RALLY OF THE LAKES REVS INTO KILLARNEY THIS FRIDAY
Posted: April 26, 2022 10:17 AM
The build-up is finally coming to an end as the International Rally of the Lakes is set to roar into Killarney this coming weekend.
The rally, in its 41st edition, is set to attract 10’s of thousands of spectators to the town for what is sure to be a festival-like atmosphere over the May Bank Holiday Weekend. The rally returns for the first time in 3 years, as the 2020 and 2021 events had to be put on hold due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.
The rally has a range of title sponsors for the 2022 event and without their generous support, there would be no rally. Rentokil Initial, Aherns.ie Motorgroup, The Gleneagle Hotel and OSI have all joined forces to ensure the rally remains viable in what is a difficult return to action for both rallying and the businesses themselves following the pandemic.
The 2022 edition is set to be one of the best yet, with up on 200 cars and crews set to tackle Killarneys iconic stages, some of which are on every rally competitor’s bucket list to complete. The rally kicks off on Friday evening, with a ceremonial start ramp on Main Street. The first car is due over the ramp at 7 pm & with a huge crowd expected, rally organisers advice is to get there early to avoid any disappointment. Radio Kerry DJ Ivan Hurley will be on land to get Main Street rocking in anticipation of the arrival of the competing cars.
The rally proper starts Saturday in the late morning, with runs over Kilsarcon, Banard and Gortnagane, before a trip to service in Liebherr Container Cranes. Crews will once again tackle those 3 stages in the afternoon. Rally traffic can be expected in Kilcummin, Scartaglin, Gneeveguilla, Rathmore and Barraduff on Saturday.
After an overnight halt in Killarney, competitors will have the daunting task of Molls Gap and Ballaghbeama to negotiate in the morning, each stage being run twice. The afternoon will see the crews fight for the rally win on ‘Shanera’ and ‘Caragh Lake’, where overall and class winners will be crowned Killarney’s champions. Sunday traffic will be in the Muckross, Glencar, Beaufort and the Killorglin areas.
The crews will then make their way to Rally HQ, The Gleneagle Hotel for a champagne celebration on the Finish Ramp before a trophy presentation later on that evening at a function that evening.
Commenting on the final week of preparations, the main rally organiser and COC Darren McCormick said
‘Preparations for the rally are now at the advanced stage and we cannot wait to welcome crews and spectators to the town next weekend’. Darren added ‘We are mindful of the residents of the town so we ask everyone who comes to Killarney next weekend to leave the town the way you found it, bring your litter home and ‘Keep the Race in its Place’’
Last week, President of the Killarney Chamber of Commerce, Niall Kelleher, welcomed the return of the rally, stating that the rally is worth upwards of 10 million to the local economy and that the international rally is ‘right up there’ in major events for the town. Local businesses can be expecting a major windfall from the event and hotel rooms are at a premium for the ‘must attend’ event.
There is a top-quality entry received for the event, which is a counting round to the ‘Acesigns’ Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, The IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship and Moriarty’s Centra Kingdom of Kerry Championship. First on the road will be Josh Moffett. The Monaghan man, who won his home event just on Sunday last, will be looking to extend his lead at the top of the championship. Alastair Fisher, who is fresh from victory on the last counting round of the championship in West Cork is also a free event favourite, as is Callum Devine. 2019 winners Craig Breen and Paul Nagle won’t be in a position to defend their title, as the Waterford/Kerry pair now have a full-time drive with M-Sport Ford in the sports top level, the World Rally Championship.
It is a similar story in the Modified section, as Chris Armstrong is unable to compete in the weekend’s action. But, there is sure to be stiff competition for rally honours from the likes of Gary Kiernan, James Stafford, Daniel McKenna and local competitors Rob Duggan and Colin O Donoghue.
