Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally - 6 Apr 14

In Car

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:45 PM

Kenny McKinstry & Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) SS7


Kevin Kelleher & Mark Kane (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) SS4


Derek Butler & Aaron O'Regan (Honda Civic) SS7


Donal O'Brien & Stephen Quinn (Ford Escort G3) SS5


Mike Quinn & Donal Balfe (Ford Escort MkII) SS6


Cormac Phelan & Katja Auhl (Honda Civic) SS5

Video Clips

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:44 PM

Photos

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:32 PM

crspics.com - Counihan Rallysport Pictures
TMC Photography
James Burke Motorsport Photography

BOYLE IS KING IN KERRY

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:29 PM

REIGNING Dunlop National Rally champions Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru WRC) took an emphatic victory in the Tralee based Fels Points Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, the second round of the series.

Dominating all nine stages they finished a minute and 56.3 seconds in front of the Subaru WRC of British crew Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank. The Cork/Derry duo of Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) were a minute and 4.3 seconds further behind.

Several of the top ten retired during the event, amongst them European Rally Championship leaders, Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Peugeot 208 T16), who slid off the road on the fifth stage.

On the opening stage, Mount Eagle, to the east of Castleisland, Boyle was quickest - 5.5 seconds ahead of Breen with Hunter 9.7 seconds further behind in third. James Stafford in his rear wheel drive Darrian T90 was fourth overall in a top six completed by the Subaru of Kevin Kelleher and Daragh O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta WRC). Sam Moffett in his Fiesta that was converted to Regional Rally Car (RRC) specification, was seventh.

Boyle also dominated the remaining two stages of the loop, Headley’s Bridge and Kielduff and returned to the Tralee service park with a commanding lead of 44.5 seconds. However, the rally leader remarked that the tyre compound he had selected was far too soft. Meanwhile, second placed Hunter reckoned his Subaru was down on power along with having fuel pressure problems during the entire loop of stages. Kevin Kelleher (Subaru WRC) was quite happy with his third place position and opined that he had made the right tyre selection.

Hot on the heels of the Cork driver was James Stafford even though his Darrian had a transmission glitch on the second stage, he was only three tenths of a second behind Kelleher.

Daragh O’Riordan changed the spark plugs after the opening stage where his Ford Fiesta WRC developed a misfire, he was a minute and 14.4 seconds of the lead. Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) was untroubled in sixth.

Meanwhile, Craig Breen arrived at the service park having smashed the rear window following a heavy landing over a jump on the second stage. The car suffered a broken drive shaft at the start of the third stage and he dropped down to seventh overall. Sam Moffett admitted he was struggling to get to grips with the Fiesta RRC and the car was too soft. “It’s bottoming out a lot and it is taking time to get accustomed to these controlled tyres.” The Subaru WRC’s of Niall Maguire and Paddy McVeigh completed the top ten.

Elsewhere, Roy White crashed on the opening stage and although he re-joined under Rally2, his opportunities of netting Dunlop points had evaporated. There was considerable change during the second loop, third placed Kelleher made his exit on S.S. 5 when his Subaru stopped with transmission failure. Breen slid his Peugeot 208 T16 off the road on the same stage while Kevin Barrett, who was eleventh entering the stage, stopped with a clutch malady. A stage earlier, Group N leader, Alan Ring retired his Subaru with gearbox problems at the beginning of the stage.

Meanwhile, a trio of fastest stage times allowed Boyle extend his lead over Hunter to a minute and 26.3 seconds. The rally leader had changed the tyres to a harder compound and also stiffened the suspension. Hunter’s Subaru still suffered with low fuel pressure and he lost significant time on the faster sections of the stages. An untroubled Stafford moved in the third and was followed by a somewhat downbeat Daragh O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta WRC). Kenny McKinstry was fifth as Sam Moffett continued to acclimatise to the Fiesta RRC. The Subaru WRC duo of Niall Maguire and Paddy McVeigh slotted into seventh and eighth respectively. The final places in the top ten were occupied by Steve Wood (Subaru) and Mike Quinn (Escort), who led the battle of the Escorts with Killarney driver Ed Murphy just 3.5 seconds behind.

Boyle eased off on the final stage to take his second victory of the series. Hunter claimed his first batch of Dunlop points with O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta WRC) taking third following the demise of James Stafford, who crashed out on the penultimate stage.

Kenny McKinstry in his first outing in a left hand drive car in almost six months came home in fourth place followed by Sam Moffett, who was quite pleased with his shakedown for the Circuit of Ireland Rally.

Tyrone’s Paddy McVeigh (Subaru WRC) made up a few places to claim sixth place and garnered enough Dunlop points to move into second in the series. Former triple champion Niall Maguire (Subaru) was seventh followed by British driver Steve Wood (Subaru WRC).

Killarney’s Ed Murphy (Escort) won the Modified category – his rival Mike Quinn (Escort) retired on S.S. 7 with mechanical failure. Tommy Doyle was the top Dunlop Championship registered two-wheel drive exponent.

Victory in the Group N category went to Dubliner Neil Tohill (Mitsubishi EvoIX). The Dunlop “Drive of the Day” was won by London based Mayo driver Anthony O'Brien and co-driver Aidan Gannon (Mitsubishi EvoVIII).

Roscommon’s Cormac Phelan/Katja Auhl (Honda Civic) won the Junior category and the Kerry combination of PJ O'Dowd/John Young (Talbot Sunbeam) took the laurels in the Historic section.

