Donegal Rally: Tribute to iconic trio written in the sand at Knockalla

Three legends of the Donegal International Rally have been remembered with a stunning tribute in the sand at Ballymastocker Bay.

The golden beach is one of the iconic sights of the Donegal International Rally thanks to the stunning views from the hill at Knockalla.

Ballybofey's Shawn Kelly and John Gregg have carved out a tribute to Manus Kelly, Craig Breen and Ken Block in the sand.

MK#1, CB#42 and CB#43 have been carefully written into the sand in what serves as a perfect salute to three greats of the sport.

Donegal Rally Gallery: Thrills and spills on day one

For the first time since 1984, a portion of the Donegal International went to South Donegal - and there proved no shortage of drama

Knockalla was a favourite stage of the trio. The classic Donegal stage will be SS9 and SS12 on day two of this year's event.

Glenswilly man Kelly tragically lost his life while competing in the 2019 event. A three-time winner of the International Rally from 2016-18 having been National champion in 2015, Kelly was killed when his Hyundai crashed off at SS15, Fanad, four years ago.

The memories of Breen and Block have been honoured with numbers 42 and 43 left blank on this year's entry list.

Block, who competed in the 2019 Donegal International Rally, died following a snowmobile accident in Utah in January.

Block gained a massive following and was particularly famous for a Gymkhana series, which saw him drive high-powered cars around inner-city challenges.

In 2019, Block took on the Donegal International Rally in a 1994 Escort Cosworth. His bid ended on SS2, Grianan, after he and Alex Gelsomino, his navigator, crashed out.

n April, Breen lost his life in a tragic accident in Croatia.

The factory Hyundai driver went off the road during a team test on the asphalt roads. His co-driver James Fulton uninjured.

Breen, who was 33, competed in Donegal on three occasions and was in the county when Manus Kelly from Glenswilly was tragically killed in June 2019 on Special Stage 15, Fanad Head.

Breen's love of Donegal was obvious. Interviewed once on the World Rally Championship TV channel and asked if he could compete in just one rally anywhere in the world, in just one rally car, what it would be, he shot back “Donegal in a Metro 6R4.”