Having won the event in 1980, 1981 and 1982, Jimmy McRae set off on Good Friday as the undoubted favourite for the 1983 Circuit of Ireland. However an accident on the opening day and time penalties halted his challenge for four in a row. With the early retirements of Stig Blomqvist, Billy Coleman and Henri Toivonen. The spectacular Pentti Airikkala led for a period in a Lancia 037 but by Saturday evening, Russell Brookes found himself in a commanding lead, a lead he continued to hold until the finish on Tuesday afternoon.