Motorsport: 'Bold new era' for Ulster International Rally

Top Part West Coast Rally champion Donegal's Declan Boyle (centre) with his sons Michael (left) and Mathew, who were second and third respectively in the popular series - the first time this feat has been achieved within the principal rally championships in Ireland. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Next season's Ulster International Rally (August 7-9) will include part of what's described as a bold new era within the European Historic Rally Championship following a wide-ranging reorganisation of historic rallying. From 2026, the EHRC will consist of three distinct championships - all under the FIA umbrella - namely, a Pre-1992 Championship, a Pre-2000 Championship and an EHRC Gravel Championship. The Ulster International Rally will showcase the EHRC Pre-2000 Championship that will feature cars built between 1993 and 2000. Iconic cars such as the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Celica GT-Four and the 1999 Ford Focus WRC will appear on the event that is certain to attract extra fans to see the cars of rallying’s modern golden age.

It's fitting insofar as the Northern Ireland Motor Club will also be celebrating 50 years in existence in 2026 as clerk of the course Wayne Turkington commented. “We are extremely proud to be joining the 2026 FIA European Historic Rally Championship. This inclusion recognises the rich rallying heritage of Northern Ireland, the challenging terrain and roads as well as the passionate support from the wider community." 

The event moves forward one week from its traditional date, he explained. "By moving forwards a week we can accommodate the European championship, while still providing similar conditions, as well as the successful two-day format which worked well this year. Planning is well underway for the 50th anniversary next year and we look forward to welcoming many historic rally competitors and fans from across Europe in August 2026.” 

Further details will be revealed in the coming weeks. The rally will continue to be a counting round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It's speculated, that the EHRC contingent will run first on the road, akin to what happened in Killarney in 2015 when the Rally of the Lakes was then part of the EHRC.

The Boyle family from Donegal created a unique piece of Irish rallying history last weekend as they netted the top three places in the Top Part West Coast Championship, a series that has the proud record of an unbroken sponsorship association with the motor factor group since it began in 1993 when Declan Boyle, this season's winner, was 19-year-old. Although Declan crashed out of the Bantry based Fastnet Rally on the opening stage, he had already secured the overall award. His sons Michael (27) who won the rally and Matthew (21), who was third overall on the event, secured the necessary points to take second and third respectively in the Top Part series.

Motorsport Ireland holds its annual congress in Athlone on Saturday. The agenda is very much rally oriented and begs the question what about other disciplines of the sport such as circuit racing, karting, autotesting, autocrossing, navigation trials, endurance trials and sporting trials - some of whom are declining dramatically. There's no doubt that rallying is the most popular, it's also the "cash cow" for the governing body. The Irish Examiner was told that the only items that have to happen at congress are the ratification of the calendar (2026) and the selection of the club representative on the Billy Coleman Award panel. Yet again, many consider congress to be a repetition of the Meeting of Clubs that take place (mostly on Zoom) around four times a year. A previous promise at those meetings that stewards reports from rally events would be reintroduced (read) haven't materialised. Before the Competitions Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings were abolished such reports formed an integral part of meetings and were very informative, however, that process went west after personnel changes. It will be interesting if the matter is raised during the late afternoon Q&A session. The prospect of the refuelling rig returning could be another topic of discussion. As per previous years, no media are not allowed to attend.

The Irish Examiner has been informed that the Motorsport Ireland Court of Enquiry into matters and including those pertaining to the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney last May, has now been fixed for early December following a rescheduling due to non-availability of some key personnel.

The 2026 EHRC Pre-2000 Championship (Period K): 1. Rally Costa Brava (March 6-7), Historic Vltava Rally (April 24-26) in the Czech Republic; 2. Rallye du Chablais (May 28-30 May) in Switzerland; 3. Ardeca Ypres Rally (June 25-27) 4. Rally Weiz Historic (July 16-18); 5. Ulster International Rally (August 7-9); 6. Rally Elba Storico (September 24-26) in Italy; 7. Sanremo Rally Storico (October 16-17).