Northern Ireland has a long
association with many forms of motorsport, particularly those which involve
racing on open roads with both bike and car. For fans of rally driving the
highlight of the year is the spring Circuit of Ireland Rally. This report by
Lesley Dawes for Good Evening Ulster follows the 1985 competition from its
start at Belfast's City Hall to its conclusion and podium at the same location.
It was a rally dominated by the Opel team, with the top three finishers all
driving the Opel Manta 400.
Celebrating
victory is the all-conquering Jimmy McCrae from Scotland, who won the world
championship a record-breaking five times between 1981 and 1988. Englishman
Russell Brookes, however, seems rather unhappy at having to follow team orders
and allow McCrae to finish ahead of him. Ulsterman Bertie Fisher (a future
multiple winner of the rally) completes the podium line-up. Excellent shots of
the driving, including from inside the cars, is punctuated with interviews with
the drivers.