Boyles Dominates Kerry

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:27 PM

Donegal driver Declan Boyle, co-driven by his cousin Brian Boyle, took their Subaru Impreza World Rally car to a dominant victory on Sunday’s Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally.

Boyle lead from the start and afforded to back off over the final loop of three stages to take his third win out of three starts this season. He has now won the opening two rounds of the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship.

Welsh visitor Hugh Hunter and co-driver Andy Marchbank were second despite their Impreza suffering fuel pressure problems all day. Nevertheless, he gallantly admitted at the finish of the ninth stage event the even with a perfect car they would not have been able to stay with the winner’s pace at the head of the field.

Former Rally of the Lakes winner Darragh O’Riordan inherited third in a rally of high attrition. He was never happy with the times he was setting. A misfiring engine on the opening Mount Eagle stage was cured by fitting new spark plugs on the road section to stage two, Headley’s Bridge, only for the problem to reoccur several times later in the day.

Rally legend Kenny McKinstry enjoyed a trouble-free run to fourth in his Impreza WRC S14. Fifth placed Sam Moffat was out for the first time in his new Ford Fiesta Regional Rally Car and admitted it took a while to settle in to. He was also forcing himself to use the regulation control tyres used on European Championship events ahead of his planned participation of the Circuit of Ireland at Easter.

Paddy McVeigh overtook Niall Maguire over the latter few stages while Welsh visitor Steve Wood completed the top eight.

Breen appearance in Kerry

Factory driver Craig Breen brought his Peugeot Team and the brand new Peugeot 208 T16 to Tralee as part of a high speed test session ahead of their appearance on the Circuit of Ireland. They were very lucky to make the start after the car broke its gearbox in the hands of teammate Kevin Abbring during a private test session on the eve of the rally. A new gearbox was shipped in from France on Saturday evening a fitted by the crew late on Saturday night. Breen got off the a good start and was only five seconds off Boyle on the opening Mount Eagle stage. However his rally began to fall apart later in the loop, a broken front drive shaft was quickly followed by the rear windscreen smashing in the car after a heavy landing of a stage three, Kilduff, jump. He crashed out two stages later after misjudging a square junction and while there was limited damage inflicted on the car he was unable to extract it from the North Kerry hedge.

Leading retirements

It was a rally of high attrition and that same stage that claimed Breen also claimed several more front runners. Ballyduff-born Kildare man Kevin Barratt retired when the engine on his Impreza let go on junction 17 while the hard charging Kevin Kelliher, who was at one stage running as a high as third also disappeared in the stage.

Later, Darrian T90 driver, James Stafford, who up to this point had put in one of the drives of the rally, crashed out on stage seven. One stage later, local hero Mike Quinn was side-lined after his Ford Escort suffered a mechanical problem, costing him a potential top-ten place. Two wheel drive battle

Killarney-based Escort driver won a tight two-wheel battle over the Renault Clio of Tommy Doyle. Just 3.3 seconds separated the crews at end of the event. Quinn was in the mix to until hi stage eight demise while Frank Kelly , fresh from his top ten result on Rally Trinidad last week, survived a opening stage trip to the Kerry scenery to take third overall.

Kerry crews

As side from Quinn’s hard luck and Murphy’s class win there were plenty of other Kerry crews who had stories to tell after the day. Ed Synan and his Killflynn co-driver were 14th overall and third in class 14 despite clutch failure early in the event. Father and son team Charlie and Johnny Hickey fest they were not on the pace early in the day but got quicker as the day went on to finish 16th overall, one place ahead of Tom Relihan and Maurice McElligott in their Ford Escort Mk1. Knocknagoshel’s Mike Nelligan and John Hurley won the rear-wheel-drive 1600cc class while Mike and Paddy Costello, from Ballybunion, were second. Pat Barry and Stephen O’Connell, from Lisselton, separated the 1600cc runners in the overall standings in 22nd.

Firies crew Cyril Wharton and Helen Duggan won class 12 in their Ford Escort Mk2 from Glenflesk’s Denis Hickey and Eoin O’Leary. Paddy O’Rourke and Tony Healy, from Brosna, came home in 29th position. Local co-driver Keith McCarthy guided Limerick’s Pat Ryan to first in class nine. Jason Costelo and Garry Carrol were third in class 11R. Eddie Kennelly and Jonathan Keane were second in class 12 while Birmingham based Listowal man Joachim Buckley made his trip home worth while by winning class seven in his newly acquired Peugeot 306. Tralee’s Graham Kelliher and David O’Brien recorded their first-ever rally finish despite a coming together with a wall on the Headley’s Bridge stage in their hired Escort. Radio Kerry engineer Trevor Galvin retired early in the rally but was allowed re-join under Rally2 rules in his Subaru Impreza.

Leading local retirements included Alan Ring whose Impreza broke its gearbox off the start of stage four.

Historic rally

Tralee’s PJ O’Dowd and John Young, the defending Top Part West Coast historic rally champions, recorded their second historic national rally win of the year and are now clear leaders of this category in the national series. Tralee co-driver Paidraig Brick guided County Louth’s Phillip McKibben to second in this section.

O Brien drive of the day

London-based Sligo man Anthony O’Brien took the prestigious Dunlop Drive of the Day award on Sunday’s Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry in Tralee on Sunday.

