The Mayo Stages Rally, Mayo Rally is an annual motorsport rallying event run by the Mayo & District Motor Club and held in County Mayo in Ireland.
History
The Mayo Stages Rally was first held in 1983. Niall Maguire holds the honor of the most rally wins - 4. Most stage wins was achieved by Declan Boyle - 25.
2020 Mayo & District Motorsport Club returned to Castlebar for the first time since 2009. The two previous events in 2017 and 2018 took place in Achill. There was no event in 2019. The 2020 event consisted of three stages run three times located in the Castlebar and Westport areas, covering of special stage distance and liaison.
The event was round 1 of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.
Under direction of Clerk of the course David Breen, it was agreed that all cars be fitted with safety tracker system (STS) equipment as mandatory. Motorsport Ireland have brought a new rule in relation to the use of the STS at the beginning of the season. The event featured Junior Rally and Historic Rally classes, and also operated Rally 2 (Restart after retirement). The entry fee was announced to have been reduced to €770 to boost entries. There were 80 starters, 55 cars have completed the rally.
The event took place in heavy rain in the aftermath of Storm Jorge which made it difficult. The second stage was cancelled due to a local issue. The drama developed in the penultimate stage. At the final service Moffett's lead was 21.6 seconds ahead of Kelly with Hurson another nine seconds adrift. Josh Moffett stopped after the finish with fuel pressure problems with his Hyundai i20 R5 and Peadar Hurson rolled his Ford Fiesta WRC in the final loop of stage 8. Donagh Kelly went on to claim the victory.
2021
The 2020 Mayo Rally was the last rally event that took place before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown came into effect on the 12 March 2020. The 2021 event did not take place due to ongoing pandemic.
2022 Mayo Stages Rally 2022 was the opening round of Motorsport Ireland National Irish Rally Championship, as well as counting round of Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship, Top Part West Coast Rally Championship and Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series. Rally consisted of 8 stages spanning 93.81 km of competitive racing in the vicinity of Claremorris, Ballyhaunis and Cloonfad.
Roll of Honor
+Rally winners Year Driver Co-driver Car2026 David Kelly Patrick McCruddenSkoda Fabia RS Rally22024 Sam Moffett James O'ReillyHyundai I20 R5 2022 Josh Moffett Keith Moriarty Hyundai i20 R5 2021 no event - COVID-19 pandemic 2020 Donagh Kelly Conor Foley Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 2018 Declan Boyle James O'Reilly Ford Fiesta RS WRC 2017 Joseph McGonigle Ciaran Geaney Škoda Fabia R5 2016 Garry Jennings Rory Kennedy Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2015 Niall Maguire Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05 2014 Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2013 Declan Boyle Brian Boyle Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2012 Niall Maguire Enda Sherry Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05 2011 Kevin Barrett Sean Mullally Subaru Impreza S11 WRC '05 2010 Melvyn Evans Patrick Walsh Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2009 Patrick Elliott Paul Goodman Subaru Impreza S12B WRC '07 2008 Aaron MacHale Killian Duffy Ford Focus RS WRC '04 2007 Ray Breen Damien Morrissey Ford Focus RS WRC '04 2006 Charlie Donnelly Paddy Toner Toyota Corolla WRC 2005 James Harrison Harvey Bell Subaru Impreza S9 WRC '03 2004 Niall Maguire Paul McLoughlin Subaru Impreza S8 WRC '02 2003 Eugene Donnelly Paul Kiely Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98 2002 Niall Maguire Paul McLoughlin Subaru Impreza S5 WRC '99 2001 no event, Foot-and-mouth outbreak 2000 Andrew Nesbitt James O'Brien Subaru Impreza S4 WRC '98 1999 Ian Greer Dean Beckett Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST205) 1998 Ian Greer Dean Beckett Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185) 1997 John Gilleece Michael Gibson Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1996 Stephen Murphy Michael Joseph Morrissey Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1995 Eamonn Boland Andrew Boland Ford Escort RS Cosworth 1994 Mickey Farrell Anthony Nestor Subaru Legacy RS 1993 John Gilleece Stephen Boswell Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 1992 Stephen Murphy Joe Deacon Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 1991 Stephen Murphy Joe Deacon Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 1990 Michael Barrable Dermot O'Rourke Opel Manta 400 1989 James Cullen Ellen Morgan Opel Manta 400 1987 Vincent Bonner Paul Kiely Opel Ascona 400 1983 Kenny McKinstry John McCafferty Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII
+ Driver most wins Niall Maguire 4 Declan Boyle 3 Stephen Murphy 3 Ian Greer 2 John Gileese 2+ Driver most starts Niall Maguire 17 Roger Kennedy 16 John Duffy 14 Daniel Conaghan 12 Michael Conlon 12 Colin Loughney 12+ Most stage wins Declan Boyle 25 Niall Maguire 20 Kevin Barrett 11 Josh Moffett 11 Ray Breen 10 * as of 2022
References
External links Web page by the organizing Motor Club