Glorious Killarney kicks off 2024 Historic Irish Tarmac Championship
Posted: December 1, 2023 2:31 PM
The Killarney Historic Rally is set to kickstart the 2024 Sherwood Engines backed Historic Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Ireland’s premier historic championship is expected to have another top class entry of pristine cars, talented drivers and, well-versed co-drivers.
Historic ITRC’s most recent championship-winning crews - Duncan Williams and Guy Weaver plus Neil Williams and Anthony O’Sullivan - have both entered December’s curtain raiser. Several other potential title contenders are heading to Killarney including Michael McDaid, Ray Breen, and Trevor Wilson.
Regular ITRC frontrunner, Jonathan Greer, tops the Killarney Historic Rally entry hoping to defend his victory from 12 months ago aboard his four-wheel-drive Ford Sierra.
Local hero Alan Ring is seeded second in another four-wheel-drive car - his sweet-sounding Subaru Legacy.
Eamonn and Donagh Kelly complete a magnificent top five in a Ford Escort RS1800 and BMW M3 respectively.
Mark Falvey, Denis Moynihan, and Tomas Davies add further interest inside Killarney’s top ten starters.
Eight stages, including a night-time finale, will decide who starts Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC with early bragging rights. Dromin, Caragh Lake, Shannera, and Rockfield will all be tackled twice offering a challenging opening round on the 2nd December.
Colman Hegarty, TROA chairman:
“The Killarney Historic Rally kicks off the 2024 Sherwood Engines Historic Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The category is set to be keenly contested throughout the entire season and Killarney is a fantastic curtain raiser for it.
“I would like to take the opportunity to wish everybody involved in the championship, all our registered crews, and all the individual rallies a safe and enjoyable season of rallying.
“Have a fun and safe weekend in Killarney everyone.”
Seeded Entry List
Posted: November 21, 2023 11:00 AM
1 Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4) [K]
2 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Legacy RS) [K]
3 Neil Williams/Anthony O'Sullivan (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
4 Eamonn Kelly/Conor Mohan (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
5 Donagh Kelly/Rory Kennedy (BMW M3) [K]
6 Duncan Williams/Guy Weaver (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
7 Mark Falvey/James O'Brien (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [K]
8 Michael McDaid/Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
9 Denis Moynihan/Martin O'Brien (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [K]
10 Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [K]
11 Ray Breen/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Legacy RS) [K]
12 Tom Clark/Alistair Wyllie (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
13
14 Melvyn Evans/Sean Hayde (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
15 Ernie Graham/Anna Graham (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [K]
16 Trevor Wilson/Paul Mulholland (Porsche 911) [C4]
17 Wayne Evans/John Smithwick (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
18 Hugh McQuaid/Ben Teggart (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [K]
19 Walter Dick/William Lynch (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [K]
20 Paul Lietaer/Francois Geerlandt (Opel Ascona 400) [D4]
21 Harry Hunt/Steve McPhee (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
22 Maurice Meskell/Stephen Meskell (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [C5]
23 Philip Rogers/Brian Quinlan (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
24 Gareth Bevan/Dafydd Evans (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
25 Martin Rossiter/Ian Davis (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
26 Tommy McDonagh/Paul Murphy (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
27 Allen Treacy/Brian Duggan (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
28 Peadar Walsh/Grace Walsh (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [C5]
29 Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
