The Donegal International Rally was cancelled by its organisers yesterday following a crash in which two race marshals were killed.
Motorsport Ireland, the governing body of rallying in Ireland, has called an emergency meeting in Dublin next Sunday in the aftermath of the fatalities.
The two men who died were Mr George Clarke, from Moville, Co Donegal and Mr Gerard McKenna, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, both aged 22, A third person was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital, but was not in a life-threatening condition.
The accident happened shortly after 2 p.m. at Cloghan, just off the main Ballybofey-Glenties road, when a competitor's car left the road and struck the marshals and another person.
Both the driver and co-driver escaped with minor injuries, but the car was extensively damaged.
The accident happened on a fast, bumpy stretch of straight road in an isolated rural area. The roads were slippy at the time following rain.
Some of the 151 crews who were competing had yet to finish the first stage when the accident occurred.
Initially, the organisers cancelled the rest of the day's four stages. It was then announced later in the day that the remainder of the event was being cancelled. In a short statement, the Donegal Motor Club expressed sympathy with the bereaved.
The Donegal International Rally has not had any fatalities in its 30-year history and has prided itself on being one of the most safety-conscious and exciting events in the rally calendar. Over 600 marshals are involved in the event.
The sport has suffered a number of blows in recent times and during the past year two drivers, Mr Frank Meagher and Mr Shane O'Neill, were killed in accidents.
"Everyone is gutted and absolutely devastated," commented Mr James Cullen, a former winner of the event. "Our thoughts go out to the families who have been bereaved." Pointing out that the area where the accident occurred was a "well-marked and well-known spot", he added: "Irish rallying had an excellent safety record. The danger is part of the sport, but everything humanly possible is done to make it safe."
The Donegal International Rally is the third round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, which is being led by Andrew Nesbitt. He was leading at the end of stage two yesterday when the accident occurred.
Speaking just after he had completed the stage - and before the accident - Nesbitt stated: "It was very, very slippy. We took it fairly easy." Second-placed Peadar Hurson said: "It was scary over the big jumps."
While news of the cancellation of the rally was not unexpected following the tragic occurrence, a senior rally observer did speculate that one option might have been to hold stages today but to cancel those scheduled for tomorrow.
Many people had travelled to the event and the financial implications of a cancellation also had to be considered. However, the sponsors, Shell, fully supported the decision taken by the Donegal Motor Club.