First Historic on the road is Alan Ring, who finished second at the Killarney & District Motor Club ran Historic rally in November while the junior category has multiple Kerry names of interest, none more so than Jason Farrell, who leads the Junior Irish Tarmac Rally Championship coming into his home event.
Seeded Entry Lists
Posted: April 22, 2022 5:16 PM
Main Field
1 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
2 Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
3 Callum Devine/Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
4 Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
5 Cathan McCourt/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
6 Jonathan Greer/TBA (Citroen C3 Rally2) [RC2]
7 Declan Boyle/James O'Reilly (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
8 Daniel Cronin/Shane Buckley (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
9 David Guest/Jonathan McGrath (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
10 Owen Murphy/Anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
11 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (VW Polo GTI R5) [RC2]
12 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [RC2]
13
14 Aidan Wray/Niall Burns (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
15 Keith Lyons/JJ Cremin (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
16 Andrew Purcell/Martin Brady (Skoda Fabia R5) [24]
17 David Kelly/Dean O'Sullivan (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
18 Robert Duggan/Ger Conway (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
19 James Stafford/TBA (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
20 Colin O'Donoghue/Kieran O'Donoghue (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
21 Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [14]
22 Gary Kiernan/Daren O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
23 Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
24 Declan Gallagher/TBA (Toyota Starlet RWD) [14]
25 Simon Reid/John Murphy (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
26 Michael O'Brien/TBA (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
27 Jason McSweeney/Liam Brennan (Ford Fiesta R5) [24]
28 Stuart Biggerstaff/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
29 Conor Murphy/Sean Collins (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
30 Aidan Buckley/John Falvey (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
31 Jack Newman/Andrew Browne (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
32 Conlon Raymond/Damien Fleming (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [13]
33 Denis Moynihan/Martin O'Brien (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
34 Colin O'Rourke/Shane Gilhooly (VW Polo GTI R5) [22]
35 Colin Byrne/Stephen Quin (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
36 Richard Moffett/Darragh Kelly (Toyota Starlet RWD) [14]
37 Mike Quinn/Kieran Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
38 Vivian Hamill/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
39 Eugene Meegan/TBA (BMW CSL) [14]
40 Mark Dolphin/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
41 Gareth Black/Connor Dunlop (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
42 Tom Flaherty/Paul Horan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
43 Eddie Doherty/Cathal Nolan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
44 Jason O'Mahony/Jonathan O'Mahony (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
45 Sean Moran/Jonathan Keane (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
46 Andrew Duggan/Tara Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
47 Richard Cleary/Niamh Holland (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
48 Johnny O'Connor/Michael Breen (Mitsubishi Mirage RS) [20]
49 John Lynch/Michael Coady (Skoda Fabia) [20]
50 Jer O'Donovan/Sean Hayde (Skoda Fabia S2000) [RC2]
51 Kevin O'Donohoe/John McElhinney (BMW M3) [14]
52 Vincent O'Shea/Alistair Wyllie (Darrian T90) [14]
53 Tadhg O'Sullivan/John McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
54 Charlie Hickey/Barry Meade (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
55
