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Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally - 2 Apr 06

Posted: April 9, 2006 6:21 PM - 26960 Hits

The Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally - 2nd April 2006
Round 2 - 2006 National Rally Championship
Round 2 - 2006 West Coast Rally Championship

  • No luck for Stafford in Kingdom
  • Dingle Determination rewards with National Group N Victory to Kelleher Crew
  • McNULTY WINS CIRCUIT OF KERRY
    Report Courtesy of Dunlop, sponsors of the National Rally Championship.
  • More Photos
  • Full Results

Photo: John Bayly

Posted: April 9, 2006 6:21 PM

No luck for Stafford in Kingdom
The Stafford cousins, James M. and James F. Stafford continued their assault on the Dunlop National Group N championship on the second round of the 2006 championship, the circuit of Kerry. Based in the beautiful village of Dingle, the event had attracted a capacity 151 entries including last years Cork 20 international rally winner, Tim McNulty, who was using the event as a test session before the Circuit of Ireland. The Stafford’s, who were seeded at 32 for the event, were full of hope after their fine 10th overall and fourth in class on the opening round of the championship in Mayo.

The first stage was 11.5km long, the opening stages wet and greasy make conditions tricky to say the least. The cousins got off to a fast start, 4th fastest on the opening stage, just 5 seconds back from the group N pace setter, local man Alan Ring who was at the head of the field in his brand new N12 Impreza. The second stage however, saw the cousins leap to the top of the time sheets in group N, the Eddie Power JCB digger hire Lancer 5 seconds quicker than anyone else over the 10.25 kilometre test to lie 9th overall and in the joint Group N lead with Andrew Stewart. Commenting in service after the opening loop of stages, James was very happy with the way things had gone over the opening loop. “The cars going really well, Derek and the boys have it spot on, were enjoying the stages even though they’re fairly slippery. Were taking no chances, just keeping a pace were happy with and seeing how it goes”

Stage 3 was the famous Slea Head test, almost 18 kilometres of the finest mountain roads Kerry has to offer. The cousins dropped back two positions on the leader board to 11th overall, 9 seconds off the pace of the Group N pace where Alan Ring had moved back into the lead from Kevin Kelleher who was up to second in class and closely followed by Willy Fannin. The Eddie Power JCB Hire backed Lancer was starting to develop a diff problem and this was further evident on stage 4 where the DJ motorsport run Lancer lost a further 14seconds to the flying Kelleher. They were still in 11th, 9 seconds back from Kelleher who had taken the lead in Group N from Ring with Fannin still in third.

In service, the DJ motorsport mechanics set to work on the car, aware that James had backed off to preserve the car, knowing they were still only half way through the rally. With the problem cured for the time being, the Stafford motorsport crew set off from service with reassurances from the DJ motorsport mechanics it was safe to push on over the next loop of stages. And push they did, setting a fabulous fifth fastest time overall, just 5 seconds back from eventual winner McNulty to take them into joint 9th position and the joint lead with the Kelleher brothers in the battle for group N honours

. However, their event came to an end on stage 6 when the Lancer left the road, putting the cousins out of the event. “It’s very disappointing. It wasn’t even a kink it was so slight, however, there was a bump on the inside that we hadn’t noticed in recce, which just slightly unsettled the car. We taught nothing much of it but it suddenly created a pendulum effect, which resulted in the accident. We weren’t pushing over the limit, we felt comfortable at the pace we were at. It was encouraging the times we were setting. We may just look forward to Monaghan now, try and get some more points on the board.”

The Stafford cousins would like to thank Eddie Power JCB digger hire and DJ motorsport preperations for their continued support in their 2006 National championship campaign.

Dingle Determination rewards with National Group N Victory to Kelleher Crew
Fresh on the back of a home town Group N victory in West Cork the Clonakilty pairing Kevin & Martin Kelleher travelled to picturesque Dingle in Kerry for round 2 of their National Championship campaign.

As ever they were competing in their A.M.F prepared Lancer Evo 9 which had a concerted effort put upon it by the North County Dublin A.M.F team in preparation for the event after some small ECU gremlins in the second day of the West Cork rally. At the start ramp Kevin was adopting a cautiously confident approach, he commented
“Michael Curran is absent today and he was the man to try catch the last day, but Willie Fannin, Alan Ring, the Stafford’s are all there to take his place so it will be a good battle today, we are looking forward to the stages they are a good mix of the tight and twisty and then the fast and flowing”

Kevin took a cautious approach on the slippy stage 1 at Minard Castle, the age old saying is that time waits for no man, and it certainly did not wait for Kevin the 2005 Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award Runner up. The cautious start saw Kelleher drop 9 seconds to the leader Andrew Stewart & co driver Paddy Robinson. 9 seconds is not much in one sense, but in the context of the current Group N pace it can be easy to concede and difficult to regain.