The Mitsubishi Lancer driver admitted at the end of the rally that it was big surprise to get nominated for the award. He competes in class 20 and he started Sunday morning against some of the biggest names in Irish rallying.

Factory driver Craig Breen was using the rally as a test session for the forthcoming Circuit of Ireland , a counting round of the European Rally Championship, but his Peugeot test team elected to bring their test ca to Kerry and as that was not homologated it was forced to run in Class 20 alongside O’Brien’s machine. He also faced Roy White’s MG ZR. White arrived in Kerry holding second place overall in the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

However White Crashed out on stage one and Breen followed soon after (see main report) and that left O’Brien with a commanding lead in the class.

He said: “We came here to race John Folan who is on much the same pace as us but when I heard he withdrew his entry I said there is no way we will get a result on this rally given the massive opposition. Early in the day I broke and engine mounting after a heavy landing over a big jump and definitely thought all chances of a result were gone out the window.

He went on to finish 18th overall and record his best result in a national rally. He praised his team from CCS Race and Rally and his co-driver Aidan Gannon.

Meanwhile Birmingham based Listowal man Joachim Buckley made his trip home worth while by winning class seven in his newly acquired Peugeot 307.

Not Craig Breen’s Day in Kerry

Posted: May 25, 2014 6:26 PM

The Fel’s Point Circuit of Kerry Rally was the perfect event for Peugeot Rally Academy driver Craig Breen and Peugeot Sport to acclimatize the new 208 T16 to the bumpy tarmac roads of Irish rallying ahead of the upcoming ERC Circuit of Ireland Rally round four of the FIA European Rally Championship 2014.

After a day testing in the Kerry Mountains prior to the event Craig, currently the FIA-ERC championship leader was confident that the car set-up was good for the terrain but the actual rally was going to be very tough as the stages were fast and would suit the fifteen higher powered world car entries better due to their higher top speed. From the start it was the reigning Dunlop Irish National Rally Champion Declan Boyle that was setting the pace, the Donegal man setting a time 5.5 seconds quicker than Craig on the rain soaked opening stage in his Impreza WRC with his championship rival Hugh Hunter in a similar car taking third spot 9.7 seconds behind Craig. Boyle seemed to find something in reserve and stretched his lead out to 30.8 seconds over the 19.3km of the stage two and again it was Hunter in third but never far away. Craig ran into trouble on stage three that saw the Peugeot Rally Academy driver drop precious time and finish the first loop of the three stages seventh overall. As the sun came out in beautiful Co. Kerry the cars left the service park repaired and replenished to begin the second loop of the same three stages. As the roads dried status quo resumed with Boyle topping the time sheets closely followed by Craig 10.5 seconds behind. However it was on stage five that Craig’s rally came to an end when he slid off the road on a bend and beached the 208 T16 in a gripe. Both Craig and his co-driver Scott were unhurt but they could not get the car back onto the road despite their best efforts.

Although very disappointing for Craig, Scott, Peugeot Sport and indeed the Kerry Motor Club, it was a weekend that saw thousands of rally fans from all over the country flock to Tralee to see the new Peugeot 208 T16 in action before the FIA ERC Circuit of Ireland Rally on April 17th – 19th. For Peugeot Sport it was a chance to test and compete with the new car on the often underestimated Irish roads that no doubt gave them valuable knowledge of how the car behaves on Irish stages. And finally, it gave Craig Breen some important seat time ahead of what has to be one of his most important events this year. You can keep up to date about Craig by visiting www.craigbreen.com or www.peugeot-sport.com

Results

Posted: May 25, 2014 4:31 PM

1 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC) 63m 56s,
2 Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Subaru Impreza WRC) 65m 52s,
3 Daragh O’Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) 66m 57s,
4 Kenny McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 21s,
5 Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly (Ford Fiesta RRC) 67m 22s,
6 Paddy McVeigh/Gary McElhinney (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 43s,
7 Niall Maguire/Conor Foley (Subaru Impreza WRC) 67m 49s,
8 Steve Wood/Keith Moriarty (Subaru Impreza WRC) 68m 35s,
9 Ed Murphy/John McCarthy (Ford Escort MkII) 69m 11s,
10 Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Renault Clio R3+) 69m 14s.

Group N Production class: Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 72m 16s.

rally.ie Two wheel drive award: Ed Murphy/John McCarthy.

Historics:
1 P J O’Dowd/John Young (Sunbeam) 52m 42s,
2 Philip McKibbin/Padraig Brick (Escort) 54m 09s.

Juniors:
1 Cormac Phelan/Katja Auhl (Civic) 50m 17s,
2 Niall O’Sullivan/Carrie Moloney (Citroen C2) 52m 19s,
3 Paul Considine/Alan Lane (Civic) 52m 41s.

Leaders After
SS1-9 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1-9 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Full Results: results.shannonsportsit.ie (Angus Sealy)

Final Instructions / Time and Distance

Posted: April 1, 2014 11:03 PM

Available at:

Kerry Motor Club

Preview

Posted: March 31, 2014 3:32 PM

Intro

This weekend’s Fel’s Point Circuit of Kerry has attracted a top class entry.

Over 130 cars are set to contest the nine-stage Tralee based event, boasting one of the strongest entries seen on a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship since the halcyon days of the Celtic Tiger.