56 Denis Hickey/Sean Nolan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
57 Thomas Randles/Diarmuid Lynch (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
58 Sean Moynihan/Aileen Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
59 William Mavitty/Des Sherlock (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [RC2]
60 Joe Connolly/Brian Connolly (Hyundai i20 R5) [RC2]
61 George Gass/Keith McCarthy (Porsche GT3) [20]
62 Sean Sharkey/Martin Byrne (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
63 Aidan Caldwell/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
64 Gary Reidy/Frank Sweeney (Ford Fiesta R5) [RC2]
65 Kevin O'Sullivan/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
66 Cian Walsh/Ben Teggart (Toyota Corolla) [13]
67 Andrew Lehane/Cliff Desmond (Honda Civic) [13]
68 Colin Moynihan/Kevin Horgan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
69 Ken Lyons/Paddy McDonnell (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [14]
70 John Hickey/Maurice McElligot (Fubaru Escort RS 4x4) [20]
71 Patrick O' Connor/Tommy Moynihan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
72 Mark Murphy/Michael Hamilton (Toyota Starlet) [11R]
73 Darren Young/Sean Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
74 Justin Comer/Adrain Comer (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
75 Fergal McGuigan/Mark McGeehan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
76 Walter Dick/Frank Curtin (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
77 Bob Moran/Eoin Collins (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
78 Jason Dickson/TBA TBA (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
79 Ryan Caldwell/Grace O'Brien (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
80 Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC2]
81 Joseph Kelly/TBA (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [2]
82 James Boland/John McCay (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
83 Casey Jay Coleman/Adam Coffey (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [RC4]
84 Nigel Roche/Graham Roche (Honda Civic) [11F]
85 Niall O'Connell/Tommy O'Connor (Citroen C2 R2 MAX) [11F]
86 Seamus O'Grady/Kieran Rafter (Renault R3 Maxi) [13F]
87 Llyr Jones/Dylan Doonan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
88 Ciaran Phelan/Aine Phelan (Honda Civic Type R) [13]
89 Raymond Spence/Ger Somers (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
90 Aaron McEvoy/Eugene Cronin (Ford Escort G3) [12]
91 Raymond O'Neill/Padraig Donovan (Ford Escort) [12]
92 Kevin Cole/Bernard Farrell (Ford Escort) [12]
93 Cyril Wharton/Donal Falvey (Ford Escort) [12]
94 Sean Hickey/Noel Fleming (Toyota Starlet RWD) [12]
95 Eibhinn Russell/Paul Dowling (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
96 Steve Roberts/Jack Carroll (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
97 Michael P Kelleher/Iarla McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
98 PJ O'Dowd/Patrick Lawlor (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
99 Creamer Paul/TBA (Honda Civic VTi) [11F]
100 Brian Doherty/David Fleming (Ford Fiesta R2) [11F]
101 Pat Sheehan/Denny O'Riordan (Renault Clio) [22]
102 Ger O'Brien/John Liston (Ford Escort) [13]
103 Richie Dalton/Ger Brett (Subaru Impreza N11) [22]
104 Gavin Sheill/Ken Blanche (Ford Fiesta ST) [22]
105 Shane Dillon/Seaghán Hickey (Honda Civic) [11F]
106 Eamon O'Connell/Paul Bruton (Ford Escort) [11R]
107 Paul O'Connell/Brian Quinlan (Ford Escort) [11R]
108 Bobby Hennessy/Sarah Hennessy (Honda Civic) [13]
109 Sean Enright/Kevin Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
110 Steven O'Connor/Darren O'Connor (Honda Civic) [11F]
111 Donagh Crowley/Timmy Kelly (Toyota Starlet) [11F]
112 Justin McCauley/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
113 Mark O'Connor/Dean Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
114 Michael Cahill/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort) [11R]
115 David Healy/Stephen McGing (Honda Civic eg6) [11F]
116 Pat Price/Andy Curran (Subaru Impreza N12B) [22]
117 Aidan Long/Rory O'Donoghue (Subaru GC8 group A) [15]
118 Jack Kelleher/TBA (Ford Fiesta) [22]
