Second place on the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes saw Robert Barrable & Damien Connolly move to within one point of the championship lead as the Irish Tarmac Championship stands at the midway point. The Dublin driver had led for much of the event in his Ford Fiesta R5 with a stunning performance, but had to give way to the sheer power of Manus Kelly’s Subaru Impreza WRC S12. With Kelly not eligible for points, maximum points moves Barrable from third to second in the championship and makes the second half of the season a very exciting prospect. Desi Henry & Liam Moynihan took third overall and after the disappointment of a non-finish in the last round, the Skoda driver has also given himself a great championship boost moving into fifth place. Sam Moffett who had a new co-driver in Noel O’Sullivan for the weekend, finished fourth in his Fiesta R5, but drops from second to third overall in the championship.
It was a weekend of frustration for championship leader Josh Moffett who was plagued with brake problems and only really set some good times on the final couple of stages as he finished fifth behind Jonny Greer. Provisionally this leaves Josh with a one point lead heading to Donegal and he will be looking for better luck after a difficult weekend. Greer was happy with his fifth place while Eugene Donnelly is still getting to grips with the Hyundai. His times were very good on the second half of the Sunday stages where he was setting top three times on occasions. Stephen Wright showed much improved pace on the opening day, but went off the road on the penultimate stage of the opening day, going OTL as a result. He re-joined under Rally 2 and earned some championship points as a result. There was disappointment for Daniel Cronin on his home event as he was side-lined by electrical problems after five stages having made a very encouraging start. David Guest won the Group N category from William Mavitty, both drivers in Mitsubishi Lancers.
The Treaty Plant Hire Modified Championship has been blown open also with Kevin Eves the championship leader having to retire after only two stages with a damaged axle. Top points went to fellow Donegal driver John Bonner as rival Vincent McSweeney retired late with mechanical problems having been in line to score maximum points after Eves went out. John O’Donnell took third place points ahead of Stephen Bawn and J.R. McDaid. Kevin Eves lead has been reduced from seventeen points to just five with John Bonner now in second place and J.R. McDaid in third with all three drivers on home ground for the next round in Donegal.
Owen Murphy kept up his fine form in the Historic Championship with a crushing win of over seven minutes from Duncan Williams. The Sunbeam driver set out a marker from the first stage and took his third maximum score from three events with Williams now moving into second place. The junior championship leader Gary McNamee didn’t start the event but that didn’t have an impact as some of his rivals failed to finish the rally so he retains a strong lead in the series. Derry Long took top points from Padraig Walsh as both opened their accounts for the season.
Donnelly happy with Hyundai performance at the Lakes
Posted: October 10, 2018 9:13 AM
Five-time Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly secured another solid performance in the series last weekend as he took his Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing i20 R5 to seventh overall at the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney (5th/6th May).
Along with co-driver Mark Kane, Donnelly continued to develop the MRF Tyres-shod Hyundai for the Irish lanes, further adding to their ninth overall on the West Cork and Easter Stages earlier in the season. Their result was the highest finish for the i20 this season and was bolstered by a top three stage time over the 13th stage of the event.
Just days before hand, four-time British Rally Champion Keith Cronin used the Hyundai at the opening round of the series in the Kielder forest and it would be a race against time for the Philip Case Rally Sport team to return the car to asphalt spec for Donnelly.
The Magherafelt driver had been away from the Irish championship for over two years and despite being a previous winner of the event, he would head to Killarney in a bid to find more pace and additional data for the Hyundai i20 as part of a three year plan for the Korean built machine.
Donnelly admits “podium positions are not on the radar at the moment”, but would look to make further inroads on the gap to the leaders as he becomes more familiar with the R5 machinery.
Sixteen stages and over 120km of special stage action would lie ahead over the two-day event but it would be a slow start for Donnelly who suffered from a misfire over the opening loop on Saturday morning. This left him languishing down in 10th spot until the issue could be rectified at service.