30 Andrew Johnson/George McMillen (Vauxhall Chevette HSR) [D5]
31 Berian Richards/Frank Curtin (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
32 Craig Macwilliam/Guy Macwilliam (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [C5]
33 Will Graham/Karen Graham (BMW M3) [K]
34 Michael Cullen/Sean Hassett (BMW M3) [K]
35 Paul Ahern/Kieran Murphy (BMW M3) [K]
36 David Pritchard/Emyr Hall (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [K]
37 Aidan O'Connor/Ian Regan (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [C5]
38 Robert Falvey/John Doody (Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2) [D3]
39 Alan Watkins/Eoghan McCarthy (Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2) [D3]
40 Noel Doyne/James Murtagh (Ford Escort) [D3]
41 Brendan McAree/Peter Farrell (Porsche 911 3.0 RS) [K]
CB42
43 Brendan Brosnan/Denny Greaney (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [D5]
44 Eoghan Fogarty/Cian Fogarty (Toyota Corolla) [E2]
45 Colin McDowell/Geraldine McBride (Austin Mini) [B2]
46 Joe Whyte/Tommy Commane (Morris Mini Cooper S) [B2]
47 Iarla Carty/Jack Carty (Vauxhall Nova) [F2]
48 Gary Rodgers/Eric Calnan (Vauxhall Nova GTE) [F2]
49 Jonni McDaid/Tony McGovern (Talbot Gp B Samba) [E1]
50 Niall McCullagh/Ryan McCloskey (Ford Escort Mk2) [D3]
51 David O'Brien/Niall O'Brien (Ford Escort Mk2) [D2]
52 David Goose/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort) [D2]
53 Peter Neville/David Mannion (Volvo 142) [B4]
54 Ed Colton/Enda Shiels (Hillman Avenger) [C2]
55
56 Harold Bunting/Dessie Willson (Austin Cooper S) [B2]
57 Raymond Nelson/Ivor Ferguson (Ford Escort) [C3]
58 Peter McCullagh/Darragh Mullen (Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2) [D3]
59 Les Allfrey/Keith Fellowes (Austin Mini Cooper S) [B2]
60 George Swanton/Labhaoise Hyland (Ford Escort Mk1) [C2]
61 Brian Crawford/Finian Hannigan (Talbot Sunbeam) [D2]
62 Aidan Jackson/Adam Coffey (Vauxhall Nova) [E1]
63 John Meade/Owen Mulcahy (Peugeot 205 GTi) [F2]
64 Brian Carson/Adam Carson (Austin Mini Cooper S) [C1]
65 Andrew O'Hanlon/Kevin Hogan (Morris Mini Cooper S) [C1]
66 Tim Lenihan/Garrett Lenihan (Ford Escort) [C2]
67 Liam Regan/ Paddy Robinson (Skoda Estelle 130 L) [F1]
68 Tom Slattery/Helen Slattery (Ford Cortina Lotus Mk1) [B3]
MODIFIED
69 Kevin Eves/Chris Melly (Toyota Corolla) [7]
70 Robert Duggan/Ger Conway (Ford Escort) [7]
71 Declan Gallagher/Gavin Doherty (Toyota Starlet RWD) [7]
72 Conor Murphy/Sean Collins (Ford Escort) [7]
73 Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
74 Gary Kiernan/John McCabe (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
75 Colin O'Donoghue/Kieran O'Donoghue (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
76 Chris Armstrong/Darren Curran (Ford Escort) [7]
77 Jonathan Pringle/Pierce O'Callaghan (Ford Escort) [7]
78 Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
79 Martin McGee/Aodhan Gallagher (Ford Escort) [7]
80 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [7]
81 Leonard Downey/Mark Murphy (Ford Escort) [7]
82 David Condell/Ciara Griffin (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
83 Denis Hickey/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort) [7]
84 Kevin O'Donoghue/Evan Macbride (BMW E30) [7]
85 Tim Flood/Anthony Smith (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
86 Dave Slattery/Denis Coffey (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
87 Kevin Cole/Matthew Kirwan (Ford Escort) [6]
88 Aidan Bourke/Pierce Jnr. Doheny (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
89 Cian Walsh/Dylan Doonan (Toyota Corolla) [6]
90 Michael Carbin/Dean O'Sullivan (Ford Escort) [7]
91 David Kelly/Eamonn Doherty (Ford Escort) [6]
92 Tadhg O'Sullivan/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort) [7]
93 Craig Rahill/Conor Smith (Ford Ford Ecort Mk2) [5]
94 Thomas Randles/Cathal Quill (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
95 Charlie Hickey/Charlene Hickey (Ford Escort RS) [7]
96 James McCarville/Conal McNulty (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
97 Corey Eves/Pascal McCarney (Toyota Corolla) [6]
98 Robert Counihan/Timmy Kelly (Toyota Corolla) [6]