119 Cullinane Anthony/Liam Dennehy (Honda Civic Vtec) [11F]
120 Shane Casey/Séamus McHugh (Honda Civic) [11F]
121 Michael (Ray) Stack/Stack Gene (Ford Escort) [13]
122 Roy Baldrick/Dermot Friel (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
123 Anthony Breen/Jill Breen (Subaru Impreza) [15]
124 Denis Nagle/Brian Rowan (Nissan Micra) [9]
125 Paudie O'Callaghan/Danny Murphy (Toyota Starlet RWD) [9]
126 Noel O'Sullivan/Nicholas Burke (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
127 Richard Hickey/TBA (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
128 Adrian Cannon/Bernard Gallagher (Ford Escort G3) [12]
129 Mike Neligan/John Hurley (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
130 Alan Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
131 Aoife Raftery/TBA (Ford Fiesta) [RC2]
132 Barry O'Brien/Declan Buttimer (Honda Civic) [11F]
133 Ian Hynes/Martin Mahon (Honda Civiv ep3) [22]
134 Jason Russell/TBA (Honda EG6) [11F]
135 Etienne O'Sullivan/Donnchadh Burke (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
136 Ross Hilliard/Joey Hilliard (Honda Civic) [11F]
137 Sean Kenny/Tommy Hayes (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
138 Sam Leech/Barry Attridge (Opel Corsa) [10]
139 Kieran Baverstock/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
140 Colm Forde/TBA (Honda Civic ep3) [13]
141 Derek Flynn/Killian Cronin (Honda Civic EK4) [23]
142 Shane Doyle/William Kelliher (BMW E30) [11R]
143 Cian Hynes/Martin Mahon (Honda Civic ep3) [22]
144 Donal Flynn/Greaney Denny (Toyota Corolla RWD) [11R]
145 Andy Heekin/Sara McFadden (Subaru Impreza) [15]
146 Aaron Maxwell/Eddie Moffitt (Renault Clio) [13]
147 Gavin Walsh/Mark O'Regan (Renault Clio) [22]
148 Alan McGough /Paudie Devane (Peugeot 206 GTi) [11F]
149 Niall Myers/Colm Myers (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
150 Cyril Casey/Mick Lonergan (Ford Fiesta R2) [22]
151 PA O'Mahony/Shauna O'Mahony (Honda Civic) [22]
152 Donal Dinneen/Brian Keohane (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [11R]
153 Kieran Fitzgerald/Denis O'Leary (Toyota Starlet) [11F]
154 Maurice Kennelly/TBA (Ford Escort) [12]
Juniors
J1 Jason Farrell/John McCarthy (Honda Civic) [16]
J2 Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [16]
J3 Robbie O'Hanlon/Liam Egan (Honda Civic) [16]
J4 Darragh O'Donovan/Michael White (Honda Civic) [16]
J5 Ronan Lacey/Derry Long (Honda EG6) [16]
J6 John Fleming/Brian A O'Donoghue (Honda EG6) [16]
J7 Evan McEvoy/Padraig Twomey (Honda Civic) [16]
J8 Anthony O'Driscoll/Eoin Corcoran (Honda Civic) [16]
J9 John Michael Kennelly/Brendan Behan (TBA TBA) []
J10 Alan O'Sullivan/Mark Doody (Honda Civic) [16]
J11 Gary Healy/Gearoid Moynihan (Honda Civic EK4) [16]
J12 Damien Nagle/David Gleeson (Honda Civic) [16]
J13
J14 John Nagle/Keith Naughton (Honda Civic) [16]
J15 Jamie O'Rourke/Patrick Brislane (Honda EG6) [16]
J16 Chris Browne/Michael Browne (Honda Civic EK4) [16]
J17 Cian Hynes/Noel Manion (Toyota Yaris) [16]
Historics
H1 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Legacy RS) [K]
H2 Neil Williams/Anthony O'Sullivan (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H3 James Ford/Neil Shanks (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H4 Ian Barrett/Paul McGee (BMW E30 M3) [K]
H5 Meirion Evans/Dale Furniss (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H6 Duncan Williams/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H7 Ray Breen/TBA (Subaru Legacy RS) [19]
H8 Maurice Meskell/Stephen Meskell (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H9 Fergus O'Meara/Ronald Riordan (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H10 Luke McCarthy/Brian Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [K]
H11 Ray Hillard/Megan Costello (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H12 Todd Falvey/Declan Casey (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H13
H14 Craig Macwilliam/Guy Macwilliam (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H15 Pat Looney/Amy Burke (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H16 John O'Reilly/Nick Sparks (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H17 Peadar Walsh/Grace Walsh (Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600) [C5]
