Fresh from winning a TT race for the fourth consecutive year (that’s a record) Michael Dunlop will step into a Ford Escort Mk II to tackle next weekend’s Donegal International Rally.
The 25-year-old rider known as ‘King of the Road’ will swap his BMW bike for an Escort on the latest round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. He will be co-driven by James McNulty on the June 20-22 event.
Reigning Irish champion Garry Jennings said: “I am really thrilled that Michael will be on the start line in Donegal. While we won’t be in the same category, but I’ll be looking for his stage times just like everybody else. He is untouchable in road racing and a hero to so many of us. Rallying will be new to him, so I just hope he enjoys himself. He has nothing to prove about speed and so much to adjust to in a very different sport – I don’t think he carries a passenger on the bike. But, boy will it add to the craic in Donegal!”
Donegal clerk of the course Eamon McGee added that Dunlop was in for a baptism of fire.
“We’ve been working on this for some time and it is just great that Michael will be part of the 2014 Donegal Rally,” said McGee. “His achievements on the Isle of Man were incredible and we expect that many of his fans will make the trip to Donegal to see him.
“There is a big crossover with rallying and motorcycling in Ireland. A lot of our members go to the major road race meetings and they are all thrilled that he’s coming. He is entered in the most competitive class in the most competitive Rally in the country so he’s not just putting a toe in the water either, but jumping in at the deep end.”
A Mk II Escort with 300bhp should be no trouble to a man who’s used to putting two-thirds of that power down through a contact patch no bigger than the palm of his hand.
And after his rally debut, it’ll be back to the day job for the super-successful Northern Irishman. He’s got to land another 19 wins around the Isle of Man before he’s able to edge his Uncle Joey to call himself the most successful Dunlop in racing.
Dunlop is pictured at the 2012 TT.