Sligo Pallets ends sponsorship with Irish Forest Rally Championship 

Strabane's Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia R5) was the first winner of the Irish Forest Rally Championship in the Sligo Pallets era that began in 2023. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Irish company Sligo Pallets has terminated its sponsorship of the Irish Forest Rally Championship due to what the company's chief executive Andrew Mullen has termed "ongoing and unresolved communication issues with the Forestry Sub Commission." According to the regulations for the series, the "National Forest Rally Championship is promoted by Motorsport Ireland and the National Forestry Sub Commission." 

Sligo man Mullen is no stranger to motorsport and rallying in particular. Long before he agreed to underpin the national forest series in 2023, Sligo Pallets supported high-profile drivers like Eugene Donnelly (five times Irish Tarmac champion, national rally champion and a former national forest rally champion) and Garry Jennings (Irish Tarmac champion). Last season marked the company's 14th year of title sponsorship of the popular Border Rally Championship.

Mullen told the Irish Examiner: "It's regretful, that Sligo Pallets must announce that it will no longer be sponsoring the Irish Forest Championship. This decision has not been taken lightly and comes as a great disappointment to the company, particularly given the significant commitment, investment, and passion Sligo Pallets has put into the championship to date and its long-standing love of motorsport."

Mullen explained the unexpected decision following issues with the National Forestry Sub Commission. "Despite repeated efforts to engage constructively, it became clear that they (sub commission) did not wish to have Sligo Pallets continue as sponsor, nor did they welcome the high level of involvement that naturally comes from a passionate and committed partner. While Sligo Pallets involvement was driven purely by enthusiasm for the sport, this commitment was regrettably interpreted by some as micro-management."

Sligo Pallets first came onboard for the national forest series in 2023, then, at the 2024 awards ceremony the Irish Forest Rally Championship it was announced that the company had agreed to extend their title sponsorship of the series through to 2027, adding three years to their previous two-year commitment. A subsequent press release (27 November 2024) still on the Motorsport Ireland website states "The announcement of the extended partnership and support of the series into the future was made during last weekend’s annual prizegiving held in the Sligo Park Hotel, with Sligo Pallets owner Andrew Mullen receiving a massive round of applause when he delivered the shock news."

A recent meeting between the relevant parties only seemed to exacerbate the situation with Mullen adding, "A meeting was held with both Motorsport Ireland and the Forestry Championship Committee in an effort to reconcile the issue, however no response has been received from them - leaving Sligo Pallets with no alternative but to make this difficult decision." 

Meanwhile, Mullen, who also supports many clubman drivers, acknowledged the success of the Border Rally Championship (since 2011) specifically thanking Brendan Flynn, Brenda Reilly and Martin McGarrity "for their dedication and ongoing communication." Mullen hinted that he may stay with that series for a fifteenth season.

In addition to his financial support, it is worth noting that down through the years Sligo Pallets has raised over €75,000 for various charities.

Mullen is particularly disappointed with what he claims was the removal of Sligo Pallets association with the National Forest Championship from social media accounts despite sponsorship being agreed until the end of 2027.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact championship co-ordinator John Quill failed to generate a response while chairperson of the Rallies Commission, Wexford's Graham Scallan told the Irish Examiner that a meeting is arranged for next week where he hopes that the issues can be resolved. Hopefully, it may not be too late but it seems such a pity that this saga has been allowed to rumble on and has led to Sligo Pallets decision to terminate its support of the series.

The events/dates that comprise this year's championship are as follows: 1. Connacht Yeats Ridge Forest Rally (February 15); 2. Munster Moonraker Forest Rally (April 18); 3. Willie Loughman Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally (June 27/28); 4. Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally (August 9); 5. Lakeland Forest Rally (September 5); 6. The Bushwhacker Rally (September 19); 7. Laois Forest Rally (October 4); 8. Dogleap Forest Rally (October 17)