full factory effort for Ireland’s biggest motorsport event of the year.
2023 Junior WRC winners William Creighton and Liam Regan will start just behind their academy colleagues in a Toyota Yaris Rally2. The duo competed in Donegal 12 months ago, albeit on opposite sides of Regan’s Skoda Estelle. Creighton’s last Donegal start in the drivers’ seat was eight years ago when he did battle in a Peugeot 208 R2 with eventual class winner Callum Devine.
2022 Donegal International Rally winners Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes will look to repeat their form from three years ago in what was a thrilling encounter with Devine, Edwards, and Alastair Fisher. Wales’ Meirion Evans makes another Irish Tarmac visit in his Toyota Yaris Rally2.
Declan Boyle, David Kelly, and Cathan McCourt continue the strong list of Rally2 entries while 2017 Irish Tarmac Modified champion Kevin Eves will hope to bring his strong speed from a podium finish on May’s Cavan Stages Rally.
A top line-up of future stars will feature in Donegal’s Rally4 category. Local rivals Joseph Kelly and Kyle McBride will renew competition in their Peugeot 208s with Ben McFall and Seamus Goodfellow close behind in a pair of Ford Fiestas.
2023 Billy Coleman Award winner Jack Brennan and current Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series frontrunner Jack Harris are also taking on Donegal’s three days of action in Rally4 machinery.
McEvoy Motorsport & Flat 2 The Hat Modified ITRC
Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore top a typically strong field of modified cars challenging for national glory in Donegal. The Darrian T90 crew will start ahead of a host of seasoned two-wheel-drive contenders, including David Bogie, Mark Alcorn, Conor Harvey, and Gary McPhillips.
Runner-up in Killarney Rally of the Lakes’ two-wheel-drive category, Colin O’Donoghue, will hope to bring his top form to Donegal.
Current McEvoy Motorsport & Flat 2 The Hat Modified ITRC leader Damian Toner will take on the three-day event in his Ford Escort Mk2, starting one car ahead of last year’s champions Frank and Lauren Kelly.
Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC
Defending Donegal Historic Rally winners Meirion Evans and Anthony O’Sullivan head a huge field of almost 30 historic cars featuring a mix of Ford Escorts, BMW M3s, Talbots, and Vauxhalls.
Donegal’s John O’Donnell holds a two-point lead at the top of the Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC standings and is seeded second in Donegal’s Historic entry. The BMW M3 driver will be closely followed by new Historic contender Stuart Darcy in a similar M3, with usual frontrunner Michael McDaid close behind.
Hugh McQuaid and Duncan Williams extend the list of Ford Escort RS1800s, while Trevor Wilson and Andy Johnson complete the top ten in an M3 and Vauxhall Chevette, respectively.
Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
Eight seconds separated Jason Wilkinson and Ronan Dorrian in last year’s race for Donegal Junior Rally honours. The pair of Honda Civic drivers will renew that battle this weekend, with 2024 winner Wilkinson leading the list of over 20 Junior competitors.
Darragh Walsh and Gary Lombard hold a four-point advantage in the Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC and will start one car behind Dorrian, who is the Cork driver’s nearest championship rival.
Photo by D Harrigan Images
Adam Hall, ITRC Press Officer