Donegal crews tackle Galway International Rally

There is plenty of Donegal interest in the 2023 Galway International Rally – Irish tarmac rallying's traditional season opener.

This will be the 45th running of the event since it began in 1971 and has the benefit of falling on the weekend of Ireland's newest bank holiday weekend.

Reigning Irish Tarmac Championship winners, Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes in a Hyundai i20 R5, who won in Galway last year, are the top seeds.

Behind them are Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson with the Welsh pair using their usual VW Polo and looking to go one better than last year in Galway where they pushed Moffett all the way to the end.

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Kilmacrennan's Paddy Robinson calls the notes for fifth seed Desi Henry in a Fiesta while Sligo native and Niall Burns, who now lives in Kilmacrennan, sits with Jonathan Greer, whose Citroen C3 Rally 2 bears the number seven.

Declan Boyle, the 2014 Irish Tarmac Rally champion, goes in a VW Polo and is ninth on the road.

Donegal Town's David Kelly, a 2019 Billy Coleman Award finalist, takes a C3 to Galway. Convoy's Dean O'Sullivan rides shotgun, the pair looking to build on some encouraging results in 2022, including eighth overall at the Donegal International Rally.

Donegal's Paddy McCrudden navigates for Jason Mitchell wile the all-Inishowen crew of Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran are 20th on the list in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Kevin Eves and Chris Melly take the Corolla to the Galway tar.

Termon man Mark Alcorn, always an exciting competitor, is in a Mk2 Escort and will be partnered by John O'Donnell.

Trevor Bustard, Martin McGee, Brian Brogan and Geoffrey Dolan are the other Donegal drivers in the top 50.

There will be three stages run three times in the Craughwell, Ardrahan and Kilchreest area with service after each loop on Saturday.

Sunday will consist of two stages to the south and east of Loughrea attempted three times with service after each pair of stages.