Terry Harryman, the legendary WRC co‑driver, died peacefully in the Beverly Lodge Care Home at 87, succumbing to Parkinson’s disease.
Early Rally Triumphs
A native of Northern Ireland, Harryman first made his mark by winning the 1962 Circuit of Munster. He added the Circuit of Ireland title on three occasions, twice partnering Paddy Hopkirk in the pioneering Austin Mini Cooper S. The Donegal International Rally proved a three‑time champion for Harryman – twice for Cathal Curley and once as a passenger for Mark Lovell.
Rising to the World Stage
Harryman entered the World Rally Championship with the 1974 RAC Rally, partnering Ronnie McCartney. Subsequent stints with Malcolm Wilson, Jimmy McRae, Tony Pond, and Michele Mouton built his reputation; the 1980–81 seasons alongside the young Wilson cemented his standing among the sport’s elite.
The Vatanen Years: Six WRC Wins
Harryman’s most prolific era arrived when he joined world champion Ari Vatanen in 1981. Their pairing captured all six of Harryman’s WRC victories and five podiums. The road began in Sweden, the team finished second behind a Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2. Three years later, the duo conquered the brutal Safari Rally Kenya in a Rothmans‑liveried Opel Manta, out‑pacing the Audi Quattro and Nissan 240RS.
A highlight etched in rally folklore was the 1983 Manx Rally: the pair, in an Opel Manta, narrowly squeezed through a cattle grid, prompting Harryman’s famous on‑stage outburst of “dear god.” The momentum carried them onto Peugeot’s factory team, where they mastered the 205 T16 Group B machine. 1984 saw three consecutive wins (Finland, Sanremo, and the RAC Rally), and a further victory in Monte Carlo during the 1985 season, after an eight‑minute penalty recovery. A severe crash in Argentina that year caused Harryman to break a back, shoulder, ribs, and knee, but both men eventually recovered and returned for the RAC Rally finale.
Late Career and Final Appearances
With the Group B era’s collapse, Harryman pivoted to the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth as Group A regulations took hold. A second‑place finish in Finland marked the final WRC podium of his career. Outside the championship, he guided Michele Mouton to the 1986 German Rally Championship title, taking six wins in a familiar 205 T16. The 1990s saw a brief return to the British Rally Championship with Robbie Head’s Renault Clio Williams and a period as team manager of the Renault Dealer Team.
In the last decade of his life, Harryman co‑drove a race truck in the Dakar and participated in the 2003 Syrian International Rally with Mohammed Hamsho. He signed off a 60‑year rally career before passing.
Legacy and Family Continuation
Terry Harryman’s son, Allan, now boasts over 293 starts, perpetuating the family’s co‑driver tradition. Motorsport.com’s tribute to the late man acknowledges his contributions and extends condolences to his family.
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