Irish rally driver ‘lucky to be here' after horror crash as he thanks quick-thinkers for ‘actions that saved my life'
FERMANAGH rally driver Garry Jennings revealed he is "lucky to be here" following a horror car crash.
Jennings and co-driving teammate Brian Hoy were hospitalised with serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the accident on Sunday's Cavan Stages.
2
Garry Jennings before the Joule Donegal International Rally in 2022
Credit: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile
2
Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 during day two of the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally Round 5 of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in 2024
Credit: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile
Their Ford Fiesta Rally2 car was rendered a write-off due to the force of the crash which saw it collide with a tree.
Jennings was diagnosed with a broken leg, sternum, shoulder and wrist, while Hoy was taken to Dublin with a broken leg and arm.
But
He said: 'I have been rallying for 25 years and I have never been involved in anything as big as what happened on Sunday.
Read More on Motorsport
"There have been a few pictures of the car on social media and when I saw them, I said, 'No one is coming out of that alive'.
"I am very lucky to be here – I honestly believe that I have missed my destination with death, that is how bad it was.'
Jennings owed gratitude to four quick-thinking people.
The duo were trapped int the car which was on its roof at the side of the road in a field for more than an hour.
Most read in Motorsport
At this point, fellow racers Cathan McCourt and Barry McNulty, and Declan Boyle and Paddy McCrudden, intervened to free them from the car and save their lives.
Tragedy at the Jim Clark Rally: Remembering Dai Roberts
Jennings explained: 'Without a doubt, their actions saved my life and the life of Brian as well.
'A group of spectators slowed them down and said that we were dead and not to bother checking on us.
"Thankfully they did and myself and Brian are both alive to tell the tale.
'I was drifting in and out of consciousness when they arrived.
"They were calling my name and when they checked my airways, they could see I was choking on my tongue.
"They sorted that and stayed with us for about an hour until we were finally freed from the car.
"Without a doubt those four fellas kept us going.
"We both owe our lives to them."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Horror moment Max Verstappen's dad flips rally car in terrifying crash revealed in unseen footage
THIS is the horror moment Max Verstappen's dad Jos crashed and flipped his rally car at high speed. Disaster struck for the former F1 driver, 53, as he was competing in the Royal Rally of Scandinavia in Sweden. 4 Max Verstappen's father Jos suffered a nasty crash on Friday but emerged unscathed Credit: 4 Jos' rally car rolled after his rear wheels dipped in the gravel Credit: 4 He cracked the windscreen of his car and caused other damage, being forced to retire Credit: The rollover crash brought Jos and his navigator Renaud Jamoul's day to a halt earlier than expected last Friday. The pair started well - they were 18th overall and best out of the Master classification - but came unstuck on stage nine. It caused the Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 to do a 360, suffering damage in the process, with newly released video painting a grim picture. READ MORE SPORT NEWS The latest clip showed the car with a huge crack in the windscreen, but fortunately, both Jos and Renaud escaped uninjured. Verstappen said: "I went a little bit too quick into the corner and then I missed the apex, the inside of the corner. "I was in the loose gravel, on full grass and I couldn't make the corner. Very easy to happen in this kind of rally. "It was a typical Sweden roll. I flipped it and I was back on the four wheels. Every crash should be a lesson. Most read in Motorsport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "The roll cage is all fine but the front was a little bit damaged, there was some rear damage and one damper was broken. "I must say I really enjoyed it, the way of driving . Obviously these people from these countries they used to that, the only driving they do is on these kind of stages." Lewis Hamilton hit with grid penalty at Monaco Grand Prix after blunder saw him forced to apologise to Verstappen It was Verstappen Snr's third-ever start on an unfamiliar gravel surface. He didn't manage to travel to Barcelona to watch his son Max compete in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. The Red Bull ace championship leader Oscar Piastri. The 27-year-old also picked up three-penalty points after "deliberately" colliding with George Russell on Lap 61, when asked to let the Mercedes driver through after using an escape road. The punishment moves the race ban. 4
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Top 10 finish for Armstrong and Byrne in Scandinavia
Taking the final top 10 spot in the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round three of the European Rally Championship, the Irish pairing of Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) had the satisfaction of knowing that they have the pace, if not the luck, to mount a strong challenge for victory in one of remaining five round of the series. They were third fastest through the Power Stage (final stage) where they annexed three extra championship points. At the finish, the Kesh driver spoke about his final stage performance, where rain made it difficult. "I had a messy run through, a bit of understeer in the first corners. I clipped something in the fast section so I was a bit careful there." "It was a frustrating weekend, we had some good pace." He also took time to reflect on last week's Jim Clark Rally (Scotland) and the Cavan Rally. "We had some tough events last weekend at home, especially James (Williams) and Dai (Roberts, who was fatally injured), also my old co-driver Brian Hoy, who had a bad accident." (Hoy and his driver Garry Jennings were both injured in an accident during the Cavan Rally). Norway's Eyvind Brynildsen was a first-time winner in a round of the series as his Pirelli-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 finished 4.9s in front of the MRF Tyres Toyota GR Yaris of Finland's Roope Korhonen, who snatched the runner-up spot from local hero Isak Reiersen (Skoda Fabia RC Rally2), who was Brynildsen's closest challenger until the final stage. Indeed, the 21-year-old was only 2.8s behind with three stages remaining. Both Reiersen and Brynildsen putting their cars on two wheels on a left-hand corner on SS15. Korhonen tops the overall championship standings. Meanwhile, Tyrone's Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) made it three wins from three outings in