History 2000s

2007 Rally Ireland (Ireland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2007 Rally Ireland (Ireland)

Date: November 15–18, 2007

Start Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Finish Location: Sligo, Republic of Ireland

Total Distance: ~1,354.00 km

Competitive Stages: 328.46 km

Surface: Tarmac (often wet and muddy)

Making its debut on the WRC calendar, Rally Ireland introduced drivers to some of the narrowest and most technical lanes ever seen in the championship. Constant rain and mud created treacherous conditions, but Loeb thrived in the chaos, keeping his title hopes alive against Marcus Grönholm.

Route

Cavan: Slick, bumpy lanes that punished late braking and over-ambition.
Donegal: Scenic but dangerous — wet leaves and tight crests kept drivers on high alert.
Fardross: Fast rural stretches mixed with ultra-tight hairpins, a real rhythm-breaker.

The rally combined stages in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, featuring fast but unforgiving roads with stone walls and ditches right at the edge of the tarmac. Key stages included:

Persistent rain turned many stages into muddy, slippery tests of patience and car control, with aquaplaning a constant risk.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
2nd Place
Jari-Matti Latvala & Miikka Anttila · Ford Focus RS WRC 06
3rd Place
Dani Sordo & Marc Martí · Citroën C4 WRC

Loeb built an early lead and maintained it despite the extreme weather. Latvala impressed with his adaptability, while Sordo’s steady pace earned him another podium in difficult conditions.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Narrow Farm Lanes: Little margin for error, with stone walls and ditches waiting to punish mistakes.
  • Constant Rain: Grip levels changed corner by corner, requiring full trust in pace notes.
  • Visibility: Heavy spray and mist made reading the road ahead extremely difficult.

Rally Ireland’s debut was one of the toughest tests of the 2007 season, but Loeb’s precision driving ensured he walked away with maximum points, setting up a dramatic finale for the championship.

← Previous Event 2007 Rally Japan (Japan)
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