H18 Philip McKibbin/Commane Tommy (Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000) [C3]
H19 Robert Falvey/John Doody (Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000) [D3]
H20 Brendan Brosnan/Eilish Dunne (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H21 Alan Watkins/Eoghan McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2 RS2000) [D3]
H22 Noel Doyne/James Murtagh (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H23 Berian Richards/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800) [D5]
H24 Brian Crawford/Finian Hannigan (Talbot Sunbeam) [D2]
H25 Donal O'Connor/TBA (Ford Escort Mk1 RS2000) [C3]
H26 Ivan Warwick/Claire Rodgers (Audi Quattro) [K]
H27 John Newman/TBA (Triumph 2.5 PI) [C4]
H28 Iarla Carty/Jack Carty (Vauxhall Nova) [E2]
Rally of the Lakes launched in style on Sunday in Killarney
Posted: April 12, 2022 4:55 AM
Photo: KDMC
Killarney and District Motor Club, organisers of the upcoming 2022 International Rally of the Lakes have announced details of the event which has attracted a large entry to date.
The 41st edition of the event is a counting round of:
‘Acesigns’ Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship
Moriarty’s Centra Kingdom of Kerry Championship
The 2022 edition of the International Rally of the Lakes has 3 title sponsors. Ireland’s Pest Experts Rentokil Initial, headed by local man Michael O Mahony, Aherns.ie Motor Group which is home to BMW, Mazda, Seat and Opel in Kerry and our longstanding loyal supporters the Gleneagle Hotel.
2022 Clerk of the Course is Darren McCormick, who is the first-ever second-generation COC of the rally, has announced a compact, centralised route with stages in close proximity to Killarney town. The two-day International event is sure to attract a large number of spectators to the area in what is set to be the start of the tourism season in Killarney.
The rally will roll into the town centre on Friday evening, with a ceremonial start to take place on Main Street from 7 pm. This family-friendly event is a great chance to see the cars and drivers up close in a safe controlled environment.
The stages commence late on Saturday morning with a run over classic East Kerry stages Kilsarcon, Banard and Gortnagane before crews return to service in Liebherr container cranes to ensure the cars are ready to tackle the same loop stages later Saturday afternoon.
It’s an early start on Sunday Morning as crews head to the iconic Molls Gap, Ireland's most famous rally stage before tackling the challenging Ballaghbeama test. After a trip into service, the competitors will test themselves once again on these two stages.
The rally concludes with the fast-flowing Shanera and Caragh Lake stages, both running twice to determine who becomes the 2022 International Rally of the Lakes winner.
A ceremonial finish ramp at 6 pm at Rally HQ will give the winning competitors a chance to celebrate victory with the spectators before the trophies will be presented at the prizegiving ceremony Sunday night.
To date, 200 entries have been received with a top-class field of crews set to tackle the Rally of the Lakes. Entries will remain open until the 18th of April. There is an era of R5 cars entered with each vying for the overall honours. Championship leader Josh Moffett, along with the 2019 podium positioned Alastair Fisher and Callum Devine all set to do battle, among others, at the front.
2019 National winner Chris Armstrong comes to Killarney to defend his 2019 victory. 2022 Galway International winner Gary Kiernan and the Milkman Declan Gallagher will also be looking for class 14 honours but will be strongly contested by locals Rob Duggan, Colin O Donoghue & his father Kevin, Charlie Hickey, Denis Hickey, Eoin Duffin, Conor Murphy, Mike Quinn, Vincent O Shea, Tommy Randles, Tadhg O Sullivan.
Local man Alan Ring is attempting to defend his 2019 Historic class win in his Subaru Legacy but is sure to meet some strong opposition on the 12 stages. Todd Falvey, Fergus O Meara, Robert Falvey, Pat Looney just to name a few men with local knowledge who are sure to flirt with the rally win all weekend.