Stage 2 saw Kevin and co driving sibling Martin move up one place in the Group N order but drop a further 6 to the leaders. At the Dingle Pier service halt the mood was just slightly on the disappointed side. The SWS backed Evo was holding 5th in group N just one second ahead of the charging Meath Pairing of Graham Quinn and Co Driver Martin F. Costello. Kevin had found the first 2 stages tricky and the car was difficult to gather on the bumps. A change in settings and a consultation with the Kumho tyre technicians about what would suit best on the next 2 faster stages brought about changes which Kevin hoped would allow him to push harder and try catch up on the group N battle.

Slea Head the famous and fabulous sweep along the Kerry Coastline was where the Kelleher fight back came in earnest, the smoother fast road surface coupled with the inspired tyre choice was suiting Kevin much better and confidence allowed a push that was to see a time fastest by 5 seconds from new Group N leaders Alan Ring/Aidrian Deasy, Unfortunately leader Andrew Stewart dropped back with a puncture as Kevin moved on up the leader board.

Stage 4 Brandon Lake was to see Kevin and Martin Kelleher again post a fastest time 10 seconds up on Willie Fannin but just 1 second ahead of the recovering Stewart. Nevertheless it saw Kevin return to service in Dingle as group N leader.

A surge from the Stafford cousins on Stage 5 was to see them barely nose ahead, however their challenge was to end on stage 6 as they left the road on a bumpy narrow section of the harshly paved tarmac. Kevin was to regain a group N lead which he was hold right through the runs over the 2 classics Slea Head and Brandon to the arrive at the finish at the Skellig hotel 9th overall in the rally with a very agreeable 36 second gap over second placed Kerry and Cork Pairing Alan Ring & Aidrian Deasy. Kevin and Martin were quite obviously happy to cross the finish ramp with another Group N success. Kevin revealed at the finish how the day had started slow and thankfully moved on to better things,

“We had a difficult start, perhaps starting too cautious and gave away time that we shouldn’t have, the lads around us were on the ball from the word go and everyone showed good pace here today, the 3 or 4 lead changes showed that. We were lucky that Slea head was good to us and we got to pull our time back in there. The Kumho tyres worked brilliantly in there and Martin was great on the notes keeping me pushed on where I needed it but being sure I was slowing up enough on the dangerous bits, any success we have in our rallying is always a team effort from inside the car right down to the jobs done by the lads in service”

Kevin now heads for round 3 in Monaghan with a slender 3 point advantage in the championship over Alan Ring

Kevin Kelleher is supported by KUMHO TYRES, THE BIG FELLA Clonakilty, Rally Idol, Monterra Properties, Clona Dairies Clonakilty, SWS Property Services, Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award and www.XLR8Motorsport.com

For more updates and copyright free images please visit:
McNULTY WINS CIRCUIT OF KERRY
Report Courtesy of Dunlop, sponsors of the National Rally Championship.

Meath's, Tim McNulty and co-driver, Anthony Nestor, in their S11 Subaru won the Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship. They finished the eight stage rally six seconds ahead of reigning Dunlop National Rally champions, Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC), who led for six stages. Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) finished third and retain their lead of the Dunlop series.

In Group N, Kevin and Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) finished 36 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy.
Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCarthy (Toyota Corolla) were the top two-wheel drive crew.

Breen made the best possible start and ended Special Stage 1, Minard Castle, 13 seconds ahead of second placed McNulty, who reckoned a wrong tyre choice cost him time. Donnelly stalled his Toyota Corolla on the start line and also lost time - he held third but was 22 seconds adrift of Breen. Niall Maguire (Subaru), Martin Doherty (Subaru) and Aaron MacHale (Toyota Corolla) were joint fourth. On the second stage, Lispole, that was shortened from its original version, Breen was the pacesetter once more with Donnelly's stage time four seconds down on the leader. At the first service halt in Dingle, Breen was 18 seconds ahead of McNulty with Donnelly a further eight seconds behind. Martin Doherty's early run saw him slot his Subaru into fourth position followed by Aaron MacHale's Toyota Corolla WRC and the Subaru of former Dunlop champion, Niall Maguire, who was sixth. Patrick Elliott, who spun on the opening stage and lost almost 25 seconds got back on the pace and moved into seventh. JJ Fleming in his Ford Focus WRC held eighth place with the Mitsubishi's of Group N duo, Andrew Stewart and James M. Stafford completing the top ten. Michael Barrable (Ford Focus WRC), making return to national championship rallying after a number of years, was outside the top ten.

