1991 Galway international Rally

This week’s Motorsport Ireland - RIAC classic video from the RPM Motorsport collection is highlights from the 1991 Galway International Rally with commentary from Alan Tyndall, Gary Gillespie, and James Cullen.
The usually inclement weather provided by the Galway International Rally didn’t materialise in 1991 as the crews were greeted with dry and dusty conditions while patches of ice lurked in the shadows. The conditions played into the hands of Austin McHale who flew into a commanding lead in his BMW M3 and even a double puncture couldn’t prevent him taking his third Galway win. Behind McHale, Frank Meagher and Donie Keating were locked in a battle for second place in their ageing machinery while Kenny McKinstry was putting together a strong performance in Group N which was to provide the catalyst for his unlikely run to the overall title that season. McHale’s victory was notable in that it was the last time the Galway International Rally would be won by a two-wheel drive car.

[@mairesavage6815]

The BMW M3 by 1991 was at its peak of its development and fully set up for ireland. Austin drove it very well👍 but the opposition well the Cars were well over there Competitive days..frank and Donie anway...@paddy Sullivan Cork. ...great programme's 👏🏁. ..

[@edwardo1988]

Thanks for these uploads. Great memories. Can we get galway 1992 uploaded?. And donegal 1989.

[@jamesoreilly3534]

thanks for adding why is the title music different from back in the day, is it a utv /rte thing?

[@BlandNutz]

Probably copyright issues

[@edwardo1988]

Why was there no Cullen or fisher in this event ?

[@twincamGT]

Yes I was thinking the same myself

[@artmccarrick7236]

Fisher has sold his M3 to Bill Connolly and hadn’t yet got his 4x4 Sierra. Cullen presumably missed Galway to do other rounds of the Championship

[@martinmccoy5387]

@@artmccarrick7236 The biggest problem James Cullen faced was finance.If he could have got some better sponsorship himself and Ellen would have been hard to beat.