The West Cork Rally is an annual motor sport event held in Clonakilty, Co. Cork. Promoted and organised by Cork Motor Club, the rally began in 1977 and has run on, or near St. Patricks Weekend ever since with just two exceptions (1987 & 2001). It is a popular two day event which attracts a lot of interest across Ireland and the U.K. with many competitors and spectators travelling to the rally each year.It was a counting round of the Irish National Rally Championship for a number of years in the early days. In 2015 it became a full round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for the first time. While it became known as predominantly a clubman rally, it has run under an International Permit on two occasions, 1986 & 2016.
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Early Years (1977 - 1980)
The first West Cork Rally took place on the 18 & 19 March 1977, and from an initial entry of 80 cars, 68 made the start with 28 classified finishers. Ger Buckley & John Caplice were scheduled to do the event, but in the week leading up to the rally Billy Coleman was looking to drive his cousins car. The plan was for Billy to drive and Ger to co-drive, but after a test Ger decided it was not for him and that his regular co-drvier John Caplice would sit with Billy instead. John Caplice said he wasn't aware of this until the morning of the rally when he arrived in Clonakilty! However the partnership was very successful and they took a very comprehensive win.
The second event in 1978 saw the rally upgraded to a counting round of the new Shellsport Stages Rally Championship (the modern day National Championship). An ambitious route under the watchful eye of the relatively youthful Michael 'Bones' O'Connor saw the 21 stage rally start in Clonakilty and end up in Bantry for the lunch halt. The same stages were tackled in reverse all the way back towards Clonakily that day with a total of thirteen tough test in mainly appalling weather. The second day had eight more stages, and the weather didn't let up, but Mick & Anne O'Connell were the victors in somewhat controversial circumstances. They were off the road for over 20 minutes on a stage that was ultimately cancelled. Ger Buckley his closest rival wasn't happy and appealed the decision to the RIAC, but the O'Connells were eventually awarded the win. The event lost its championship status for 1979, but that didn't hinder its progress as by 1980 upwards of 160 crews were starting the event, many of them travelling from all parts of the U.K.
The Zanussi Years (1981 - 1986)
1981 saw Zanussi come on board as the events first major title sponsors and Tony Pond became the first overseas driver to win the rally in aVauxhall Chevette HSR.
Tarmac Championship Years (2014 - 2016)
Donagh Kelly created history on the 2016 event when he became only the second driver to win the rally three times, and the first achieve this in successive years.[1]