World champion Ari Vatanen named guest of honour for Killarney Historic Rally
Former World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen has been officially named as the guest of honour for the 30th anniversary Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally.
The 1981 World Rally Champion will play a central role throughout the weekend, attending Friday night’s fan meet-and-greet, leading the start parade on Saturday night, and joining the finish ramp celebrations on Sunday.
Former World Rally Champion, Ari Vatanen with Vauxhall Motorsport Junior Rally Team drivers Robert Duggan and Mattias Adielsson ten years ago!
On Saturday evening, Vatanen will lead the ceremonial procession of rally cars from Parc Fermé on Lewis Road down to the start ramp on College Street.
Adding to the spectacle, the Finnish rallying icon will drive a classic BMW M3 E30 decked out in the famous Milk and Shell livery, mirroring the exact scheme he ran on home soil during the 1988 Rally of the 1000 Lakes in Finland.
This special appearance is made possible through the support of local main dealer Ahern’s BMW of Castleisland and competitor Donagh Kelly.
The car’s iconic historic livery will be officially unveiled at the Ahern’s BMW showroom in Castleisland on Friday afternoon (November 27) at approximately 5:00pm, with fans encouraged to check official rally social media channels for final time updates.
Beyond his ceremonial duties, Vatanen is using his platform as guest of honour to spearhead a major charitable appeal focused on supporting vulnerable children and families living in extreme poverty in Nairobi’s Korogocho slum in Kenya.
Home to between 150,000 and 200,000 people living within an area of just 1.5 square kilometres, the community faces severe hardship. The project provides essential access to education, clean water, healthcare, and daily meals.
Highlighting the global rally community’s ability to drive positive change, Vatanen called on all attending fans and competitors to give generously across the weekend:
“Rallying brings people together across the world. The work being carried out in Korogocho gives children in extreme hardship real practical support and a path toward a better future. I am asking all rally fans and competitors in Killarney this weekend to support the cause in whatever way they can.”
Official collection points and buckets will be positioned throughout the event, including central service, key spectator locations, and rally headquarters at the Killarney Towers Hotel, with a dedicated QR code system also set up in the programme for direct digital donations.
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