The 1982 Circuit of Ireland saw Jimmy McRae take his third consecutive win on the marathon 5 day event. Over 63 stages totalling 550 miles, McRae showed his class and experience outpacing reigning World Champion Ari Vatanen, Audi quattro mounted Hannu Mikkola, Russell Brookes and his teammate Henri Toivonen, who showed strong pace until an accident saw him break two bones in his hand. McRae was setting himself up as Circuit of Ireland specialist. Before the decade was out, he would take 4 more wins on the event.