Breen had an off road excursion on the third stage, Slea Head, his Dunlop backed Ford Focus slid up a bank, the front right wheel filled with mud that caused a vibration for the remainder of the stage. Nevertheless, he retained the lead albeit by a second from NcNulty with Donnelly still very much in the frame - nine seconds further behind. Several of the top crews encountered some cows on the fourth stage, Brandon Creek. Rally leader, Breen was again the quickest driver, he clocked a time of 5 minutes and 28 seconds as against 5m. 29s for NcNulty and 5m. 30s. for Donnelly. At the service halt, Breen opined that his S.S. 3 indiscretion was entirely his own fault. Meanwhile, McNulty- three seconds in arrears was quite happy with his performance, he remarked, "I'm not on a full pace, it's not the tyres or the weather, I'm just getting accustomed to this new car, taking it nice and steady." Donnelly was trouble free in third followed by Elliott, who had recovered from his opening stage spin. Maguire held fifth, he was five seconds ahead of Aaron MacHale, who lost a few precious seconds with intercom problems, however, he opined that he was steadily building up his confidence. Martin Doherty (Subaru) was seventh followed by Noel Redmond, in his new S11 Subaru. The top ten also featured Kevin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) in ninth place and Subaru duo, Willie Fannin and Alan Ring, who were equal tenth.

Kelleher was the top Group N performer at the half way stage, he was eight seconds ahead of Alan Ring, who dropped time when his Subaru had two brief excursions. Wilie Fannin, who was equal tenth with Ring reckoned his Subaru was down on power. Early pacesetter, James M. Stafford was third in the category, however, his Mitsubishi had differential trouble. Another Group N driver in trouble was Andrew Stewart, his Mitsubishi punctured on Slea Head (S.S.3). Ian Barrett (Mitsubishi) remarked that his pace was beginning to get close to his performance during the latter end of the 2005 season. Elsewhere, Michael Barrable and JJ Fleming, both in Ford Focus WRC's, were outside the top ten.

On the repeat of Minard Castle (S.S. 5), Elliott punched in the fastest time, in the race for supremacy, Breen extended his lead over McNulty to ten seconds. Donnelly did his own particular cause no favours by overshooting and stalling his Corolla. On S.S. 6, McNulty dominated and cut Breen's lead to eight seconds, Donnelly Breen and Elliott all recorded an identical time for the stage. In Group N, Kelleher gained a significant advantage when he moved 17 seconds ahead of Ring, who was a further four seconds ahead of Fannin. James M. Stafford rolled his Mitsubishi on S.S. 6.

McNulty moved into the lead on the penultimate stage, the repeat of Slea Head, where he took 12 seconds out of Breen. On the final stage, McNulty was fastest again and went on to win by six seconds with second placed Breen taking maximum Dunlop points while Donnelly, who finished ten seconds further behind in third, retains the lead of the Dunlop series. Elliott, Maguire and Doherty filled the top six, the latter edging out Aaron MacHale on the penultimate stage. The top ten was completed by MacHale, Noel Redmond, Kevin Kelleher and JJ Fleming, who recovered from an earlier puncture to claim the final place in the top ten. Michael Barrable (Ford Focus WRC) eventually finished sixteenth overall. In Group N, Kevin Kelleher secured the showroom victory - 16 seconds ahead of Alan Ring with Andrew Stewart (Mitsubishi) claiming third in the category.

Results
Pos Driver/Codriver (Make) Total
1 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:52:52
2 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC) 0:52:58
3 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC) 0:53:08
4 Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:53:39
5 Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:54:57
6 Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:55:02
7 Aaron McHale/Euguene O'Donnell (Toyota Corolla WRC) 0:55:03
8 Noel Redmond/Sean Mulally (Subaru Impreza WRC) 0:55:11
9 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) GpN 0:55:37
10 JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC) 0:56:01

Leaders after:
SS1-6 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS7-8 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS2 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS3 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS4 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS5 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
SS6 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS8 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC)

Noel Redmond/Sean Mulally (Subaru Impreza WRC S11)
Photo: John Bayly
PRE EVENT NEWS
  • The 2006 Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally gets ready to rock and roll
    Preview
    Event Schedule:
    Spectators Information:
    Rally programs
  • 2 New Impreza S11s to appear in Dingle.
  • Mike Curran doubtful for Kerry
  • Provisional Entry List available
  • Gareth Jones withdraws as new car will not be ready.
  • Gareth Jones expected to appear in Subaru Impreza S10
  • Rally Launched
  • Preperations continue for 2006 Circuit of Kerry
  • Rally Launch - Friday 10th March
    Event details and Timetable
  • Circuit of Kerry heads back to Dingle
  • Regulations available 15 February
30/03/06
The 2006 Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally gets ready to rock and roll:
This Sunday’s Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally sees the cream of Ireland’s rally talent, with some overseas crews coming to the Kingdom to contest round 2 of both The Dunlop National and The Top Parts West Coast Rally Championships.

A main field of 151 cars will contest eight stages made up of 112 kms. of fast, smooth tarmac with some tight sections on all the stages thrown in for good measure around the beautiful and scenic Peninsula of Dingle. 10 juniors will join the rally for the last four stages. Unfortunately rally fans will have to wait a little longer to see John Hickey’s 4x4 Mk 2 Escort make its debut on the stages. John is still awaiting final clearance for the car from Motorsport Ireland.

Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell in a Ford Focus wrc, the 2005 National Champions and winners of the first round of the Top Parts championship in Birr, head the strong entry. Unfortunately Ray’s luck did not hold In Mayo, round one of the Dunlop Championship when he went of the road after getting caught out by standing water. At 2 we have Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner the 2005 championship runners up and fresh from their outright win in Mayo. Charlie is driving the Corolla wrc, which has brought younger brother Eugene the Pirelli Tarmac title in 2004 and 2005.

Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor at 3 will debut their new S11 Impreza in preparation for the Easter Circuit of Ireland. Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy at no. 4 is also in a new S10 Impreza. Elliott took 2nd in Mayo, and hopefully the stone walls on the Slea Head stage won’t end his rally as happened on the 2004 event.

At no. 5 we have 3 times national champions Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin in yet another Impreza wrc. Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly the 2005 runners up in the National Forestry Championship and 3rd overall in Mayo, their first tarmac outing in the Corolla wrc, is at 6.

Michael Barrable/Michael Morrissey making a welcome return to the stages and J J Fleming/Robbie Ward both in Focus wrc’s are at 7 and 8. At no. 9 is Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen in a Impreza. Bringing up the top ten is Aaron Mchale’s/Gerard McMonagle’s Corolla wrc.

Mike Curran/Fabian McShane the 2005 Patterson Rally News group N Champions in an Evo 9 are at 12 with former group N champions Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney in an Impreza at 15. Top local crew and current Top Parts West Coast Champions Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy are running at 16 in an N12 Impreza, the only one of its kind competing outside of the Production World Rally Championship.

At 19 we have Mike Quinn/Sean Enright the top two wheel drive seed in a mk 2 Escort and current category leader in the Top Part championship after their fine 11th overall in Birr. John Kearney/Denis o Connell in another mk 2 fresh from their overall win on The Kerry Mini Stages in October are at 23. Kearney is hoping for better luck this year. In 2004, the last time these stages were used he rolled his Escort half way into the first stage. Separating the two locals on the entry list are current Dunlop Class leaders Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Starlet ), Pat Donegan/TBA (Escort mk 2 ) and Sean Lyons/John Devine (Escort G6).

Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Escort mk 2 ) the current Top Parts two wheel drive category champions are at 25.

Local Drivers
The many classes are well supported by a large local entry with the majority of areas in Kerry represented. Some of the more experienced local crews taking part are Kevin o Donoghue/Joe o Leary Evo 9 at 33, Peter Kelly/con Lucey Escort at 37, John Hickey/ Allister Wyllie at 44, Ray Hillard/Sennan Raggett Evo 9 at 50, Jason Costello/Derek Flynn Escort at 54, Ken o Neill/Conor o Neill puma at 62, Tommy o Sullivan/Mags Costello Escort G4 at 68, and Pat Barry/Stephen o Connell Sierra at 69.

The event uses four stages run twice including the classic stages of Slea Head and Brandon Creek with centralised servicing along the pier in Dingle. Slea Head in particular is a great test of skill and nerve for any driver and it is one of the few stages in Irish rallying that has a water ford crossing in the middle of the stage. Drivers will have to be quick out of the box as each of the eight stages offer drivers a bit of everything with fast smooth sections changing to tight twisty sections with a lot of junctions and stone walls thrown in for good measure as well as the Atlantic Ocean looking in your side window on Slea Head and Brandon Creek.

Event Schedule:
Scrutiny takes place on Saturday afternoon at Morans Garage Dingle between 2pm and 8pm.

Sunday:
The first car will leave the start ramp at The Skellig Hotel at 9.20am.

Stage 1: Minard Castle 1 (11.5 kms.). Road closed 9 a.m. First car due 10a.m. road Open 12 pm,

Stage 2: Lispole 1 (10.25 kms.). Road closed 9.35a.m. First car due 10.39a.m. Road Open 1.20pm.

Service 1: Pier in Dingle. First car in 11 a.m.

Stage 3: Slea Head 1 (17.75 kms.). Road closed 11 a.m. First car due 11.43am Road Open 2 p.m.

Stage 4: Brandon Creek 1 (9.10 kms.). Road closed 11.50am First car due12.38 p.m. Road open 3pm.

Service 2: First car in 1.03 p.m.

Stage 5: Minard Castle 2. Road Closed 1 p. m. First car due 2 p.m. Road open 4.20 p.m.

Stage 6: Lispole 2. Road closed 1.40 p.m. First car due 2.40 p.m. Road open 5.30 p.m.

Service3: First car in 3.03p.m.

Stage 7: Slea Head 2. Road closed 3.10 p.m. First car due 4.05 p.m. Road open 6.30 p.m.

Stage 8: Brandon Creek 2. Road closed 4 p.m. First car due 5 p.m. Road open 7.30 p.m.

Prize giving 9 p.m.