Close on 15 World Rally Cars, or equivalent, will set out from the Fel’s Point Hotel in the Kerry capital on Sunday morning ahead of nearly 150km of competitive action in the Brosna, Castleisland and Lyrecrompane areas of the county. There is also a very strong modified car entry with some of Ireland’s top Ford Escort Mk2 exponents on the entry list.

Championship battles

The Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry is the second round of both the Dunlop Irish National and Top Part West Coast championships and the top seeds are, in fact, the overall winners of the opening rounds of each series.

Defending national champion, Donegal man Declan Boyle, leads the field in the same Subaru Impreza World Rally Car that he drove to victory on last month’s Mayo Stages Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop series.

Welsh visitor, Hugh Hunter, a former British Trials and Rally Drivers Association champion across the Irish Sea, starts at two. The Impreza WRC driver is contesting the full Irish series for the first time but has already won several Irish events , including the Abbeyleix Stages, the opening round of the Top Part series in February.

Add in the likes of former Irish national champion Niall Maguire, Irish Tarmac champion Kenny McKinstry and Group N champion Roy White and the destination of top points in either series at the end of Sunday’s rally is anyone’s guess. Adding to the equation is the appearance of two Ford Fiesta World Rally Cars in the hands of former Rally of the Lakes winner Darragh O’Riordan and former Donegal International Rally winner Sam Moffett.

International flavour

The rally has benefited from its close proximity to the Circuit of Ireland Rally at Easter too.

The Belfast-based rally is a counting round of the FIA European Rally Championship this year and two drivers have elected to use Kerry as high-speed shakedown ahead of the international rally later in the month.

Waterford’s Craig Breen, a factory driver with the Peugeot Academy squad in France leads the European charge in the brand new Peugeot 208 T16. Breen got his hands on the car for the first time last weekend on the Acropolis Rally in Greece where he gave the car its first-ever victory.

The Peugeot Academy team come straight from Greece to Kerry to mark the car’s third-ever appearance on a rally anywhere in the world.

A second French Team, Delta Rally, will field former European Production Champion Robert Consani, in a Peugeot 207 Super 2000 and like Peugeot come direct from last weekend’s Acropolis Rally in Greece to Tralee.

Aside from Hunter, the rally has attracted a second Welsh driver in the shape of Steve Wood who will drive the same Impreza WRC that Darren Gass used to win the Circuit of Kerry three years ago.

Another driver making a roundabout trip to Kerry is former Top Part Champion Frank Kelly. The Tyrone driver brings his newly built Ford Escort to Tralee but, having sold his older car to a Trinidadian driver recently, took up the offer to contest Rally Trinidad at the weekend.

Irish emigrants to the UK make up a portion of the entry list too with Birmingham-based Listowal man Joachim Buckley making his first appearance in his home rally since 2008. London-based Sligo man Anthony O’Brien has also placed an entry in his Mitsubishi Lancer E9.

Modified

The modified section of the rally is always one of the mostly keenly fought and a firm favourite with the 1000s of fans who will line the route.

Leading this section is Wexford man James Stafford in his ultra-quick Darrian T90.

His chief opposition will come from the aforementioned Kelly and a brace of local drivers including former West Coast Champions Mick Quinn ( the winner of last November’s Kerry Winter Rally) and Shanagolden’s Ed Syan. Add in the likes of other Kerry crews like Fergus O’Meara, Charlie Hickey and Ed Murphy and Limerick drivers Paul Purtil and Edward O’Callaghan all in Ford Escort Mk2s, makes it impossible to predict the outcome of the this section of the rally.

Group N

Local ace, and of course, former Top Part West Coast Champion Alan Ring leads the Production car category in his Subaru Impreza. His principle competition should come from French visitor Robert Consani but it will depend on how quickly he adjusts to the undulating Kerry roads. Shane Maguire, another former West Coast champ, in his Impreza will also be in the mix.

Local crews

Kerry-based crews to look out for include Kilflyn’s Tom Relihan and Lisselton’s Pat Barry in their Ford Escorts. Current Dunlop National Junior champion Rob Duggan has stepped up to the main field this year and is the top seed in the 1600cc front-wheel-drive class. The Killarney driver will compete against Tralee’s Darren Young who is the National Championship’s category leader after last month’s Mayo Stages. Ballybunion’s Jason Costelloe makes a return after a hefty shunt on last November’s Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Rally.

Current West Coast Historic Rally champion PJ Dowd is another to step up the national league this season and he starts his home event as national and West Coast leader in his replica Colin McRae Talbot Sunbeam.

Local support

Events of this magnitude could not take place without the support of local business.

The Fel’s Point Hotel return for a seventh years as title sponsor and played a key role in bringing the Peugeot Factory team to Kerry.

The nine-stage rally is run over a loop three stages, run three times, with each of the individual stages afforded naming rights this year. Stage one is sponsored by Ahern’s Opel dealership in Castleisland, which will also host the annual Vauxhall/Opel owners club Kerry gathering on the eve of the rally. Ahern’s BMW division supports stage three while local automotive tuning and aftermarket supplier West Coast Tuning are the sponsors of stage two. Tralee Chamber Alliance has supported the event too as sponsor of the service park at the Fel’s Point Hotel.

Visiting international crews have received additional help from the Banna Beach Hotel and TLI in Abbeydorney.

Time table

The rally gets underway with a ceremonial start at the Fel’s Point Hotel at 9.05 on Sunday morning. Ahead of the 130-plus crews lie nine of the most demanding stages County Kerry has to offer.

