After a two-year break, the ALMC Hellfire Rally makes its long-awaited return on Sunday, August 17.
Based in Oldcastle, County Meath, the event marks round six of the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship.
With Rally HQ, scrutiny, and parc fermé all based in the town and service taking place at Flood’s Quarry just outside it, this is a proper homecoming event for Meath and Cavan rally fans.
This year’s event will feature classic stages made famous by the legendary Oldcastle Helfire Rally, including two roads that haven’t been used in over 15 years and the legendary Mullaghmeen stage, which returns by popular demand.
The rally is also a counting round of the Sligo Pallets Border Championship, the Top Part West Coast Championship, and the new-for-2025 Dacia Sandero Challenge Cup.
As the Triton Showers National Rally Championship enters its autumn run-in, the title race is heating up.
Championship leader Eddie Doherty from Ferrybank, with Limerick’s Tom Murphy calling the notes, heads the standings after taking his second win of the season in Sligo, having also won the Circuit of Kerry in March.
Defending champions Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty have had a tougher run, failing to finish in Kerry and Sligo, but their maximum points scores in Longford, Waterford, and Cavan have kept them in the fight.
Desi Henry from Derry, co-driven by Dean O’Sullivan, continues to get closer to his first national win and will be one to watch.
He finished fifth in Sligo and has shown a strong pace throughout the season. Declan Boyle and his son Michael, both from Lettermacaward will have a busy weekend as they are also contesting the Ulster Rally on Friday and Saturday.
Declan, with Patrick Walsh alongside, scored second in Sligo – his best result in years – while son Michael, co-driven by Dermot McCafferty, finished third after a steady drive in wet conditions.
Jason Dickson and Martin Brady also impressed in Sligo with a fine fourth-place finish. Brady, from Carraroe, Galway, celebrated his 600th rally start, an exceptional achievement for one of the sport’s most experienced co-drivers.
Daniel Cronin returns to the championship after crashing out at Raven’s Rock in July. He’ll be hoping for a fresh result in his Citroën C3 Rally2 alongside Padraig O’Donovan.
Triton Showers’ managing director Paul Barrett, who also leads the Citroën Trophy element of the series, will be competing in his C3 Rally2 with Darragh Kelly on the notes.
Cavan’s Gary Kiernan is back in action in a Ford Fiesta with John McCabe and as it’s an almost home rally it will bring extra motivation.
Longford’s Tommy Doyle, with Cork’s Liam Moynihan, brings their Hyundai Rally2, while another Boyle, Matthew, will also take on a demanding weekend doing both the Ulster and ALMC rallies over the three days.
In the Modified category, Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna and Mayo’s Andrew Grennan lead the standings in their Ford Escort Mk2. They’ll be hoping for another strong result, but they’ll have plenty of opposition, including Sligo stars Aaron McIntyre and Derry Long in their rapid Toyota Starlet RWD, who won the Modified class last time out.
The Rally4 class also promises fireworks. Cian Caldwell from Navan and co-driver Paul McPhillips are one of the local stars to watch in their Peugeot 208. They’ll resume their battle with Sligo winners Oran England and Darragh Mullen, who return in their Ford Fiesta Rally4.