Spectators Information:
Not all junctions have spectator access. Please refer to the rally program for proper information on spectator locations.

Rally programs will be available during scrutiny at Moran’s Garage, in the service area and at The Skellig Hotel. Programs will also be available from the usual outlets in the Kerry area.

A percentage from the proceeds of the program sales is going towards the Cystic Fibrosis Society of Kerry and The Munster Air Ambulance Association.

The carnival atmosphere of the event will be enhanced with the Radio Kerry road unit pumping out the current hits in the service area on the pier in Dingle between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday. Radio Kerry will also be bringing live updates from the event during the Sunday sports programme. Younger rally fans will be treated to sweets, balloons and stickers.!

22/03/06
2 New Impreza S11s to appear in Dingle.
Tim McNulty and Noel Redmond are both expected to use their new Right hand drive Impreza S11s in Dingle.

McNulty is using the event to shakedown his car ahead of the Circuit of Ireland.

Wexford driver Noel Redmond is expecting delivery of his newly build car from Prodrive next week, and will use the car on the National Championship, with Stephen Murphy to use the car on selected Tarmac and non-National Championship Rallies.
The ex-Petter Solberg 2005 Gravel Car (HC54 WRC) has been converted to Right hand drive and finished in White.
Redmond will have the West Cork winning co-driver Sean Mullally on the notes for the year.

Mike Curran doubtful for Kerry
Championship Group N leaders Michael Curran and Fabian McShane are unlightly to start the Circuit of Kerry this weekend as their Mitsubishi Lancer is being upgraded to Evo 9 specification and will not be ready for the rally.
The pair are also expected to take part in a few rounds of the Tarmac Championship this season.

