History 1970s

1976 Donegal International Rally (Ireland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1976 Donegal International Rally

Date: June 18–20, 1976

Host Country: Ireland

Surface: Tarmac

Total Distance: ~800 km

Total Starters: Approx. 100 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1976 Donegal International Rally brought some of the fastest crews in the British Isles to northwest Ireland’s twisting tarmac lanes. Brian Nelson and Malcolm Neill delivered a commanding performance in their Porsche Carrera, using the car’s power and handling to outpace a field of Escorts, Opels, and Minis. The win solidified Nelson’s status as one of Ireland’s top tarmac rally drivers.

Route

Knockalla Hill Climb: Fast tarmac ascents with blind crests and exposed rock faces.
Fanad Peninsula: Tight roads lined with stone walls, where precision outweighed horsepower.
Atlantic Drive: Coastal ribbon roads with breathtaking views and treacherous drop-offs.

The rally featured stages throughout County Donegal’s rugged coastlines and rural farmland, including famous test sections like Knockalla, Atlantic Drive, and Fanad Head.

Dry early summer conditions allowed crews to push hard on slick tires, but narrow lanes and local hazards demanded total concentration.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Brian Nelson & Malcolm Neill · Porsche Carrera
2nd Place
Billy Coleman & Ronan Morgan · Ford Escort RS1600
3rd Place
Vincent Bonner & Seamus McGettigan · Ford Escort RS1800

Nelson’s precision and the Porsche’s superior tarmac pace made the difference on wide-open stages, while his experience helped avoid costly mistakes in tighter village sectors.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Tight Margins: Stone walls and hedgerows left no room for error through narrow Irish lanes.
  • Local Crowds: Dense spectator lines required enhanced awareness at village junctions and service points.
  • Fast-Paced Format: Little time for repairs or recovery between stages demanded reliability and clean driving.

The 1976 Donegal Rally showcased Ireland’s best against a demanding tarmac backdrop—and Brian Nelson’s victory remains a standout moment in Irish motorsport history.

← Previous Event 1976 Acropolis Rally (Greece)
Back to Events Index
1976 Rallye du Maroc (Morocco) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.