Willie Loughman Forest Rally
# Willie Loughman Forest Rally

The Carrick-on-Suir William Loughman Forestry Rally, William Loughman Memorial Forestry Rally is an annual motorsport forest rallying event held in Tipperary, Ireland. Promoted and organised by Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, Wm. Loughman Forestry Rally is long-standing opening round of the Irish Forest Rally Championship.

It was also a stage in South East Stages Rally Championship in 2002 and 2006. It is back on the calendar since 2019.

## History

Starting in 1985 as Carrick-on-Suir Forest Rally, the Willie Loughman Memorial Forestry Rally is Ireland's longest running forestry rally. The event ran every year with exception of 2001 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

In the early years the rally would start at midnight at the forestry gate, follow the route arrows, and finish the stage at the forestry exit gate. The arrow signs were made from tin by Willie Loughman, to whose name the forestry rally is now dedicated.

## 2020

The 2020 event was the opening round for the Irish Forest Rally Championship and the South East States Rally Championship. Directed by the Clerk of the Course Liam Mackey, the event consisted of 59.44 stage kilometers and 144.12 road kilometers divided into 6 stages. This year's entry fee was €700. The rally went ahead despite heavy winds and rain caused by Storm Dennis. Out of 70 starters, 48 have reached the finish line. James Wilson, 2018 Billy Coleman Award winner, led the rally from start to finish.

## Roll of Honor

Rally winners :

| Season | Driver | Co-driver | Car |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2020 | James Wilson | Arthur Kierans | Hyundai i20 R5 |
| 2019 | Marty McCormack | Barney Mitchell | Škoda Fabia R5 |
| 2018 | Andrew Purcell | Mark Wiley | Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 2017 | Josh Moffett | Stephen Thornton | Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 2016 | Sam Moffett | James Fulton | Ford Fiesta R5 |
| 2015 | Michael O'Brien | James O'Brien | Ford Focus RS WRC '08 |
| 2014 | Josh Moffett | Jason McKenna | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2013 | Owen Murphy | James O'Brien | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2012 | Craig Breen | Gareth Roberts | Ford Fiesta S2000 |
| 2011 | Owen Murphy | James O'Brien | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2010 | Pat O'Connell | Mark Wiley | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX |
| 2009 | Trevor J. Harding | Andrew Purcell | Subaru Impreza 555 |
| 2008 | Ray Breen | Craig Breen | Ford Focus RS WRC '04 |
| 2007 | Stephen Moore | Tony McHugh | Ford Focus RS WRC '04 |
| 2006 | Kenny McKinstry | Kenny Hull | Subaru Impreza S7 WRC '01 |
| 2005 | Gareth MacHale | Paul Nagle | Toyota Corolla WRC |
| 2004 | Kevin Lynch | Francis Regan | Subaru Impreza S6 WRC '00 |
| 2003 | John McCarthy | Dan Maguire | Subaru Impreza 555 |
| 2002 | Robbie McGurk | Rory Kennedy | Subaru Impreza Sti |
| 2001 | no rally - outbreak of foot and mouth disease | no rally - outbreak of foot and mouth disease | no rally - outbreak of foot and mouth disease |
| 2000 | Peter McCullagh sr. | Mark Murphy | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1999 | Kenny McKinstry | Paddy Toner | Subaru Impreza 555 |
| 1998 | no data | | |
| 1997 | no data | | |
| 1996 | no data | | |
| 1995 | no data | | |
| 1994 | no data | | |
| 1993 | no data | | |
| 1992 | no data | | |
| 1991 | no data | | |
| 1990 | no data | | |
| 1989 | no data | | |
| 1988 | Frank Meagher | O'Sullivan | Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII |
| 1987 | no data | | |
| 1986 | Kevin O'Kane | Noel Alexander | Talbot Sunbeam Lotus |
| 1985 | James Doherty | Michael Curley | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR |

Driver most wins :

| Kenny McKinstry | 2 |
| - | - |
| Moffett Josh | 2 |
| Murphy Owen | 2 |

Driver most starts :

| Sean Benskin | 15 |
| - | - |
| John Reid | 14 |
| Gerard Lucey | 13 |
| Alan Commins | 12 |
| Ray Benskin sr. | 11 |
| Gemma Kerley | 11 |
| Kevin O'Kane | 11 |
| James Coleman | 10 |
| Michael Nevin | 10 |
| Mark Murply | 10 |
| Andrew Purcell | 10 |

Most stage wins :

| Andrew Purcell | 8 |
| - | - |
| Kevin Lynch | 7 |
| John McCarthy | 7 |
| Josh Moffett | 7 |
| Sam Moffett | 7 |
| Owen Murphy | 7 |

* as of 2020
