Donegal Motor Club’s surprising U-turn

The timing of a press release from the Donegal Motor Club on Wednesday lunchtime stating its intention to continue as part of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship is hugely surprising.

The club’s decision to withdraw from the series (that was based on the move to confine the overall Tarmac award to R5 cars) was accepted by the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA), who oversee the championship.

The Donegal club’s announcement that represents a U-turn seems to have a number of inaccuracies. First, their return to the series can only be sanctioned by the TROA of which Donegal are a member. It appears Donegal will have to formally re-apply for ITC status and that was not discussed at a TROA meeting on Wednesday evening.