99 James Cassidy/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort) [3]
100 Kevin Kelleher/Micheal Codey (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
101 Mervyn Deane/Trevor Burke (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
102 Brian Hickey/Noel Murphy (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
103 Michael Cahill/Paul Curran (Ford Escort) [5]
104 Ken Lyons/Paddy McDonnell (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [7]
105 Stephen Bawn/John Fleming (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
106 Jack Kelleher/Kenny Bustard (Ford Escort) [7]
107 Johnny O'Connor/Mike Breen (Ford Escort) [7]
108 Colin O'Rourke/John McElhinney (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
109 Emmet Watchorn/Noel Cogan (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
110 Jack Shanahan/Mikey Walsh (Toyota Corolla) [5]
111 Evan Russell/Richie Cleary (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
112 Raymond O'Neill/Jason O'Connor (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
113 Tommy Mason/Timmy Murphy (Ford Escort) [3]
114 Sean Enright/Kevin Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
115 Padraig Coll/Padraig Boyle (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
116 Lloyd Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick (Austin Mini Cooper S) [4]
117 Bob Moran/ Eoin Collins (Ford MK 2) [5]
118 Seán Hartnett/Kieran Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
119 Cathal Martley/Shane Gorman (Toyota Corolla) [5]
120 Dai Roberts/Pete Phennah (Peugeot 205 GTi) [2]
121 Cyril Wharton/Donal Falvey (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
122 Shane Quinn/Kevin Heffernan (Ford Escort) [6]
123 Adrain Randles/Eoin O Donoghue (Ford Escort MK2) [6]
124 Shane Doyle/William Kelliher (BMW E30) [5]
125 Alan Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort Mk2) [2]
126 David Leslie/Melissa Leslie (Ford Escort RS) [3]
127 Paudie O'Callaghan/Danny Murphy (Toyota Starlet RWD) [4]
128 Noel O'Sullivan/Nicholas Burke (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
129 Paul Casey/Vincent Goggin (Ford Escort) [3]
130 Kevin Flanagan/Mark Reilly (Austin Mini Cooper S) [1]
131 Michael (ray) Stack/Gene Stack (Ford Escort) [6]
132 Kieran O'Kane/Niall McKenna (Opel Ascona) [7]
133 Jason Costello/Charlie McEnery (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
134 William (billy) Nolan/Evan Downey (Toyota Corolla) [6]
135 Gordon Morrison/James Lowry (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
136 Dineen Denis/Dineen Donal (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
137 Ollie Kierce/Mike Cleary (Ford Escort) [2]
138 Denis Nagle/Donagh Crowley (Ford Escort) [3]
139 Maurice Kennelly/Eoin Mulvilhill (Ford Escort) [3]
140 Steven Coffey/Gavin O'Grady (Ford Escort) [1]
141 Danny O'Leary/Colin Oleary (Ford Escort G3) [6]
142 Shane Buckley/Aidan Buckley (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
143 Mike Walsh/John Nugent (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
144 Aidan Long/Rory O'Donoghue (BMW M3) [7]
145 Niall Myers/Jason Russell (Toyota Corolla RWD) [5]
146 Richard Hickey/Richie Davis (Toyota Corolla) [5]
147 Jason O'Brien/James Bradley (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
148 John O'Reilly/Nick Sparks (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
149 Pat McDonagh/Mike Reddy (Ford Escort) [2]
150 Amy Burke/ TBA (Ford Fiesta Mark 1) [5]
151 Stephen O'Connor/Jonathan O'Shea (Toyota Starlet RWD) [5]
152 Keith Naughton/Damien Murphy (Ford Escort RS Mk2) [6]
153 Jack O'Shea/Darragh Lynch (Austin Mini) [1]
RESERVES
154 Paul Stryker/Edwin Walsh (Toyota Corolla) [5]
155 John Michael Kennelly/John Fleming (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
156 Ken McKenna/Ray McKenna (Peugeot 205 GTi) [2]
157 Tommy Rogers/Stephen Cooke (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
158 John Bradley/Cathal Mlugrew (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
159 Derek James/Martin Brady (Ford Escort RS) [7]
160 Declan Boyle/John McCafferty (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