Provisional Entry List
As Published on www.kerrymotorclub.com

No: Driver /Navigator (Car)
1 Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Ford Focus WRC)
2 Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Toyota Corolla WRC)
3 Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC )
4 Patrick Elliott/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC )
5 Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin (Subaru Impreza WRC )
6 Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Toyota Corolla WRC)
7 Michael Barrable/Michael Morrissey (Ford Focus WRC)
8 JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward (Ford Focus WRC)
9 Martin Doherty/Andrew Cullen (Subaru Impreza WRC )
10 Aaron McHale/Gerard McMonagle (Toyota Corolla WRC)
11 Noel Redmond/Sean Malally (Subaru Impreza WRC)
12 Mike Curran/Fabian McShane (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8.5)
14 Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
15 Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Subaru Impreza N12)
16 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Subaru Impreza N12)
17 Andrew Stewart /TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
18 Ian Barrett/Eoin O'Flaherty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
19 Mike Quinn/Sean Enright (Ford Escort MK 2)
20 Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna (Toyota Starlet RWD)
21 Pat Donegan/TBA (Ford Escort MK 2)
22 Sean Lyons/John Devine (Ford Escort Mk 6)
23 John Kearney/Denis O'Connell (Ford Escort Mk 2)
24 Ollie O'Reilly/Arthur Kierans (Ford Escort G3)
25 Aidan Walsh/Jim Casey (Ford Escort MK 2)
26 Noel McCarrick/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC )
27 Jack Sleator/Timmy England (Skoda Fabia WRC)
28 Daragh Raftery/TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC )
29 PJ McGrath/Killian Duffy (Subaru Impreza N11)
30 Eamon Daly/Ger Healy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
31 Graham Quinn/Martin Costello (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6)
32 James M Stafford/James F Stafford (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
33 Kevin O'Donoghue/Joe O'Leary (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9)
34 Mick McQuaid/Victor Fields (Ford Escort MK 2)
35 Gabriel Martin/Donal Lennon (Subaru Impreza N11)
36 Tadgh Lenihan/Mark Kane (Subaru Impreza N11)
37 Peter Kelly/Con Lucey (Ford Escort)
38 Drew Hunter/Victor Hunter (Ford Escort)
39 Edward O'Callaghan/John Sheils (Opel Manta)
40 Eamonn Hughes/Paul Hughes (Darrian T90)
41 Liam Wall/Bob Kelly (Ford Escort MK 2)
42 David McNulty/Keefe Kilcoyne (Ford Escort Cosworth RS)
43 Mike Bird/Kevin Keane (Mitsubishi Evo 8)
44 John Hickey/Alistair Wyllie (Ford Escort MK 2)
45 Paddy Kelly/Paul Kelly (Ford Escort Cosworth)
46 Philip Johnson/Graeme Stewart (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7)
47 Eddie Donaghy/Charlie Donaghy (Mitsubishi Evo V1)
48 Paul Elliott/TBA (Mitsubishi Evo 9)
49 Sean Flanagan/Brian Miller (Subaru Impreza)
50 Ray Hillard/Senan Raggett (Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9)
51 Trevor Bustard/Paul McGee (Subaru Impreza)
52 Mark Alcorn/Kevin McCafferty (Toyota Corolla)
53 Seamus Murphy/Graham Kelly (Ford Escort MK 2)
54 Jason Costello/Derek Flynn (Ford Escort)
55 Michael Hally/Ray Fitzpatrick (Honda Civic)
56 Patrick Corcoran/Amanda Giles (Toyota Starlet)
57 Colin O'Toole/John McGrath (Opel Corsa)
58 James Browne/Terence McGee (Ford Escort Mk2)
59 Fergus O'Meara/Dermot Browne (Ford Escort MK 2)
60 Paddy O'Rourke/Gearoid O'Regan (Ford Escort MK 2)
61 Liam Davis/Billy Kelleher (Ford Escort)
62 Ken O'Neill/Conor O'Neill (Ford Puma)
63 Keith Power/Johnathon McGrath (Ford Puma)
64 David Delaney/TBA (Ford Fiesta)
65 Damien Finneran /TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC )
66 Liam Egan/Sean Moriarty (Toyota Corolla WRC)
67 John Quin/Alice Quin (Vauxhall Chevette)
68 Tommy O'Sullivan/Mags Costello (Ford Escort G4)
69 Pat Barry/Stephen O'Connell (Ford Sierra Cosworth)
70 Ian Roche/Paul Roche (Peugeot 206)
71 Frank Sweeney/Seamus O'Connor (Ford Escort Mk 2)
72 Pat Price/TBA (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8)
73 Christy Carey/Richard Talbot (Subaru Legacy)
74 Ollie McPhilips/Billy Collins (Toyota Celica 185)
75 Enda Hallinan/Ollie Ward (Honda Civic)
76 Shane McCarthy/Dan Maguire (Peugeot 206)
77 John Morris/Declan Sylver (Ford Escort Cosworth)
78 Pat Ryan/Derry Collins (Ford Escort)
79 Michael O'Connor Jnr/Sinead O'Keeffe (Ford Escort Mk 2)
80 Ed Synan/Kieran Cusack (Ford Puma)
81 Martin Quirke/John Hurley (Talbot Sunbeam)
82 Cyril Wharton/Paul O'Shea (Ford Escort)
83 Michael Conlon/James Croke (Ford Escort Mk2)
84 Michael Kelleher/Norma Lucey (Ford Escort MK 2)
85 Kieran Marshall/Philomena Marshall (Honda Civic Type R)
86 Ian Chadwick/PJ O'Dowd (Subaru Impreza)
87 Tom Cahill/Des Sherlock (Honda Integra)
88 William Kenneally/Seamus Hickey (Ford Escort)
89 Mike Walsh/Ger Ryan (Ford Escort Mk2)
90 Paudie Casey/Maurice McElligott (Toyota Corolla)
91 Jason Clifford/Michael O'Sullivan (Peugeot 205 )
92 Eamon Lee/Peter Howley (Ford Escort)
93 Tom White/Shane McAuliffe (Toyota Starlet)
94 Mike Kenny/Gene Stack (Ford Escort)
95 Thomas Fitzmaurice/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort Cosworth)
96 Ian Laracy /Ray Stack (Ford Escort)
97 Shane Mangan/Donnacha O'Callaghan (Ford Escort)
98 Barry Evans/Daniel Reilly (Citroen C2)
99 Eamon Barrett/Finbar O'Mahony (Ford Escort)
100 Alan Dineen/Tony Dineen (Vauxhall Nova)
101 Emily O'Mahony/Katherine O'Mahony (Ford Puma)
102 Sarah Moynihan/Amy Moynihan (Nissan Micra)
103 Aidan Neville/Joe Crowley (Honda Civic)
104 Diarmuid Lynch/Dan Keane (Ford Escort MK 2)
105 Brian Melia/Doc Doherty (Honda Integra)
106 Liam Mulcaire/Shane Meade (Ford Escort)
107 Paul Manton/John Carroll (Citroen Saxo)
108 Brian Connolly/Trevor Payne (Citroen Saxo)
109 Kieran Bailey/Donal Mullins (Ford Escort)
110 Mark Geraghty/TBA (Opel Corsa)
111 Ger Neeson/Cormac Casey (Ford Puma S1600)
112 Richard White/Jolin Nugent (Peugeot 205 GTI)
113 William Cavanagh/Dorothy Cavanagh (Ford Escort MK 2)
114 David Roe/Robert Nolan (Honda Civic)
115 Tom Curley/Paraic Callanan (Honda Civic)
116 Pat Callanan/Kenneth Sheil (Honda Civic)
117 Kieran Daly/Ruth Guest (Ford Focus)
118 John Collins/Jason O'Brien (Honda Civic)
119 John Murphy/Martin O'Connor (Toyota Corolla)
120 Philip Conneely/Michelle Crowe (Honda Civic)
121 Liam Lynch/Kieran Madden (Toyota Corolla)
122 Owen O'Neill/Kevin Barry (Honda Civic)
123 Ciaran Casey/Paul Reck (Talbot Sunbeam)
124 Tom Gormally/Christopher Crowe (Honda Civic)
125 John Corrigan/Steve Ferriter (Seat Ibeza)
126 Sharon Power/TBA (Ford Ka)
127 Mark Buckley/Michelle Buckley (Ford Ka)
128 Mark Sheahan/TBA (Ford Ka)
129 Tara Duggan/Caroline Maher (Ford Ka)
130 Liam Delaney/Albert Dalton (Honda Civic)
131 Owain Drought/Padraig Ryan (Honda Civic)
132 James Kissane/Tim Kissane (Toyota Corolla)
133 Maurice Browne/James Browne (Ford Escort)
134 Kieran O'Connell/Gerard Buckley (Opel Corsa)
135 Nelius O'Carroll/John Patrick O'Carroll (Talbot Sunbeam)
136 Kevin O'Neill/Tony Murphy (Vauxhall Nova)
137 Niall Doherty/Frank Curtin (Peugeot 206)
138 Batt Dinneen/Gavin Buttimer (Ford Escort)
139 Emmet Callan/Paul Callan (Peugeot 106)
140 John Conneely/Gary Leonard (Ford Escort MK 2)
141 Michael Dennehy/Travis Slattery (Ford Sierra )
142 Kenneth Kelliher/Brendan O'Connor (Ford Escort)
143 Matthew Murphy/Barry O'Donnell (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam)
144 Fergal Heney/Raymond Heney (Toyota Corolla)
145 Tim Enright/Stephen Buckley (Peugeot 205)
146 Paul Kennedy/Kathleen Kennedy (Suzuki Swift)
147 Kieran McBride/Kevin Duffy (Honda Civic)
148 Con Mulcahy/Jonathan Keane (Talbot Sunbeam)
149 Pat O'Sullivan/Tadhig O'Connell (Opel Corsa)
150 Coleman Hurley/TBA (Opel Astra)
151 Kieran Hayes/Derek Flynn (Peugeot 205 GTI)
152 Gary Reidy/Stephen Reidy (Ford Escort MK 2)

