Pipe Major Brian Rae and his son Alfie lead in Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae’s car to the Belfast City Hall finish in April 1982. Picture: News Letter archivesPipe Major Brian Rae and his son Alfie lead in Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae’s car to the Belfast City Hall finish in April 1982. Picture: News Letter archives
Pipe Major Brian Rae and his son Alfie lead in Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae’s car to the Belfast City Hall finish in April 1982. Picture: News Letter archives

Retro: Bygone days of the Circuit of Ireland (April 1982)

Recently as part of our weekly Retro supplement there was a selection of old photographs from the News Letter archives from April 1982 of the Circuit of Ireland being held in and around Belfast.

The photographs included Pipe Major Brian Rae and his son Alfie leading in Circuit of Ireland winner Jimmy McRae’s car to the Belfast City Hall finish.

While another photograph showed McRae opening the traditional bottle of champagne after crossing the finishing line at the City Hall.

Another photograph showed pre-race favourite Hannu Mikkola from Finland in his Audi. Meanwhile another pictured was of Finn Ari Vatanen and Neil Wilson in their Ford Escort.

Another photograph showed local competitors John Lyons and Bill Moffett from Castlederg, Co Tyrone and Winston Henry and Ronan McNamee from Armagh.

Another photograph showed pre-race favourite Hannu Mikkola from Finland in his Audi. Meanwhile another pictured was of Finn Ari Vatanen and Neil Wilson in their Ford Escort.

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