Kyle McBride hoping to make his mark on home soil in Donegal International Rally 

Kyle McBride admits that the return of the 2024 Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally to Inishowen makes this year’s event all the more exciting. 

The Carndonagh driver - with Darren Mullens as co-pilot - says preparations in their Peugeot 208 Rally 4 have been going good and he just can’t wait to get started now. 

“It’s exciting,” he said. “Preparations have been encouraging. We’d a good result in Scotland a few weeks back - first in class - so we have momentum going in. We’re in good shape, good form and the car is driving really well. 

“It will have to be one corner, one stage at a time, that’s the nature of the Donegal International.  

“This is my first time doing it so the main focus is to make it to the end on Sunday with points on the board for the championship. They say you can’t win it on the first day but you can lose it. 

“So we have to be at the pace and see can we get a good result. You have to find that balance where it’s clean, safe and the times are consistent”. 

McBride recently switched from a Ford Fiesta Rally 4 to the Peugeot and he’s been happy with how that transition has went. 

“We’re in good shape in that regard. We just got the car new at the start of the year. I have to give huge thanks to all my sponsors. Only for them I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. 

“Backed by Motor Sport Ireland Rally Academy, we have a lot of local sponsors in the event. And of course the rally is down my home direction on the Friday. So it’s good to have that support from home. And that part of it, driving in front of a home crowd, is extra exciting. 

“And Darren is a good man to have beside me and we’ve really worked well together in the last few rallies”.