The first stage Ahern’s Opel, near Brosna, gets under way at 9.57, followed by SS2, West Coast Performance Stage, at 10.35 and SS3, Ahern’s BMW, at 11.13.

The first car is due back at the Tralee Chamber Alliance Service Park at the Fel’s Point Hotel at 11.43. This loop is repeated twice more ahead of the finish ramp celebrations at the Fel’s Point Hotel at around 1700hrs. Full route details, including map and time table will be published in the event’s official programme which will be on sale throughout the town and county in the run up to the rally.

Seeded Entry List

Posted: March 31, 2014 2:55 PM

1 Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru Impreza WRC S12B) [8]
2 Hugh Hunter/Andy Marchbank (Subaru Impreza WRC S11) [8]
3 Craig Breen/Scott Martin (Peugeot 208 T16) [8]
4 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Ford Fiesta WRC) [8]
5 Roy White/James O'Brien (MG ZR S2500) [20]
6 Kenny McKinstry/Kenny Hull (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [8]
7 Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Subaru Impreza WRC S14) [8]
8 Niall Maguire/Conor Foley (Subaru Impreza WRC S11) [8]
9 Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Ford Fiesta RRC) [8]
10 Kevin Kelleher/Mark Kane (Subaru Impreza WRC S9) [8]
11 James Stafford/Amy Ryan (Darrian T90 TGR) [14]
12 Paddy McVeigh/Gary McElhinney (Subaru Impreza WRC S10) [8]
14 Steve Wood/Keith Moriarty (Subaru Impreza WRC S10) [8]
15 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
16 Quinn Mike/Donal Balfe (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
17 Robert Consani/Vincent Landais (Peugeot 207 S2000) [4]
18 Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
19 Eoin Doyle/Peter Brennan (Ford Focus WRC) [8]
20 Fergus O'Meara/Mikie Galvin (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
21 ED O'Callaghan/James McCarville (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
22 Shane Maguire/Martin McGarrity (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
23 Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Renault Clio R3) [13]
24 ED Synan/Denis O'Connell (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
25 Paul Purtill /Raymond Scott (Ford Escort) [13]
26 ED Murphy/John McCarthy (Ford Escort) [13]
27 Charlie Hickey/Johnny Hickey (Ford Escort RS) [14]
28 Robert Duggan/Ger Conway (Honda Civic) [11F]
29 David Murphy/John Gleeson (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
30 Vivian Hamill/Fleming Damien (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
31 Tom Relihan/Maurice McElligott (Ford Escort Mk1) [13]
32 Pat Barry/Stephen O'Connell (Ford Escort) [14]
33 Richard Whelan/David Mannion (Honda Civic) [11F]
34 Jonathan Folan/Ger Myers (Subaru Impreza N10) [20]
35 John Hickey/John McCarthy (Ford Escort 4x4) [20]
36 Eamonn McGuigan/Michael Moran (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
37 Anthony O'Brien/Aidan Gannon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
38 Jason Costello/Garry Carroll (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
39 Darren Young/Sean Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
40 David Carney/Ray Fitzpatrick (Citroen DS3 R3) [7]
41 Paddy O'Rourke/Tony Healy (Ford Escort) [13]
42 Sean Moran/Mark O'Sullivan (Toyota Corolla RWD) [13]
43 Declan McBrearty/Trevor Graham (Toyota Corolla GT) [11R]
44 Lloyd Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick (Austin Mini Cooper S) [9]
45 Stephen Greaney/Kieran Feeney (Ford Escort) [13]
46 Gus Kearney/Eddie O'Neill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
47 Neil Tohill/Gerard Tohill (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
48 Maurice Greaney/Mchugh Keith (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
49 John Collins/Peter McDonnell (Honda Civic Type R) [3]
50 Joe McCarthy/Jason O'Brien (Honda Civic Type R) [3]
51 Michael P Kelleher/John Doody (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
52 Eddie Kennelly/Jonathan Keane (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
53 Derek Butler/Aaron O'Regan (Honda SIR Vtec) [11F]
54 Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden (Ford Escort G3) [11R]
55 Mike Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
56 William Cavanagh/Olivia Coen (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
57 Cyril Wharton/Helen Duggan (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
58 Sean Liston/Katrina Walsh Liston (BMW E30) [13]
59 Donal O'Brien/Damian Flemming (Ford Escort G4) [13]
60 Eoin Woods/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
61 John Coughlan/Mark Parsons (Ford Escort Mk1) [12]
62 Ken Hogan/Patrick Curley (Honda Civic) [2]
63 Dermot Riordan/Jill White (Honda Civic) [11F]
64 John Murphy/Martin O'Connor (Subaru Impreza) [20]
65 Mike Dolan/TBA (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [11F]
66 Andrew Fanning/Derek Gibbs (Ford Puma S1600) [6]
67 PJ O'Dowd/John Young (Talbot Talbot sunbeam) [18]
68 Philip McKibbin/Padraig Brick (Ford Escort Mk1) [18]
69 Pat Price/Patrick (jnr) Price (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
70 Conor Walsh/Tom Walsh (Ford Focus RS) [7]
71 Andrew Slattery/TBA (Peugeot 208 R2) [6]
72 Pat Aherne/Mike Cleary (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
73 Pat Ryan/Jack Dalton (TBA TBA) [9]
74 Patrick Slattery/Alan Mulligan (Honda Civic) [11F]
75 Declan Gannon/Alan Leonard (Subaru Impreza) [8]
76 Kenneth Ryan/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
77 Eamon Barrett/Ken Kenneally (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
78 Mike Walsh/Ger Ryan (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
79 Mike Neligan/John Hurley (Toyota Corolla RWD) [11R]
80 Jason Roycroft/Nicole O'Shea (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
81 Richard Tannahill/TBA () [2]
82 Denis Dineen/Donal Dineen (Ford TBA) [12]
83 Paudie Casey/Gene Stack (Toyota Corolla RWD) [13]
84 Gerard Dineen/TBA (Toyota Starlet RWD) [12]
85 Mark Dolphin/Finbarr Quirke (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
86 Alan Dineen/Tony Dineen (Vauxhall Corsa B) [11F]
87 Kevin O'Sullivan/Martin O'Riordan (Subaru Impreza STI) [20]
88 Maurice Meskell/TBA (Toyota Celica ST185) [15]
89 Denis Hickey/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort) [12]
90 Jason Tuthill/Ben Taggart (Ford Escort Mk1) [11R]
91 Mikey Walsh/Michelle Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
92 Michael Ryan/TBA (Peugeot 206 Cup Car) [6]
93 Tadhg O'Connell/Frank Curtin (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
94 Conor Galvin/Tony McCarthy (Honda Civic) [11F]
95 Eoghain McMahon/Cathal Nolan (Toyota Corolla GTi) [11F]
96 Timmy Ahern/Paul Stack (Honda EG6) [11]
97 Liam Dennehy/John Lynch (Subaru Impreza STI) [20]
98 Denis Buckley/Declan Casey (Ford Escort) [10]
99 Brian Hassett/Padraig Egan (Toyota Corolla GTi) [11F]
100 Gavin Walsh/Sean O'Crowley (Honda Civic) [11F]
101 Grahm Kelliher/David O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
102 Maurice Browne/James Browne (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
103 Anthony Masterson/Tom Clinton (Ford Escort RS1600) [10]
104 Declan O'Regan/Joe Dunne (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
105 Stephen Coffey/Dave Devane (Ford Escort Mk1) [10]
106 Matthew Behan/ED Walsh (Peugeot 205) [10]
107 Jochim Buckley/James Foley (Peugeot 306 S16) [7]
108 Francis Kelly/Sinead O'Donavan (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
109 Donal McGrath/TBA (Toyota Corolla RWD) [11R]
110 Anthony Keating/Kevin Enright (Ford Escort G4) [9]
111 Jarlath Conneely/Michael Hynes (Honda Civic EK4) [2]
112 Anthony Whelton/Noel Crowley (Ford Escort) [10]
113 J Ivan Warwick/Evelyn Warwick (Audi Sport quattro SWB) [20]
114 Trevor Galvin/Vincent Hilliard (Subaru Impreza STI) [20]
115 Edward Kennedy/Maurice O'Connor (Peugeot 106 GTi) [11F]
116 John Browne/Sean O'Coileain (Honda Civic) [11F]
117 Dan Kellaher/Aileen Shanahan (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
118 Gavin O'Grady/Alan Moroney (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
119 James Kissane/Tim Kennelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
120 Conan O'Riordan/Cian O'Riordan (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
121 Marcin Mleczko/Tomasz Bachor (Opel Corsa) [9]