The remainder of the opening leg was left playing catch up and Donnelly would continue to adapt the set up and tyre choice to the widely acclaimed set of stages including Molls Gap, Healey’s Pass and Ardgroom. As the miles passed, the pace increased and the times tumbled, ending the day in a confidence boosting seventh overall.
An early start on day two didn’t affect Donnelly, as a new tyre choice and set up transformed the i20 and the gap to the top six would begin to narrow. A broken rim didn’t hamper progress to any significant degree as the stage times became more impressive. The reward for his perseverance was third quickest time on the 13th stage as he continued to get to grips with the car.
Crossing the finish ramp in Killarney on Sunday evening, Donnelly was happy with his best result of the season so far.
“It certainly was a bit of a rocky start to be honest so to be seventh after some of the toughest stages on the calendar is really pleasing for us as we continue to develop the car for Irish soil” he says.
“The roads down here definitely throw up some unique challenges and despite my previous experience on these lanes I`m still learning all the time, especially as it’s the first time here in the Hyundai. The encouraging thing is that we are getting quicker with each passing event and we are heading in the right direction with the car and that’s really important for me and the team. We are working really hard to get the right set up in the car and getting the tyres to work, so that third quickest time is a real turning point for us. It shows the pace is there and we just need to carry that over to Donegal from the off now”.
The next round of the series, the Donegal International Rally takes place from 15th-17th June.
Donnelly is supported by Divers Hyundai, MRF Tyres, Sligo Pallets, PPP Group, Midland Tyre Services, McPartland Group, Philip Case Rally Sport, Protune Ireland, CBM Signs and the CFM Group.
Video Clips
Posted: October 10, 2018 9:05 AM
In Car
Posted: October 10, 2018 9:05 AM
Gary Kiernan & Keith Moriarty (Ford Escort Mk II) SS11
Daniel Cronin & Shane Buckley (Ford Fiesta R5) SS2
Owen Murphy & Anthony Nestor (Talbot Sunbeam) SS11
Kyle & Dale McGettigan (Ford Escort MkII) SS11
Duncan Williams & Llion Tractor (Ford Escort Mk2) SS6
Charles O' Neill & Tony McCarthy (Honda Civic) SS3
Steven O'Connor & Adrian O'Connor (Honda Civic) SS6
Killarney and District Motor Club held the official launch to the
Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2018 on Sunday 15th at
Brehon Hotel Killarney. There were some beautiful rally cars on
display and a large crowd in attendance. Officials, Organisers,
Sponsors, distinguished guest speakers such as TD Brothers Michael &
Danny Healy Rae, Councillor Michael Gleason, WRC Co Driver Paul Nagle
and Dignitaries of Killarney town were on hand to support the event.
MC on the night was non-other than Mike Marshall event COC of 25years,
he introduced Paul O’Neill of Killarney’s Chamber of Tourism and
Commerce who spoke of how important the rally of the Lakes is to
Killarney Town, bringing a welcomed boost to the local economy. Niall
Kelleher Mayor of Killarney also spoke on the commitment and
dedication of the voluntary club members involved and their ability to
host an event of this magnitude every year. Other guest speakers
included John Byrne of Cartell.ie, Brian McArdle of Ordnance Survey
Ireland, Kieran Healy of KC Print/Killarney Advertiser and Patrick
O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel Group who have been involved since
the rally’s first inception in 1979.
Killarney & District Motor Club, organisers of the Cartell.ie Rally of
the Lakes have announced details of this year’s event which will take
place over the May Bank Holiday weekend 4th – 6th May.
The 39th Rally of the Lakes will be counting rounds of the:
Killarney Businessman Dermot Healy has taken on the role of COC for
his sixth year. Dermot, who is very much respected in the town of
Killarney for his incredible voluntary and charity work, has put
together a strong organising committee and operations are well under
way. Dermot explains: the route stages are the most famous classic
route of stages available and these demanding, technical and
challenging stages should test each competitor to their full ability.
