Motorsport: McSweeney and Brennan confused about exclusion from Donegal Rally results

Jason McSweeney and Liam Brennan were shown to have finished fourth but were exclued from the amended results.

Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney and his Blackpool co-driver Liam Brennan guide their Ford Escort WRC over Knockalla during the recent Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally. Picture: Martin Walsh.

The provisional results of the Donegal International Rally were issued last week on the Sportity App (the rally's Digital Notice Board) and signed by clerk of the course Eamon McGee at 4pm on Wednesday July 1st. 

However, a signed set of Amended Provisional Results were subsequently posted at 1.00pm last Friday.

It would seem that the principal difference between them pertained to the Historic category of the event with the exclusion of the Cork crew of Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney and Blackpool's Liam Brennan, who were shown to have finished fourth in the first set of results titled "General Classification Provisional" but not on the amended version "General Classification Provisional (rev2)."

It was through a third party that McSweeney/Brennan were made aware of the situation, neither had received any communication, written or verbal from the organisers. 

In between the posting of the documents on the usual results portal - Motorsport Ireland/ shannonsportsit.ie - carried the amended version of the results on July 2nd at 20:40.

Prior to the beginning of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) McSweeney, who had previously contested the series in a Skoda Fabia R5, acquired a Ford Escort WRC with the intention of a full campaign in the Historic category of the ITRC.

It began well with category wins in the Galway International and the West Cork Rally and a second place finish in the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney.

However, in all three, he encountered problems in relation to the official homologation papers for the car. Yet, it appears there were no issues regarding same on the subsequent rounds on the Circuit of Ireland and indeed, the Donegal International Rally.

With regard to the opening three rounds and while the car didn't pass scrutiny because of the lack of documentation (FIA International Passport) he appealed the decision to the event stewards and was allowed to run under appeal. 

Apparently, the decision to allow him compete in those events was based on the fact that the stewards could see that McSweeney had applied to the FIA for the required papers as shown on the FIA portal.

It seems that this process is quite normal throughout Europe as many other competitors have similar issues in relation to FIA International Passports for historic cars but once the application is on the FIA portal, this sems to satisfy other national governing bodies.

McSweeney had no difficulty on the Circuit of Ireland Rally, which is run under the banner of Motorsport UK, the governing body in relation to the sport in Northern Ireland.

McSweeney claims that on the Friday of the Donegal Rally, he received an email verifying the passport for his Ford Escort Cosworth.

The Irish Examiner made a number of attempts to contact the Donegal organisers but didn't get a response. 

While it is unknown as to when the results will be finalised, McSweeney is mystified as to what has happened. So far, he has yet to be informed as to the reason he was excluded from the amended provisional results. 

The protest and appeal system - as it applies to competitors - is costly to say the least. 

A protest deposit is €1,000 and an appeal deposit is €4,000. Interestingly, an appeal within the organisational structure within Motorsport Ireland has no charge as it isn't specifically shown within the regulations.

Since the posting of the documents McSweeney has contacted the Donegal organisers and Motorsport Ireland as to the reason for the exclusion and claims he hasn't received a reply.

That makes lodging a protest nigh on impossible as he cannot counteract the decision seeing he doesn't know the actual reason.

The Sportity App under the "Results Notification" section states: "Queries regarding provisional results to be directed through the CLO (Competitor Liaison Officer) by 16:00 hours on the 2nd of July 2026." 

Results of the championship cannot be updated and with the next round Ulster Rally only a few weeks away it seems unsatisfactory to say the least.

Meanwhile, former national forest rally champion Monaghan's Derek Mackarel and Cashel's Pat O'Connell, both in Ford Fiesta R5's are amongst the entry for Saturday's Imokilly MC Forest Rallysprint in Lyradane, Grenagh.

The event features four runs over the 3.5km route beginning at 10.00am.