Juniors
J1 Richard Moore/Michelle Stafford (Honda Civic) [16]
J2 Niall O'Sullivan/Carrie Moroney (Citroen C2) [16]
J3 Damian O'Reilly/Damien McCabe (Ford Escort Mk2) [16]
J4 PA Horan/Lisa O'Dowd (Honda Civic) [16]
J5 Cormac Phelan/Katja Auhl (Honda Civic Type R) [16]
J6 John O'Flaherty/Tommy Commane (Toyota Starlet RWD) [16]
J7 Patrick Lawlor/Cian Dineen (Honda Civic) [16]
J8 Colin Roche/TBA (Toyota Starlet) [16]
J9 Ger Lyons/Steve O'Brien (Honda Civic eg6) [16]
J10 Kenneth Quirke/Seamus Skinner (Honda Civic) [16]
J11 Andrew Ryan/Tommy Hayes (Honda Civic) [16]
J12 Andrew Sheehan/Cian Corbert (Honda Civic eg6) [16]
J14 Considine Paul/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
J15 Brian Brady/Karl Kiernan (Peugeot 106 Rallye) [16]
J16 Brian Slattery/Eoin Doyle (Ford Escort Mk2) [16]
J17 Mark O'Looney/Anthony Breen (Honda Civic) [16]
J18 Ian Ryan/Connor Cagney (Honda Civic) [16]
J19 Sean McGrath/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]

Robert Consani enters Fel's Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry

Posted: March 31, 2014 2:48 PM

Former Intercontinental Rally Challenge Production Cup champion Robert Consani is the latest big name to sign up for the Fel’s Point Circuit of Kerry Rally.

The French driver will use the Tralee-based event, the second rounds of the Dunlop Irish National and the Top Part West Coast Rally championship as a shakedown for the European Rally Championship counting Circuit of Ireland Rally in Belfast two weeks later.

This will be Consani’s second trip to Ireland. He contested the 2012 Circuit of Ireland at the wheel of a Renault Megane RS on his way to the IRC (now known as the ERC) production title.