While also maintaining the unique classic stages that the Rally of the
Lakes holds worldwide, our main aim is to bring the Rally back in and
around the Killarney town area and we have achieved this with our
Sunday loop of stages.
Once again for their ninth consecutive year Ireland’s leading vehicle
history record company Cartell.ie return’s as the main title sponsor
of the Rally of the Lakes 2018. Including additional support from
Killarney Advertiser, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Gleneagle Hotel
Group, who have been supporters of the Rally of the Lakes for many
years and continue as Associate Sponsors.
The Rally of the Lakes is firmly established as one of Ireland’s
premier rally events. It gives a major boost to the businesses of the
town and the local economy. TV coverage alone is beamed to 38
countries with an estimated 30 million household subscribers. Dermot
remarked: “This exposure is fantastic for Killarney and the Rally of
the Lakes and it hugely increases our attraction as an international
event for competitors and spectators to enjoy”.
The three-day event will begin with a ceremonial start in Killarney’s
town centre at 7pm on Friday 4th May. Plans are at an advanced stage
to create a motorsport festival on the streets of Ireland’s most
famous town.
The real action will commence early on Saturday morning with the
iconic Molls Gap, followed by the Tim Healy Pass and centralised
service in Castletownbere Pier. Then it’s time to head out on the
famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the
Healy Pass and into service for a well deserved break. Cods Head and
Ardgroom are repeated and a blast through the Kilmakilloge harbour
stage to finish off the day.
Sunday Morning starts with Molls Gap once again, followed by the
mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass, Then into service at Liebherr
Container cranes Killarney. This Loop is of Molls Gap and
Beallaghbeama Pass is repeated with the inclusion of a new version of
the fast flowing Shanera stage called Brook Hill. It’s into service
once again before heading out to the Spectator friendly loop of
Rossanean, Brook Hill and Rossanean again as the final stage. The
crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Head
Quarters - The Gleneagle Hotel at 17.30 for Celebrations and
Champagne.
The strength of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes 2018 is evident with
entries only open a few hours, over 70 crews have entered and the
stage is already set for battle royal in all classes and categories.
Heading the international Entry list is last year’s winner, Sam
Moffett who is likely to start the event in the top slot. Local
Co-driver Noel O’Sullivan takes up the hot seat alongside Sam for his
first time and will be hopeful for his first overall win. Behind him
comes a host of WRC machinery with two times Lakes winner Donagh
Kelly, along with Roy White & Declan Boyle who have led this event in
the past. Donegal man Manus Kelly has shown interest in this year’s
event, he will be a great addition to the line up. Irish Tarmac
Championship leader Josh Moffett arrives in Killarney on top form with
recent back to back wins on both the West Cork and Easter stages
Rallies. Other Top R5 competitors include Robert Barrable who was
second overall last year, 5 times Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene
Donnelly in his Hyundai I20 R5, Stephen Wright & Jonny Greer both in
their Ford Fiesta’s along with Desi Henry in his new Skoda Fabia R5.
Top Local crew Daniel Cronin/ Shane Buckley have had a great start to
their Irish Tarmac Championship campaign, recently acquired the
ultimate Ford Fiesta from M-Sport, he will be anxious to make his mark
on the home event. While also including Killarney regulars Joe
Connolly, Keith Lyons amongst the R5 cars.
In the National Rally all the big Escort brigade come out to play but
perhaps the person who will cause them most bother is from Donegal, as
last year’s Modified winner Kevin Eves returns in his Toyota Corolla
2.5, he has put in such an incredible drive & category win on both the
West Cork Rally & Easter Stages rallies to lead the championship
heading for Killarney. Local man Rob Duggan is fresh from a win in the
Killarney Historic Rally in December, he has hired an ultimate 2.5
Escort and will be hard to beat over the classic stages. Barry Meade
is a previous Modified winner and will be incredibly quick also. Past
winner Wesley Patterson will also be a strong contender, as will the
legendary Phil Collins who makes the trip from Herefordshire to the
stages he loves so well and where he has enjoyed considerable success
over the past 32 years. Other top entries include: Vincent MsSweeney,
Jack Newman, Gary Kiernan, Liam Howlett, John O’Donnell, Enda O’Brien,
Eugene Megan.
