​​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. 

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This week’s RIAC – Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1996 Galway International Rally with commentary from Alan Tyndall and Gary Gillespie.

After a pick and choose campaign in 1995, Bertie Fisher returned in 1996 for a full assault on the Irish Tarmac Championship in the iconic blue ToughMac Subaru. An extremely strong Group A entry lined up for the season opener in Galway and it was Fisher who led the way, taking his first ever win in Galway. However he had to use every bit of his skill and talent to stay ahead of a hard charging James Cullen…

This programme will be available to stream below from 7pm on February 18th.

Next week’s upload will see us move back to the circuits for some Fiat Punto racing action from 2001.

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​This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1991 Galway International Rally with commentary from Alan Tyndall, Gary Gillespie, and James Cullen.

The usually inclement weather provided by the Galway International Rally didn’t materialise in 1991 as the crews were greeted with dry and dusty conditions while patches of ice lurked in the shadows. The conditions played into the hands of Austin McHale who flew into a commanding lead in his BMW M3 and even a double puncture couldn’t prevent him taking his third Galway win. Behind McHale, Frank Meagher and Donie Keating were locked in a battle for second place in their ageing machinery while Kenny McKinstry was putting together a strong performance in Group N which was to provide the catalyst for his unlikely run to the overall title that season. McHale’s victory was notable in that it was the last time the Galway International Rally would be won by a two-wheel drive car.

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

Next week’s upload will feature more Galway International Rally action, this time from 1996 where after many years of trying, Bertie Fisher finally won.

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This week’s RIAC - Motorsport Ireland classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1971 Galway International Rally, the first international rally to be held in the Republic of Ireland. 

With the rapid rise of the Circuit of Ireland in the preceding decades and interest in the sport growing, Galway Motor Club decided to step up in 1971 and run an international rally. The tough, two day event attracted 116 starters however only 59 would end up completing the 400 mile route with the Derry/Fermanagh pairing of Cathal Curley and Austin Frazer taking the spoils ahead of a young rising star in second place called Billy Coleman. 

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

Next week’s upload takes us forward 20 years to the 1991 Galway International Rally where in unusually dry conditions, Austin McHale was hoping to stem the quickly advancing tide of 4 wheel drive machinery in his BMW M3.

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