This year he has stepped up to the top European division and has acquired an ex-Bryan Bouffier Peugeot 207 S2000 for the 2014 campaign. Already this year he has finished ninth on the Jännerrallye in Austria in January, his first event in a four-wheel-drive car, and this weekend he is contesting the Acropolis Rally in Greece, the third round of the ERC.

His Delta Rally Team will leave Greece on Sunday morning and head straight to Tralee for the Fel’s Point Hotel-based event.

It was all a very last minute decision for Consani to enter the rally but once he heard about Peugeot factory driver Craig Breen’s participation he elected to follow suit and become the first Frenchman to contest the Circuit of Kerry.

Kerry Motor Club officials had to work behind the scenes too to make it happen and Marseilles-based driver was quick to praise the club for its efforts in bringing his team to Kerry at such short notice.

He said: “I am delighted to enter the Fel’s Point Circuit of Kerry next week. It's a great opportunity for me to drive on the particular Irish Tarmac prior to Circuit of Ireland. It will be my first time in Ireland with the Peugeot 207 S2000 and I cannot wait to be there. I have very good memories from the Irish roads and people, I hope I will be able to follow the local drivers’ pace and have a good training for the next ERC round. I would like to thank the organisers for their reactivity, help and kindness, as well as my own sponsors who are making that possible. See you soon Ireland."

Kerry Motor Club acknowledged help it received from local businesses like the Banna Beach Hotel and TLI in Abbeydorney who facilitated the French’s team participation in the Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally.

Entries are still available for the nine-stage event.

Entries Received

Posted: March 28, 2014 9:40 AM

Available at:

Kerry Motor Club

Seeding to Completed Thursday 27th of March

Posted: March 24, 2014 11:57 AM

The seeding for the Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally Rd 2 Dunlop National Rally Championship will take place on Thursday night next and the entry list will be published on Friday evening next.
More Details below.

RALLY LAUNCH AT FEL’S POINT HOTEL TRALEE

Posted: March 23, 2014 8:57 AM

Photo: RallyFocusMedia

This year’s Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry, the second rounds of the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship and The Top Part West Coast Rally Championship, is shaping up tobe a race of champions with several former rally championship winners across a range of different series entered into the April 6 event.

Leading the charge is former FIA World Academy winner 2011 and SWRC 2012 champion, Craig Breen who is using the second round of the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship as a high-speed test session, ahead of the European Rally Championship-counting Circuit of Ireland Rally, two weeks later, in the brand new Peugeot 208 T16. 

While Breen’s entry in a one off, the main focus of the nine-stage rally will concentrate on the battle for supremacy in the Dunlop National and Top Part West Coast series.

Last year’s Dunlop champion and current series leader Declan Boyle has already committed to the Tralee-based rally in his Subaru Impreza. He could be joined by the 2010 Irish National champion Melvyn Evans. The Welshman has placed an entry for the rally but his Subaru Impreza broke a drive shaft on the opening stage of the recent West Cork Rally and his appearance in Tralee depends on the on-time arrival of the replacement parts.

Hugh Hunter is another Welshman committed to both series, he won the opening Top Part West Coast Round in Abbeyleix in February but failed to make the finish of the Mayo Rally in early March.

Nevertheless the Subaru driver will bring plenty of form to Kerry – he is the 2006 British Trials and Rally Drivers champion and the past winner of several Irish events including last August’s Galway Summer Rally.

London-based Cork man, Mick O’Brien is also on the entry list in his Ford Focus WRC. He is the current Irish Forestry Rally champion and has won rallies on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Former Irish Tarmac Rally champion and two-time Rally of the Lakes winner Daragh O’Riordan will surely give the national boys a run for their money as will current National Group N champion Sam Moffett. Both of these drivers have entered the event in their Ford Fiesta World Rally Cars.

The Top Part West Coast Rally Championship is one of the most eagerly fought regional series in the country and several past champions including current champ Shane Magure are entered. Magurie’s chief opposition is likely to come from three local drivers who are also past West Coast Champions, namely Castleisland’s Alan Ring, Shanagolden’s Ed Synan and Lyreacrompane’s Mick Quinn , the winner of last November’s Kerry Winter Rally. This year the Tralee-based Top Part group celebrates its 21st season as series sponsor by offering a generous 7,000 euro prize fund.

The rally provides a welcome pre-tourist season boost to the town of Tralee and surrounding areas and already the rally HQ, the Fel’s Point Hotel, is fully booked out on the Saturday night of the event.

Entries are still available – details below.

Craig Breen to contest the Fel's Point Circuit of Kerry in new Peugeot 208 T16

Posted: March 19, 2014 8:25 PM

Peugeot Sport rally-ace Craig Breen is set to contest the Fel's Point Circuit of Kerry in the much-anticipated new Peugeot 208 T16, successor to the 207 S2000. Breen, FIA World Academy winner 2011 and SWRC 2012 champion, and co-driver Scott Martin are using the second round of the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship as a high-speed test session, ahead of the European Rally Championship-counting Circuit of Ireland Rally, two weeks later.

Waterford-man Breen, who has worked closely with Peugeot Sport on the development of the 208 T16, will compete for the first time in the new 208 T16 on the gravel roads of the Acropolis Rally in Greece on March 28th - 30th. Easter's Circuit of Ireland then marks the car's debut on an asphalt round of the ERC and Craig's appearance in Tralee on April 6 will allow him and his co-driver Scott Martin precious competition time to evaluate the machine, before taking on his European rivals in Belfast. The team come direct from Greece to Kerry and will field an asphalt specification car in Tralee.