The battle for the John Mullane Cup for the highest placed driver from
Co Kerry will be as closely contested as it has been since the award
was first introduced in the very early days of the Rally of the Lakes.
Top crews include: Charlie Hickey, Kevin O’Donoghue, Denis Hickey,
Tadgh O’Sullivan, Fergus O’Meara, John Hickey, Ed Murphy, Con Lucey,
Noel O’Sullivan and Vincent O’Shea. A strong Historic & Junior Entry
has already been received. The Historic’s will contest the whole
event, while the juniors will contest the rally on Saturday.
The May bank holiday weekend is near and the Cartell.ie Rally of the
Lakes is the place to be.
Killarney & District Motor Club, organisers of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes have announced details of this year’s event which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend 4th – 6th May.
The 39th Rally of the Lakes will be counting rounds of the:
Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship
Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship.
Killarney Businessman Dermot Healy has taken on the role of COC for his sixth year. Dermot, who is very much respected in the town of Killarney for his incredible voluntary and charity work, has put together a strong organising committee and operations are well under way. Dermot explains: the route stages are the most famous classic route of stages available and these demanding, technical and challenging stages should test each competitor to their full ability. While also maintaining the unique classic stages that the Rally of the Lakes holds worldwide, our main aim is to bring the Rally back in and around the Killarney town area and we have achieved this with our Sunday loop of stages.
Once again for their ninth consecutive year Ireland’s leading vehicle history record company Cartell.ie return’s as the main title sponsor of the Rally of the Lakes 2018. Including additional support from Killarney Advertiser, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Gleneagle Hotel Group, who have been supporters of the Rally of the Lakes for many years and continue as Associate Sponsors.
The Rally of the Lakes is firmly established as one of Ireland’s premier rally events. It gives a major boost to the businesses of the town and the local economy. TV coverage alone is beamed to 38 countries with an estimated 30 million household subscribers. Dermot remarked: “This exposure is fantastic for Killarney and the Rally of the Lakes and it hugely increases our attraction as an international event for competitors and spectators to enjoy”.
Features of this year’s event:
Official Rally Launch on Sunday 15th April at Brehon Hotel Killarney.
Rally Headquarters Gleneagle Hotel Killarney
Ceremonial start
The Best classic stages in Ireland
Total of 16 stages
240Km of stage competition.
Centralised service each day.
Complete New stages introduced this year.
Including such Classic stages as: Molls Gap, Beallaghbeama, Cods Head & Ardgroom.
Juniors get a full day rallying on Saturday consisting of 8 Stages.
The three-day event will begin with a ceremonial start in Killarney’s town centre at 7pm on Friday 4th May. Plans are at an advanced stage to create a motorsport festival on the streets of Ireland’s most famous town.
The real action will commence early on Saturday morning with the iconic Molls Gap, followed by the Tim Healy Pass and centralised service in Castletownbere Pier. Then it’s time to head out on the famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the Healy Pass and into service for a well deserved break. Cods Head and Ardgroom are repeated and a blast through the Kilmakilloge harbour stage to finish off the day.
Sunday Morning starts with Molls Gap once again, followed by the mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass, Then into service at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney. This Loop is of Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama Pass is repeated with the inclusion of a new version of the fast flowing Shanera stage called Brook Hill. It’s into service once again before heading out to the Spectator friendly loop of Rossanean, Brook Hill and Rossanean again as the final stage. The crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Head Quarters - The Gleneagle Hotel at 17.30 for Celebrations and Champagne.
Preliminary Details
Posted: March 26, 2018 12:51 PM
COC: Dermot Healy
Saturday: Classic Stages in the Beara Peninsula
Sunday: Centralised around Killarney.
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