the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship, his latest, in Saturday's Mayo Forest Rally, to move into the lead of the eight-round series. He secured a commanding 20.6s victory over the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Waterford's Andrew Purcell, who fended off the final stage challenge of Tyrone's Niall McGonigle (VW Polo GTi R5) by a mere 0.6s. Despite a few moments, Purcell set the pace on the opening stage where top seed Mitchell was only 0.4s behind with McGonigle a further 1.7s shy of second spot. The majority of the entry received a notional time for SS2 as Mitchell posted the fastest time through SS3 to impose his authority on the event with a 10.6s advantage. Purcell lost time when he clipped a chicane and although McGonigle reckoned he too lost time, he was only 1.7s further behind in third. Tyrone's Stephen Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was fourth but struggled to get into rhythm. Reigning champion Monaghan's Derek Mackarel lost time when his Ford Fiesta R5 cut out as he approached a chicane on the third stage, he was unhappy with his choice of a hard compound tyre. On the repeat loop, Mitchell was able to manage his lead and with a trio of stage wins, took a fine victory. Purcell just about withstood McGonigle's late surge to claim valuable points to keep his title hopes on track. Dickson, Mackarel and Pete McCullagh (Mitsubishi Lancer E9) completed the top six. Elsewhere, Donegal's Damien Tourish (Ford Escort) in ninth place, was the top two-wheel drive finisher. In the J1000 category, Donegal's James McShea (VW UP) capitalised on the final stage retirement of long-time leader Cavan's Danny Brady, also in a VW UP. The entry list for the Donegal International Rally (June 20/22) was announced on Friday evening last. With the withdrawal of Kris Meeke on Thursday, the revised top ten is: 1. Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 3. Jon Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4. William Creighton (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2); 5. Matt Edwards (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 6. Josh Moffett (Citroen C3 Rally2); 7. Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5); 8. Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), 9. Sam Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2); 10. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Round 3: European Rally Championship): 1. E. Brynildsen/J. Listerud (Toyota GR Yaris Raally2)1h. 33m. 40.8s; 2. R. Korhonen/A. Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+4.9s; 3. I. Reiersen/S. Gustavsson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+9.6s; 4. A. Mabellini/V. Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+22.0s; 5. F. Tore Larsen/L. Lundgreen (VW Polo GTi R5)+25.2s; 6. M. Johansson/J. Gronvall (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+50.3s; 7. M. Marczyk/S. Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 07.6s; 8. M. Ostberg/L. Karlsson (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 37.8s; 9. S. Tempestini/S. Itu (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 55.0s; 10. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 26.2s. ERC Championship Positions (after Round 3): 1. R Korhonen 60pts; 2. M. Marczyk 57pts; 3. M. Ostberg 48pts; 4. A Mabellini 47pts; 5. I Reiersen 40pts; 6. N. Gryazin 34pts; 11. J. Armstrong 21pts. Mayo Forest Rally (Round 4, Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship) Ballina: 1. J. Mitchell/P. McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 25m. 53.8s; 2. A. Purcell/L. Brennan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+20.6s; 3. N. McGonigle/C. McKenna (VW Polo GTi R5)+21.2s; 4. S. Dickson/B. Teggart (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+52.6s; 5. D. Mackarel/E. Creedon (Ford Fiesta R5)+58.8s; 6. P. McCullagh/L. Callaghan (Mitsubishi Lancer E9)+1m. 45.6s; 7. J. Boland/J. McCay (Ford Fiesta Rally3)+1m. 53.9s; 8. A. Dickson/D. Turkington (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 02.4s; 9. D. Tourish/D. McAlaney (Ford Escort)+2m. 08.6s; 10. S. Moore/T. McHugh (Ford Fiesta)+2m. 19.2s. Slig o Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship (Provisional positions after Round 4): 1. J. Mitchell 63pts; 2. A. Purcell 53pts; 3. S. Dickson 52pts; +4. P. O'Connell & D. Mackarel 47pts; 6. J. Boland 37pts
The Irish Sun
26-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Irish rally driver ‘lucky to be here' after horror crash as he thanks quick-thinkers for ‘actions that saved my life'
FERMANAGH rally driver Garry Jennings revealed he is "lucky to be here" following a horror car crash. Jennings and co-driving teammate Brian Hoy were hospitalised with serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the accident on Sunday's Cavan Stages. 2 Garry Jennings before the Joule Donegal International Rally in 2022 Credit: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile 2 Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 during day two of the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally Round 5 of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in 2024 Credit: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile Their Ford Fiesta Rally2 car was rendered a write-off due to the force of the crash which saw it collide with a tree. Jennings was diagnosed with a broken leg, sternum, shoulder and wrist, while Hoy was taken to Dublin with a broken leg and arm. But He said: 'I have been rallying for 25 years and I have never been involved in anything as big as what happened on Sunday. Read More on Motorsport "There have been a few pictures of the car on social media and when I saw them, I said, 'No one is coming out of that alive'. "I am very lucky to be here – I honestly believe that I have missed my destination with death, that is how bad it was.' Jennings owed gratitude to four quick-thinking people. The duo were trapped int the car which was on its roof at the side of the road in a field for more than an hour. Most read in Motorsport At this point, fellow racers Cathan McCourt and Barry McNulty, and Declan Boyle and Paddy McCrudden, intervened to free them from the car and save their lives. Tragedy at the Jim Clark Rally: Remembering Dai Roberts Jennings explained: 'Without a doubt, their actions saved my life and the life of Brian as well. 'A group of spectators slowed them down and said that we were dead and not to bother checking on us. "Thankfully they did and myself and Brian are both alive to tell the tale. 'I was drifting in and out of consciousness when they arrived. "They were calling my name and when they checked my airways, they could see I was choking on my tongue. "They sorted that and stayed with us for about an hour until we were finally freed from the car. "Without a doubt those four fellas kept us going. "We both owe our lives to them."
