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The Irish 205 Challenge started in the autumn of 2004 after several meetings throughout Ireland with old and new competitors invited along to hear how the organisers proposed to run the challenge and welcome any ideas that they had to make this a great championship. Over one hundred people attended the meetings, one month later the regulations were submitted to Motorsport Ireland in Dublin. Approved with some small changes and issued with a permit, the first round took place on the Castle Hellfire Rally in September 2004. Seventeen crews started the first round, the winner was Niall O Connell from Co. Limerick. Five rallies later, the challenge went to a last round title decider which was eventual won by Graham Colfer from Ashbourne in Co Meath.
So successful was the first challenge that the two people behind the scenes running the championship, former works Peugeot and Mitsubishi driver Rory Galligan and friend Barry Sheridan decided to start the following challenge one month after the final round of the first season to stay within the same calendar year. Again six tough rallies were chosen, five tarmac and one forest with the eventual winner being crowned champion on the final round, the Cork 20 International Rally. James Stafford from Co. Wexford beating Adrian Mc Bride from Co. Tyrone to the title.
2006 was another nail biter fought out between three drivers all season with Noel O Donnell from Co. Donegal winning on the final round. The closeness of the competition saw four different rally winners, numerous different stage winners and class ten being won outright by the challenge drivers.
2007 also saw the final round being the decider after a very tough year when we had three different rally winners and numerous joint fastest stage winners. Kerrill Waters came out on top of this battle and remains part of ths years challenge servicing for his co driver who has taken over the steering wheel.
The championship regulations have remained largely unchanged over the years with first major difference being for this year when the final drive was lowered to give better acceleration to match the standard gearbox used. This came about after the competitors were asked to give their own feedback on how they would like to see the challenge develop. This is one of the reasons the challenge remains so strong today.
It has also proved to be the best starting point for new drivers and co drivers starting out in the sport with experienced personal on hand at every event and on the end of the phone to answer any question or help with car build and set up. Parts are sourced and bought in bulk to reduce the cost to the competitor with a dedicated support base always readily available should anything go wrong. Costs are also kept in check as is fair play on the events by the regulations and the organizers.
If that was not enough, over 30,000 euros have been given out in prizes by the challenge to the numerous winners by the challenge sponsors and partners. So if your interested in rallying at an affordable price with great competition and friendship, join the growing list of members taking part by clicking on the Getting Started window on the website.
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