One of the closest finishes in Circuit of Ireland history

Wexford man Eamon Boland nearly created history on the Circuit by recording one of the closest winning margins (4.9 secs from Gareth MacHale) since the rally first used Special Stages (introduced by the then CoC and former Circuit winner Robin McKinney) and was timed back in 1963. The closest finish was in 1998 when Austin MacHale beat Bertie Fisher by 1.01 of a second in controversial circumstances. MacHale had a 20 second road penalty lifted 24 hrs after the event following an official protest. 

Before 1963 the rally was a combination of driving tests, speed tests and navigation sections. The origins of this historic event go back to 1931 when it was called The Ulster Motor Rally and was won for the first time by Jimmy McCaherty in a 16 hp Austin. In 1936 the event was first called the Circuit of Ireland Trial (won by Basil Clark), in 1956 (winner Robin McKinney) it became the Circuit of Ireland Rally and then gained International status 1958 (Paddy Hopkirk's first win).

Some more vids from 2008 event

First clip courtesy of mailto:waylanderwrc@yahoo.com

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