161 Cathal Mulcaire/Podge Doody (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
162 Aaron McIntyre/Oisin Joyce (Toyota Starlet RWD) [6]
163 Conor Lappin/Ryan Graham (Ford Escort Mk2) [4]
164 Chris O'Callaghan/Sean Nolan (Ford Escort Mk2) [7]
165 Jack Brunton/ TBA (Ford Escort) [5]
166 Justin Comer/Kenneth Flanagan (Ford Escort) [6]
167 James Belton/TBA (Ford Escort) [7]
168 Niall O'Sullivan/Frank Byrnes (Peugeot 205) [4]
169 Rory Howley/Kevin Howley (Austin Mini) [1]
170 Kevin Quinn/Chris Corr (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
171 Colin Roche/Derry Long (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
172 Frank Rafferty/Gavin Bird (Peugeot 205 GTi) [2]
173 Pauric Gillespie/Shane Dillon (Ford Escort Mk2) [5]
174 Daniel Dunne/Alan Keena (Ford Escort) [1]
175 Chris Browne/ TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [3]
176 Rory Hennessy/ TBA (Ford Escort) [6]
177 Dermot Harrington/Dylan Harrington (Ford Escort) [6]
178 Mark Hayden/Peter Ryan (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
179 Dylan Rodgers McKeon/Darragh Mullins (Vauxhall Nova GTE) [5]
180 Gerard Tuite/Brian TBA (Peugeot 205 RWD) [2]
181 Des Forrestal/Davy Creane (Toyota Corolla) [5]
182 Gabriel Farry/Niamh Pickens (Toyota Corolla) [5]
183 James Cole/Amy JO Cole (Ford Escort) [12]
184 Michael O'Donovan/Jer O'Donovan (Opel Corsa) [2]
185 John McGettrick/Shane Maguire (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
186 Liam Fitzgerald/TBA (Austin Mini Cooper) [1]
187 Robbie Allen/Emer Kearns (Ford Escort Mk2) [6]
It all change as new-look Killarney Historic Rally details announced
Posted: November 14, 2023 5:33 AM
A new look Killarney Historic Rally was unveiled at the event’s launch on Sunday evening
The Towers Hotel on College Street was officially announced as the event’s new title sponsor and headquarters.
The Towers Hotel and Leisure Centre is part of the ODR Collection of high-quality hotels in Killarney and the launch took place in a sister premises, The Killarney Plazza Hotel.
The Plaza, also home to Café du Parc and The Tanyard Restaurant will be the place to be on Friday, December 1.
The traditional town centre start ramp, always the first event in the Christmas in Killarney Festival, will be placed directly outside the town centre hotel.
For the first time, the cars will approach the ramp from the opposite side meaning the pre-ramp holding area will extend into Main Street to where the ramp used to be previously located.
These are just one of many changes announced at the launch on Sunday. It was already revealed that the rally will not visit Moll’s Gap this year but will feature the return of Caragh Lake for the first time in three years.
A new stage near Killorglin, previously used in the Rally of the Lakes, but never for the Historic Rally has been added to the event schedule.
There will be a sting in the tail too for competitors, as a night stage has been reintroduced for the first time in many years.
Clerk of the course Anthony O’Connor said:
“Our plans are at an advanced stage to create a motorsport festival on the streets of Killarney town, the two-day festival event will begin with a ceremonial start in the town centre on Friday at 7 pm on December 1.
“Saturday morning starts with fast-flowing but technical Dromin followed by sweeping and classic Carragh Lake and the fast-flowing Kilgobnet stage.
“Then into service at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney. This Loop is repeated and into service again, before heading out to take on Rockfield in daylight, as service again in Liebherr and out to complete the final stage of Rockfield in darkness.
“The top three crews from each class will arrive back in Killarney for the finish ramp at 7 pm outside the Killarney Plaza Hotel."
The event's associate sponsors are media and print partners The Killarney Advertiser and official vehicle supplier, Reen’s of Rathmore, Main Peugeot, Fait, DS and Jeep dealers for Kerry.
LEADING HISTORIC ENTRIES
Some of the leading entries for the December 2 rally were also announced at the launch.
They include defending champion Jonathon Greer Niall Burns in their Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth.
