2000 Dunlop Rally of Ireland

A unique one-off event which featured the first section of a special stage held indoors in Ireland, the Dunlop Rally of Ireland was run by ALMC Motor Club. Utilising terrain in Dublin, Wicklow and Laois, the event took in some classic stages, but pre-event favourite Austin McHale had early dramas when a collision on the road section to the opening stage left him languishing in 133rd and last position. It took all his guile and experience to work his way back to the front to take the win, helped in no small part by the demise of Eamonn Boland and turbo issues for Peadar Hurson.