Juniors
J1 Barry Meade/Colin Fitzgerald (Ford Escort)
J2 Patrick Cunningham/Shane O'Brien (Honda Civic)
J3 Thomas O'Keeffe/Donal Keane (Ford Escort)
J4 Martin Horgan/Mike O'Connor (Honda CRX)
J5 Thomas Quaid/Jonathan Bourke (Toyota Corolla)
J6 Brian Kirwan/Andrew Ring (Peugeot 205)
J7 Gary Dineen /Mike Lenihan (Talbot Sunbeam)
J8 Alan Mackey/Orlagh O'Connor (Vauxhall Nova)
J9 David Laddin/Orla McAndrew (Mazda 323)
J10 June Fitzgibbon/Kelly Reilly (Ford Ka)

More details on:
21/03/06
Gareth Jones withdraws as new car will not be ready.
Gareth Jones and Co-Driver David Moynihan have been forced to withdraw from the Circuit of Kerry as the rebuild of the ex Solberg S10 Impreza will not be completed by Prodrive.
The first outing for the Impreza will now be the Circuit of Ireland.

17/03/06
Gareth Jones expected to appear in Subaru Impreza S10
Welsh Rally Driver Gareth Jones expected to appear in Kerry in an ex Solberg S10 Impreza (MT53 SRT), the car used by Mike Oates in 2005.
The car will be prepared by Dom Buckley Motorsport. Primary sponsor will be JCB Finance, other sponsors will include Kumho Tyres & Shell Racing Fuels.

12/03/06
Rally Launched
The Dingle Skellig Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally was officially launched at a function in the Skellig Hotel Dingle last Friday night March 10th by Minister John o Donoghue T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and by Cllr. Toireasa Ferris Mayor of Kerry. Also in attendance were Cllr Seamus Fitzgerald, members of local community and business interests, and Nora Quirke and Betty Hand of the Kerry Branch of Cystic Fibrosis.


Photo: Ray Gavin


Kerry Motor Club is indebted to Minister o Donoghue for making the long trip from Sligo, where earlier that day he flagged the cars away at a ceremonial function for Rally Ireland. Failte Ireland under the leadership of Minster o Donoghue showed great foresight when they approached Motorsport Ireland in an effort to secure a round of the world rally championships for Ireland. This approached has matured into what’s now known as Rally Ireland. There is a very good chance that Ireland will have a round of the World Rally Championships in 2007. A lot of Kerry Motor Club’s top officials are up in Sligo this weekend helping out on Rally Ireland and trying to insure that the Ministers idea becomes a reality in 2007. Ireland as a country has more world rally cars and more competition licence holders per head of population than any other country in the world. The majority of the competitors competing at World Rally Championship level today, started off their careers competing in rallies similar to this years Circuit of Kerry.