Current championship leader and KDMC Clubman Jason Farrell will be hoping to stay at the top of the junior standings coming over Sunday's finish ramp but is sure to have some stiff competition from other crews. John Nagle, Damien Nagle, John Fleming, Gary Healy, Chris Browne and Jamie O Rourke head up a very strong local entry list.
The International Rally of the Lakes takes place on April 29th, 30th and May 1st so get your entry in, get your accommodation booked and we will see you all in Killarney for what is set to be one to remember!
3 new title sponsors for International Rally of the Lakes
Posted: February 1, 2022 12:22 PM
Killarney and District Motor Club are delighted to announce new sponsors for the 2022 International Rally of the Lakes.
The rally will have 3 title sponsors for the 2022 edition of the event, with Rentokil Initial and Aherns.ie Motor Group becoming sponsors of the event for the first time while The Gleneagle Hotel and Apartments and Ordnance Survey Ireland continue their dedicated support to the rally.
The 2022 International Rally of the Lakes will comprise of 15 stages in a mix of classic Killarney stages as well as multiple brand new stages which will be sure to challenge the most experienced crews in the country.
Speaking about the announcement, Michael O Mahoney, Managing Director of Rentokil Initial said
"I am thrilled to now also be associated with the Rally of the Lakes, especially, given that the Rentokil Initial brand is already indelibly embedded in the Killarney Historic Rally. It’s further example of how a global brand can act locally!"
It is also the first time Aherns Motor Group have come on board as associate sponsors to the Rally of the Lakes.
Paul Ahern, Head of business with Aherns.ie Motor Group, said
"Aherns Motor Group are proud to sponsor the Rally of the lakes which has always been the top international Rally in Ireland with the best stages in Europe the ultimate challenge for any Rally crew. It is great to see the rally back after a tough two years for the country and everyone, so hopefully it will bring a bit of joy back for the crews and fans and give a good boost to the local economy in Kerry.We are a local company based in Castleisland and are grateful for the support our customers have given us over the years and we have been involved in the Rally for many years as competitors, stage sponsors and program sponsors so it is great to now support the event as official sponsors as all the brands we represent including SEAT and Mazda have a rich history in motorsport and BMW and Opel have also won previous Rally of the Lakes and many of our customers get great enjoyment from the event also huge thanks has to go to the motor club for getting the Lakes back on the road and I’m sure they will make this years Rally one of the best yet."
Patrick O Donoghue, Owner of The Gleneagle Hotel said
"After a two year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we are delighted to welcome the rally back to the Gleneagle and the town of Killarney. It has been a challenging number of years for everybody and the May Bank Holiday Weekend was not the same without the Rally of the Lakes being ran in the town. Darren and his team are busy planning the event and I would like to wish them all the best as event begins to take shape"
2022 will mark a special year for the event, as the first second generation Clerk of the Course takes charge of the event. Darren McCormick, whos father Gary McCormick previously took charge of the event said
"After 2 years with no rallying due to the Covid pandemic, It is fantastic to be able to welcome our new sponsors Rentokil Initial and Aherns Motor Group on board along with our long term sponsors The Gleneagle Hotel and Ordnance Survey Ireland as Sponsors of the 2022 International Rally of the Lakes. Plans are well underway for this year's event where we have decided to choose a compact route with stages in close proximity to Killarney, taking in some of the most challenging classic stages along with adding new stages over the 2 day event with centralized service each day.
Killarney and District Motor Club Chairman Dan Keane added
"I am very grateful to Darren and his hardworking team for their hard work so far in what is shaping up to be a fantastic event. I would also like to thank Rentokil Initial, Aherns.ie Motor Group, The Gleneagle Hotel and OSI who, in extremely challenging times, have generously sponsored the event. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to Killarney on the May Bank Holiday.
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