NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Ireland’s latest rallying season begins in earnest this weekend with the Galway International Rally, where a high-quality entry will tackle two days of tricky asphalt rallying.
Reigning Irish Tarmac champion Callum Devine leads the entry list alongside co-driver Noel O’Sullivan in their Skoda Fabia Rally2. Despite a dominant 2025 campaign that included four consecutive victories, Devine is still searching for his first Galway International Rally win.
Leading Devine’s list of challengers is 2025 National Rally Champions Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy, making their first start of the year in a new Skoda Fabia. Cathan McCourt and Barry McNulty bring another Skoda to the fray as they kick off another Irish Tarmac campaign.
Double Irish Tarmac Champion Josh Moffett starts alongside Andy Hayes in a new Toyota Yaris Rally2. A formidable duo in Galway’s slippery conditions, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to new machinery.
A strong County Donegal contingent features prominently in Galway’s top seeds.
Two-time Junior WRC event-winner Eamonn Kelly makes his Toyota Yaris Rally2 debut, bringing international experience to the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
David Kelly, who pushed hard throughout 2025, has switched to a Skoda for the new season and will be eager to carry his momentum forward from a year in which he came close to his maiden rally win.
The Boyle family look to continue their strong finish to 2025, with Declan, Michael, and Matthew all starting in Rally2 machinery. Michael’s breakthrough victory on the Cork 20 Rally capped off a memorable season finale for the family.
2012 Irish Tarmac champion Darren Gass makes his first Galway start since 2013, marking a welcome return to the West of Ireland event.
Junior ERC contenders Keelan Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock make their Rally2 debuts in a Ford Fiesta, stepping up from front-wheel-drive competition.
Ryan Loughran, David Guest, and Shane Quinn are further Rally2 drivers to feature in what promises to be a competitive field across the two-day event.
McEvoy Motorsport and Flat 2 The Hat Modified ITRC
The modified category showcases a strong Ford Escort Mk2 contingent featuring Mark Alcorn, Michael Cahill, Rodney Wilton, Daniel Breslin, and Brian Lavelle. The entry of rear-wheel-drive specialists will provide spectacular entertainment as they try to tame their high-powered cars on Galway’s countryside roads.
Patrick McHugh adds variety to the modified entry with his unique Darrian T90, the distinctive machine always a crowd favourite on Irish stages.
Wales Motorsport Historic ITRC
2025 Historic ITRC champions John O’Donnell and Paddy Robinson made a strong start to their title defence with a dramatic runner-up finish at the Killarney Historic Rally. The BMW M3 crew tops Galway’s Historic entry and will be determined to go one better in Galway.
Ray Breen brings his Subaru Legacy to challenge the champions, adding four-wheel-drive firepower to the historic battle, while Jason McSweeney’s Ford Escort WRC provides another intriguing entry. Wales’ Adrian Evans joins O’Donnell in the list of BMW M3 starters.
Paul Browne Plant Hire and Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
Over ten crews are set to challenge for Galway’s Junior Rally honours in what promises to be a fiercely contested category. The entry features 2025 championship frontrunners Graham and Trevor Roche, who will be eager to build on their dramatic Cork 20 Rally victory, where they snatched the win by 2.3 seconds on the final stage.
Galway’s own Jason Gorham and Liam Egan bring local knowledge to the battle in a Honda Civic, while Darragh Mullins and Sophie Burns add further quality to a competitive junior field.
MRF Tyres joins ITRC as associate sponsors
The Tarmac Rally Organisers’ Association is delighted to announce MRF Tyres as associate sponsors of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, bringing another leading international brand to the series.
