1982 Circuit of Ireland Rally

The 1982 Circuit of Ireland saw Jimmy McRae take his third consecutive win on the marathon 5 day event. Over 63 stages totalling 550 miles, McRae showed his class and experience outpacing reigning World Champion Ari Vatanen, Audi quattro mounted Hannu Mikkola, Russell Brookes and his teammate Henri Toivonen, who showed strong pace until an accident saw him break two bones in his hand. McRae was setting himself up as Circuit of Ireland specialist. Before the decade was out, he would take 4 more wins on the event.

[@chrislunn2925]

More mileage than a modern seasons rallying in one event. It was a different world in those days.

[@martinmccoy449]

Great to here the voice of Irish motorsport, Robin Rhodes doing the commentary on the spectator stage.

[@himut1979]

Thank you!!

[@mairesavage6815]

I have the VHS 📼 Tape amazing it still plays perfectly. .fantastic video 42 years old this year by Derek j Simpson and Plum did the voice over superbly as usual..the second last Circuit to Visit Killarney. .👏🏁.i was lucky to have 👀Stages Windmill hill Saturday and Moynass Mt Monday....Pat Sullivan Cork.vhs videos 📼

[@gothicpagan.666]

In 1982 the Escort was old news, the Quattro was the future. In 2022 which is the greater legend?
There was no way that Ari or the guys from MCD could have known the legacy they were creating

[@theant9821]

He crashed out the Manx before the halfway mark, but still that drive is the stuff of legend, the thing everyone remembers.
Ari made that old escort do things that boggle the mind, that car was well out of its depth against the ascona and quattro. But went down fighting. Incredible to watch.