Tarmac Rallying Photos
View Our Tarmac Rallying PhotosSpecial Stage Rallying is the most popular form of motorsport in Ireland. Motor Clubs hold events in nearly every County in Ireland. Today’s tarmac rallies were born and have evolved from the 1950s. Special Stage Rallying takes place on closed sections of public roads called "Special Stages". Events are decided by the time taken to complete a particular stage. The faster the time the better finishing position at the end of the event. The most unique feature of this type of motorsport is that two people are in the car during the competition. A driver and a navigator or (co driver). The job of the navigator is to read instructions called "Pacenotes" to the driver. Pacenotes are used as a guide through every twist, turn and jump on a special stage.
In Ireland the most popular Tarmac events are two days events like the Rally of the Lake, Donegal International, West Cork Rally, The Wexford stages and one day events like the Ravens Rock Rally, Sligo Stages Rally, The Galway Summer Rally and Carlow Stages. The biggest Tarmac Championships in Ireland are the Irish Tarmac Champion and The National Championship. For One-Day events both driver and navigator travel over each of the special stages at normal road speed the day before the rally and make a list of pacenotes for each stage. For Two-Day events the pacenotes are made the weekend in advance of the Rally. At the start of a rally all the competing cars are given what is called a road book. The road book has a list of instructions and times allowed not only of the stages but the road sections between each stage and the times in and out of the "Service Area". The Service Area has an important part to play in special stage rallying because each crew is given an allotted time to carry out repairs. It’s at this point that the rally turns from just the driver and co driver taking part to a team effort.
At most of the major Tarmac Rallying events in Ireland you will find motorsport photographer Trevor McGrath taking photos of the action as it takes place. Our photos of Tarmac Rallying are available for purchase, please contact us for details.