Craig Breen’s legend will live on.

Craig Breen’s legend will live on.

It is with a very heavy heart that we report the sad news of the death of Craig Breen. The Council and membership of the Ulster Automobile Club wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and all those mourning his loss. Craig was only 33, a young quiet professional and highly personable individual who inspired many young rally drivers and fans. He won the Circuit of Ireland International Rally in 2015 in a Peugeot 208 T16 and again in 2016 in a Citroen DS3 R5.  He was a true talent who has been taken too soon and will be sadly missed by his family and everyone within motorsport across Ireland and the world. R.I.P Craig Breen.

‘Devine outcome’ on the ‘Circuit’

Callum Devine and Noel Stevenson Jnr produced a stunning drive in their VW Polo GTi R5 to win the Milburn Concrete Circuit of Ireland Rally yesterday.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes who were the current Irish Tarmac Rally Championship leaders before the 70 stage miles on Saturday finished in second place 10.2s adrift in their Hyundai i20 R5.

Third place was filled by Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson in their VW Polo GTi R5 a further 37.1s behind the Hyundai.

The event started with 120 cars and the terrain took it’s toll losing 1/3 of the field. Thankfully Frank & Lauren Kelly were unhurt after their end over end roll, can’t say the same for ‘Baby Blue’ their the trusted Mark 2 Ford Escort. Another ‘incident’ on stage 8 meant that not every one had the chance to complete the final one. Congratulations must go to Cookstown Motor Club and their superb success in organising and running the ‘Circuit’, along with some ‘elderly’ folk from the UAC!

William Creighton and Liam Regan, WRC junior competitors finished in creditable 13th place. William is one of the UAC Future Champions and he doesn’t disappoint, well done that team!

Circuit of Ireland 2023 Free Rally Programme available

Organisers of the event have been working hard behind the scenes to produce a programme for spectators which can be downloaded for free by clicking on the link below.

Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland Rally 2022 1st Overall Alistair Fisher and Gordon Noble enjoying the yumps

Milburn Concrete announced as title sponsors of Circuit of Ireland rally 2023!

Cookstown Motor Club are delighted to announce that the Circuit of Ireland 2023 will be sponsored by Millburn Concrete, a newly acquired company in the District by husband and wife team, Aishling and Mark Donnelly. Many rally people will know Mark as he has won both of the first Forestry rallies in Ireland in 2023, Killarney and then the Spring rally at Fivemiletown. Mark and Aishling are a very busy couple juggling their successful business work, some rallying and most importantly a young family. Cookstown Motor Club very much appreciate Aishling and Mark supporting the Circuit of Ireland at such short notice. Running on 8th April, the rally has a full entry of 120 cars will have 4 stages run twice in the greater Cookstown area.

New Faces – New Places – New Beginnings: The Circuit of Ireland Rally is reborn!

New Faces - New Places - New Beginnings. The Circuit of Ireland Rally is reborn!!

Northern Ireland Motorsport is a very close knit community and the Ulster Automobile Club are delighted to announce that they have reached out to Cookstown Motor Club to co-promote and organise the 2023 Circuit of Ireland Easter Stages Rally, yet another first in the history of this iconic event.

This event continually reinvents itself providing competitors, fans and global audiences with the opportunity to enjoy unique personal experiences of closed road rallies, within the spectacular landscape that Northern Ireland has to offer.

Graeme Stewart, Event Director of the 2022 Rally commented, “It’s clear that collaboration is the only way forward for closed road rallying and I am delighted that Cookstown Motor Club have decided to join us in this exciting new venture“.

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Fisher & Noble Master the Glens!!

Fisher & Noble Master the Glens!!

Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally goes to the wire. The final four stages of the ‘Circuit’ produced superb performances by winners Alastair Fisher and Gordon Noble in their VW Polo R5 to claim the coveted UAC Circuit of Ireland Trophy. 11.6 seconds separated them from Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes, (winners of the UAC Easter Stages Rally in 2018), in their Hyundai i20 R5 who had set the fastest times on stages 4 and 7 over the two days and were leading the event going into the final stage.

Callum Devine and Shane Byrne had set 3 of the fastest times on stages 2,3 and 6 on day one but were not able to repeat their performance given the blistering pace on day 2, finishing a further 30.3 seconds behind to claim third place. Desi Henry and Paddy Robinson pushing their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 to set fastest times on stages 1 and 5 led the rally at the end of day 1, however their rally ended with engine failure after stage 9 on day 2.

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Fast & Furious it is!!

Entries for the 2022 Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally have now closed and we are delighted to announce that the cream of the crop have decided to take the ‘Fast & Furious’ challenge at Easter.

A full house of 91 entries, marking the 91st running of the oldest Rally in Ireland will tackle the 11 superlative stages, covering over 120 stage miles during Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

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Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally Cancelled

The Ulster Automobile Club, organisers of the event, which is a round of the FIA ERT Celtic Trophy and Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, had secured a date in November to run the rally but in the interests of public health and safety have, with regret, decided to cancel the rally due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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