The local contingent will be led by Alan Ring of the ODR Collection and his co-driver Adrian Deasy in a Subaru Legacy RS. They have finished on the podium for the last two years and will be aiming to make it to the top step this time around.
The 2023 Irish Historic Rally Champions Duncan Williams and Guy Weaver are on the entry list too in their Ford Escort RS1800.
“Following on from last year's successful event which for the first time ever seen 150 cars starting on stage one. It is hoped that this year's event will be bigger and better, unfortunately Molls Gap is out for this year due to roadwork but the choice of spectator-friendly stages and a short road section has once again appealed to competitors from far and near, including the USA, Australia, Belgium, The UK and both Northern and Southern Ireland,” added Mr O’Connor.
INTERNATIONAL ENTRIES
Fan favourite, Belgian Paul Lietaer returns in his Opel Ascona 400.
The London Irish Motor Club is represented by Paul McDevitt, the recently crowned Triton Shoers National Historic Champion in his Ford Escort.
Former winner, Welsh man Melvyn Evans and his Cork-based Sean Hayde will compete in a Ford Escort.
The London-based Graham family are best known for competing in FIA European Historic Rally Championship events. Ernie Graham and Anna Graham have entered a Ford Escort RS while Will Graham and Karen Graham will drive a BMW E30 M3.
Former Dakar Rally competitor, Londoner, Harry Hunt, and his Welsh co-driver Steve McPhee return for a second year in another Ford Escort.
England’s Les Allfrey has been coming to Killarney since the mid-1980s and he and co-driver Keith Fellowes return in their Austin Mini Cooper S.
Welsh drivers Berian Richards and Tomas Davies are familiar faces too around Killarney and both will drive Ford Escorts.
BMW BRIGADE
Aside from the Graham’s example, there are several other BMW M3 E30s on the entry list. Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy will drive their Bastos example while local crew Paul Ahern and Kieran Murphy will debut a newly built example.
Michael Cullen and Sean Hassett have competed in European rallies since their last appearance in Killarney and return in their M3.
WORLD CHAMPION
Belfast’s Liam Regan guided William Creighton to the Junior World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta Rally 3 but he switches to the driver’s seat and will campaign a Skoda Estelle 130 L in Killarney on the first weekend in December.
Regan’s Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy teammates Eamonn Kelly and Conor Mohan have entered a Ford Escort RS1800.
John Meade and Owen Mulcahy will drive a newly restored Peugeot 205 GTi, once campaigned by 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae.
Brothers Eoghan and Cian Fogarty will drive their Per Eklund Toyota Corolla Twin Cam.
IRISH TARMAC RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Aside from the aforementioned Duncan Williams several of the ITRC historic rally championship regulars will get their 2024 season underway in Killarney.
They include Alan Watkins and Eoghan McCarthy(Ford Escort RS2000) Craig MacWilliam and Guy MacWilliam (Ford Escort RS1600) Michael McDaid and Declan Casey (Ford Escort RS1800) and Peadar Walsh and Grace Walsh (Ford Escort Mk1)Denis Moynihan Martin O'Brien (Ford Escort); Wayne Evans John Smithwick (Ford Escort Mk2) Neil Williams / Anthony O'Sullivan (Ford Escort RS1800 and Tom Clark & Alistair Wyllie (Ford Escort)
LOCAL ENTRIES
Local drivers include former winners Mark Falvey /James O'Brien (Ford Escort RS1600) Brendan Brosnan/ Denny Greaney (Ford Escort Mk2) and Robert Falvey /John Doody (Ford Escort RS2000).
Kerry navigators will be represented by Brian Duggan who is on co-driving duty for Allen Treacy in a Ford Escort RS1800 and Tommy Commane who will guide Joe Whyte’s Morris Mini Cooper S.
MODIFIED RALLY
Leading locals in the Modified Rally include Robert Duggan/Ger Conway and Conor Murphy/ Sean Collins in their Ford Escorts.
There is also a strong visiting contingent in this section of the rally with Gary Kiernan Kevin Eves and Chris Armstrong all confirmed.
A more detailed Modified and local bulleting will be issued in due course.
Sportity
Posted: October 31, 2023 2:34 PM
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