Rally enthusiasts in for a treat as Déja Vu North West comes to Donegal

Rally fans and classic car enthusiasts in Donegal are in for a major treat with the Déja Vu North West ‘24 attracting a record entry of 154 crews.

Part of the 150 mile tour taking place on April 26, 27 and 28 will include Lough Eske. And the itinerary includes a stop at Quay Street Car Park in Donegal Town where people will have the opportunity to view the cars. 

Déja Vu is a nostalgic and celebratory gathering of classic rally and road cars which tour over a route which takes in some famous rally stages.

Proceeds of this year’s event will go to the families of Gene McDonald and Dáire Maguire who tragically lost their lives in the Sligo Stages Rally last July. 

In a further honour to the two men, their partners will both be involved in the Déja Vu event with Gene’s partner Justine Hogan flagging off the cars. Dáire’s wife Breda Maguire will sit in the co-driver’s seat Damien O’Reilly’s Mk.II Escort, as they set out from the Sligo Retail Park on April 27.

Itinerary

A spokesperson outlined the opportunities for people to see the cars over the three day event, saying: “Enthusiasts will get their first glimpses of this spectacular gathering at the Sligo Retail Park on Friday, April 26 when they start to assemble from 2.30pm and at the Saturday morning start at the same venue at 9.30am. 

“The cavalcade of motoring history will then pass along the shores of Lough Gill, Lough Melvin and Lough Eske on its way north to the lunch halt in South Donegal.

“There will be a further opportunity to see the cars at Quay Street Car Park in Donegal Town from 2.15pm. on Saturday afternoon before they complete their run via the Mullaghmore and Horseshoe stages on their way back to the Sligo finish in O’Connell’s Street at 4pm.

“And the excitement doesn’t stop there as the SF Planes, Cars and Coffee gathering from 10am to 12.30pm at Sligo Airport on Sunday morning is a real Déjà vu add-on this year when the rally cars entrants meet the pilots from all over the country at the Breakfast Fly-in in Strandhill.”

Rally Classics

So what cars and drivers can motoring enthusiasts look forward to seeing at the event?

Organisers have revealed that Fords top the popularity poll with 29 entrants including Ben Lamb’s rare 1994 Group B RS2000. There will be a host of Group 4 Escorts including Ciaran Phelan’s immaculate Mk.II, and Alan Jardine’s 1971 ex-Chris Slater Mk.I, the car that finished runner-up to Adrian Boyd on that year’s Circuit of Ireland.

‘Mr. Mini’, Paddy Hopkirk will be  remembered by the 14 Minis led by the legendary Rauno Aalton, a former team-mate of the great Irish driver). He will be driving Beatty Crawford’s replica 1964 Monte Carlo Rally winning Mini Cooper S, and Martin Reilly’s 2021 Hopkirk commemorative version.

The 11 BMWs include two of the high revving M3 Group A rally cars from 1988 and a beautiful 1960s 2020ti which will be driven by the two-time Donegal International Rally winner John Lyons. 

Eight Porsches of various models and vintages will be on the run and spectators can particularly look forward to Brendan McAree’s fabulous 1973 Carrera RSR.

Three-time Sligo Stages Rally winner Vincent Bonner heads the nine Opel entries in one of the five fabulous Manta 400s entered. 

Add eight Subarus including Donagh and Eamonn Kelly’s Legacy RS models that were previously owned by World Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns and Brian Jardine’s ex Mark Higgins 1995 Subaru Impreza.

Seven Toyotas like Fred Ward’s special Celica and James Bearn’s 2022 Yaris GR which will be carrying a tribute to the late Ronnie McCartney. There will also be  seven Vauxhalls including Brian Crawford’s Viva GT and Charles Milne’s Chevette HSR, and some real rarities like Jonathan Radley’s 1983 Audi Quattro and Vincent Devlin’s 1985 Quattro SWB S1, two Group B Metro 6R4s belonging to Frank O’Mahony and Barry Foley, the Saab96 belonging to Padraig Mulhall and Jerry Haye’s Saab99, and Sean Tracey’s 1970 Lancia Fulvia HF in this priceless parade.

Souvenir Programme

The souvenir programme is on sale.

The spokesperson said: “You can help our appeal for the Rallying Friends by purchasing copies of the 76 page Souvenir Programme costing €15.00 which is on sale at various outlets.”

It can also be bought online at www.rpm-motorsport.com or www.connachtmotorclub.com

The programme includes spectator guide and maps, entry list, town maps of the Donegal halt and the Sligo finish, and a souvenir ticket. It is also the entry asps (one copy per adult) to SF, Planes, Cars and Coffee at Sligo Airport on Sunday, April 28. Souvenir Sticker.

Déjà vu North West ’24 is supported by FAAC Simply automatic, Sligo Pallets, Devaney Recovery Services and SF Engineering and it is jointly organised by RPM Déjà vu Motorsport Ltd. and the Connacht Motor Club.