It will mark the first time that Irish and British rally fans will get to see the new 208 T16 driven in anger, which is quite a coup for the Fel's Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry organiser, The Kerry Motor Club. Fans are expected to flock to Tralee from all corners of the country to witness the historic maiden appearance of one of the most important and eagerly anticipated rally cars to be launched on the world stage in recent years.

Breen, who is currently fifth in the European series added:
"I am so proud to be given this chance to unleash the new 208 T16 at a home rally. I know the car so well, as I was heavily involved in its development in my role at the Peugeot Rally Academy last year. Now it is time to put the lion to the test in an actual competition. I want to sincerely thank Peugeot Sport and my sponsors, Reens Car Sales Rathmore, Main Peugeot Dealers for Kerry and TOTAL, for their huge support."

Craig will appear at Reen's Car Sales Rathmore, with the new Peugeot 208 T16, on Saturday 5th April, ahead of the rally on Sunday.

The Fel's Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry has suddenly gained in stature as many of Breen's rivals and the world's motorsport media are now expected to keep a close eye on proceedings in Tralee and North Kerry on the weekend of April 5 and 6.

Fel's Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry clerk of the course Jonathan O'Shea said:
"A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to make this happen. Kerry Motor Club is very proud to be part of this historic motorsport occasion and we look forward to offering a strong Kerry Motor Club welcome to our new French friends. The rally is already shaping up be a classic with all of the main Dunlop National contenders, like leader Declan Boyle already signed up. We have a huge overseas entry, led by Welsh man Hugh Hunter and the rally is already looking more and more like and international event."

The 208 T16 is a strategically important flagship product for Peugeot Sport. A true competition wildcat, it broke cover this weekend when Italian driver Paolo Andreucci finished 3rd at the Rally Il Ciocco, 30 years after the legendary 205 T16's introduction. Built for tarmac and gravel, the 208 T16's aim is to conquer national and international championships in 2014.

Press Release Two

Posted: March 10, 2014 10:24 PM

Entries are now open for the Tralee-based Fel’s Point Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally. The April 6 event is the second round of both the Dunlop Irish National Championship and the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship.

Organiser, Kerry Motor Cub, is offering over 140 competitive kilometres over some new and some more familiar popular rally roads in the North Kerry area for an entry fee of 499 euros.

Once again the rally will be based at the Fel’s Point Hotel which has served as the home of Kerry’s longest running rally for the last eight years.

The hotel’s top class facilities and conference rooms means it is well-equipped to cater for the large groups of spectators and competitors expected in the town during the first weekend in April.

The large carpark at the front of the hotel serves as the event’s central service park and can easily accommodate the 150 or so cars and their additional support vehicles for the weekend.

Already there has been plenty of overseas interest in the event with Welsh events-winner Hugh Hunter committing to the national series for the first time alongside several of his countrymen.
Defending national champion Declan Boyle, the winner of the opening round in Mayo at the weekend is one of the first to enter the event, as is Mayo runner-up Roy White.

Newly appointed clerk of the course Jonathan O’Shea said:
“We are well ahead of schedule in terms of organising the event and thank residents of the stages for allowing us permission to close the roads for the day. Events like this bring enormous financial benefit to Tralee and its hinterlands and, while Kerry Motor Club is a volunteer organisation we would be lucky to break even, I appeal on the business community of Tralee and surrounding areas to get behind the event. Any contribution, no matter how small will ensure events like these can keep happening.”

The rally will enjoy massive local and international media attention with Kerry Radio committing to regular live bulletins on the day while Motors TV and TG4 will ensure thousands of motorsport fans at home and abroad will be able to see the event thanks to TV productions company On the Limit Sports' attendance at the event.

Regulations / On Line Entry

Posted: March 10, 2014 10:16 PM

On Line Entry:

Shannon Sports IT (EVO On line Entry)

Regulations available at:

Kerry Motor Club

Press Release One: Preliminary Details

Posted: January 23, 2014 2:59 PM

Kerry Motor Club has released preliminary details of its Carlton Hotel Group Circuit of Kerry Rally which will run on April 6.
The Tralee-based event will be a counting round of the Dunlop Irish National Rally Championship and The Top Part West Coast Championship.
Headquarters for the longest-running rally in County Kerry will once again be the Carlton Hotel in the town and will feature around 160km of competitive action over classic North Kerry Stages.
Newly appointed Clerk of the Course Jonathan O’Shea and his team, recently, carried out an initial route survey in the Castleisland area and received a very positive response from local residents, many who are keen to see the rally return to their area after a break of a few years.

Mr O’Shea:
“We cannot run these events without the good will of the residents who allow us the close roads for the day. I cannot thanks them enough. We have chosen a route that will be a challenge to drivers, yet at the same time keeping local disruption to a minimum. I am looking forward to welcoming the national championship contenders back to Tralee after our opt-out year last season and promise them , and our regular drivers, the traditional Kerry Motor Club welcome.”

Kerry Motor Club has submitted its safety plans, event regulations and road closing requests to various statutory bodies and Motorsport Ireland and is awaiting approval from these bodies before full details of the route will be revealed. It is expected that the rally will run over 160kms of closed roads, on three different special stages that will be each repeated three times.

Website

Posted: January 23, 2014 2:32 PM

Kerry Motor Club
National Rally Championship Website