​This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1996 Circuit of Ireland with commentary from Alan Tyndall and Gary Gillespie.
What the 1996 Circuit of Ireland lacked in quantity in certainly made up for in quality with the winners from the previous three Circuits, Austin McHale, Stephen Finlay and Bertie Fisher in attendance, as well as rising stars like Liam O’Callaghan, Andrew Nesbitt and Ian Greer, all in four wheel drive Group A machinery. Fisher and Finlay set the pace at the front but Fisher’s event was beset by a number of uncharacteristic errors, the final of which dropped him to fourth place. After four days of rallying it was Finlay who would emerge victorious taking his second win on the event in three years.
This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on April 8th.

​Next week’s upload will feature highlights from the 1996 Irish Super Prix where Swede Johan Rajamaki set a new Mondello lap record in his ex F1 Footwork-Judd .
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Clubhouse Restaurant (Currently Takeaway Only)
Closed – April 5th 
Reopening – April 6th 
 
RIAC Office
Closed – April 5th
Reopening – April 6th  

RIAC Garage 
The garage will operate as usual on a 24 hour basis 
the garage can be contacted by phone on 01 677 5299

We would like to wish all our members a safe and Happy Easter ​

​This week’s RIAC-Motorsport Ireland  classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1991 Circuit of Ireland as aired on RTÉ.
The Circuit of Ireland’s star was beginning to fade somewhat my the early ‘90s but it was still seen by many as the one to win and with no Irish driver having won the event since 1984, the local heroes were out in force to try and take the win. They had no answer however for a young Scot called Colin McRae, who in first full season with Subaru was finally beginning to deliver on the big stage. McRae would go on to win by almost 5 minutes and just 4 years later he would be crowned the youngest ever World Rally Champion.
This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on April 1st.

​Next week’s upload will feature highlights from the 1996 Circuit of Ireland where Stephen Finlay was to take his second win on the Easter classic.
Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

​This week’s RIAC-Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 2001 RT2000 series.
The RT2000 series always produced exciting racing and 2001 proved no different with full grids and action packed races throughout the season. 2001 was a season which highlighted just how popular the championship had become as it not only supported and arguably outshone the British Touring Car Championship at Mondello Park but also travelled to Brands Hatch to support the Formula Ford Festival at the iconic UK venue. Brendan and David Donegan made the early running but as the series reached it’s finale it was Jonathan Fildes who was to get his hands on the title.
This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on March 25th.

​Next week’s upload will feature highlights from the 1991 Circuit of Ireland where Colin McRae showed the opposition a clean pair of heels to win the event his father had dominated for the previous decade.
Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

This week’s RIAC-Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1991 West Cork Rally originally shown on RTÉ Sports Stadium with commentary from Michael O’Carroll.

Bertie Fisher made a rare trip to the West Cork Rally in 1991 in an attempt to get used to his new mount for the 1991 season, a 4 wheel drive Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth. His debut in the car was an eventful one however as he put the car off the road and out of the event while trying to chase down the leaders following an earlier puncture. Vincent Bonner made the running in his Opel Manta 400 but some brushes with the scenery led to a decidedly second hand looking car and he eventually finished third behind Welsh visitor John Price. Ironically, it was the car Fisher sold before purchasing his new mount that won the event in the hands of Bill Connolly who grew in confidence throughout the weekend in the BMW M3 to take his second West Cork win with co-driver Tom Meaney.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on March 18th.
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​​Next week’s upload will feature highlights from the 1996 Circuit of Ireland and one of Stephen Finlay’s finest performances as he beat a high quality field to take his first Circuit win.
Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1981 Circuit of Ireland originally produced by Videoactive.

1981 saw the golden anniversary of the Circuit of Ireland and the organisers laid on a marathon route for the star-studded entry list. Tony Pond made the early running but it was Jimmy McRae who eventually hit the front and stayed there in his Opel Ascona 400 to take his second win on the Easter classic, an event he was to dominate as the decade progressed. McRae was followed home by Ger Buckley and Russell Brookes who recovered after an off-road excursion.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on March 11th. 

Next week’s upload will feature the 1991 West Cork Rally, an event where Bertie Fisher would have an eventful debut his 4 wheel drive Sierra Cosworth.

Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

​This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 2001 Cherokee Trails International Rally.

With a lack of rally action in Ireland in 2001 owing to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, RPM travelled to America to focus on the sizeable expat community who had been putting their stamp on the SCCA ProRally series. The early 2000s were pivotal for the growth of rallying in the USA and there is still strong involvement in the sport from Irish natives to this day. However it wasn’t an Irish expat or a local talent who won the 2001 Cherokee Trails International Rally in 2001, as young English visitor Richard Tuthill triumphed in his Mitsubishi.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on March 4th:

Next week’s upload will feature the 1981 Circuit of Ireland Rally where, in its golden jubilee year, Jimmy McRae showed his mastery of the classic Easter marathon.

Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads. 

​​This week’s RIAC-Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 2001 Yokohama Fiat Punto Championship with commentary from Alan Tyndall, Brian Tuite and Gary Gillespie.

Following on the Fiat Uno series in the 90s, by 2001 the Fiat Punto Championship had established itself as the premier, affordable tin top series in Ireland. The 1400cc flyers always produced close racing as these highlights show. Liam Denning was the early series leader in 2001 but he was gradually reeled in by Andrew McKinney as the season progressed, moving between Mondello and Kirkistown. McKinney eventually claimed the title while a supporting crew featuring the Pratt brothers, Dave Maguire, Leo Nulty, Joey Freeburn and Richie Faulkner provided endless door to door encounters behind.

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on February 25th.

Next week’s upload will see us stay in 2001 but moving across to the USA where RPM covered the Cherokee Trails International Rally and the sizeable Irish expat motorsport community competing there. 

Remember to subscribe to the Motorsport Ireland–RIAC YouTube Channel to be notified of our latest video uploads.