In his address Cllr. Fitzgerald said that ‘he welcomed the rally to Dingle as it was economically beneficial to the peninsula’. Cllr. Fitzgerald also said that while watching the 2004 event on television, he was amazed at how much of the Dingle scenery was shown. He believed that you could not buy the type of publicity that an event of this nature generates, especially for an area such as Dingle.

Cllr. Ferris in her address recognised what the benefits of an event like this meant to an area, especially so early in the tourist season. She also congratulated Kerry Motor Club for recognising and supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Society in Kerry.

Donal Lynch clerk of the course for the event in his address said ‘Kerry Motor Club is delighted that The Dingle Skellig Hotel has come on board as their main sponsor and headquarters for the 2006 event’. Donal also said ‘that this event could never take place without the goodwill of the residents on the stages who allow us to close their roads and a big thank you has to go to them’.

Minister o Donoghue in his address said ‘Failte Ireland estimate that an event of this nature is worth in the region of €2.5 million to the local economy’. The Minister went on to say that after his meeting with Max Mosley president of the F.I.A. he believes that Irelands bid to host a round of the World Rally championship stands a very good chance of being successful. If it were, it would be his intention to see this event rotated around the various regions of the country.

The Minister made most of those present envious of him when he informed them that earlier that day at Rally Ireland he got to co-drive for as, he put it ‘the legendary Billy Coleman, probably the best driver that Ireland has ever produced’. The pair did two shakedown stages in a Subaru Impreza.
Despite having to contend with and overcome many obstacles, Donal Lynch Clerk of the Course for the Event and his fellow Kerry Motor Club colleagues report that everything is on target for the event with 220 entries received by the closing date, with competitors from New York, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire have sent in entries. Among the entries are 20 world rally cars and 25 group N machines, with all the top manufacturers Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Skoda represented. There are no less than four former national champions, plus the current holder of the title, Ray Breen and Andrew Purcell from Kilkenny entered. Liam Egan makes the trip from New York and will drive a Donnelly Prepared Corolla wrc.

Michael Barrable makes a welcome return to the Kerry stages, this time in a Ford Focus wrc. All the leading Dunlop class leaders after The Mayo Stages rally have entered as well as all the leading West Coast Top Part class leaders after the Birr Multi Stage Rally. The current West Coast Top Parts champion Alan Ring from Castleisland driving a Subaru N12, the only one of its kind competing any where in the world outside of those used by the Subaru works drivers in the World Production Rally Championship, is also entered.

The Dineen brothers from Ventry are also entered in their 1600 cc Nova. These boys should be quick over Slea Head and Brandon Creek as they live on the stage. Kerry has some of the quickest two wheel drive category drivers in the country and it will be interesting to see how Mike Quinn, John Kearney, Dave Slattery, Willie Power and Tommy o Sullivan will match up against Maurice Moffett, Mick McQuaid, Sean Lyons and Pat Donegan.

The event starts at 9a.m. on Saturday morning with the crews recceeing the stages in their standard road cars. Recccee finishes at 5 p.m. Mechanical Scrutiny of the rally cars begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Moran’s Garage Dingle and will continue up until 8 p.m. This is an ideal opportunity for the public to get a close up view of these 300 bhp world rally car’s costing anything from €150,000 to €500,000.

The event uses four stages two to the West and two to the Tralee side of Dingle run twice including the classic stages of Slea Head and Brandon Creek with centralised servicing along the pier in Dingle. Slea Head in particular is a great test of skill and nerve for any driver with nothing but fresh air and a drop in to the Atlantic Ocean on their right hand side for most of it. This stage also has one of the only water ford crossings on any stage in Irish rallying.

Stage 1: Minard Castle 1. Road closed 9 a.m. First car due 10a.m. Road open 12p.m.

Stage 2: Lispole 1. Road closed 9.35a.m. First car due 10.39a.m. Road open 1.20p.m.

Service 1: Pier in Dingle. First car in 11 a.m.

Stage 3: Slea Head 1. Road closed 11 a.m. First car due 11.43 a.m. Road open 2 p.m.

Stage 4: Brandon Creek 1. Road closed 11.50 a. m. First car due 12.38 p.m. Road Open 3 p.m.

Service 2: First car in 1.03 p.m.

Stage 5: Minard Castle 2. Road Closed 1 p. m. First car due 2 p.m. Road open 4.20 p.m.

Stage 6: Lispole 2. Road closed 1.40 p.m. First car due 2.40 p.m. Road open 5.30 p.m.

Service3: First car in 3.03p.m.

Stage 7: Slea Head 2. Road closed 3.10 p.m. First car due 4.05 p.m. Road open 6.30 p.m.

Stage 8: Brandon Creek 2. Road closed 4 p.m. First car due 5 p.m. Road open 7.30 p.m.

Prize giving 9 p.m.

Kerry Motor Club intends to make the rally weekend a festive and family one, ‘party on the pier’ with a mobile gig unit pumping out the current hits in the service area on the pier between 1p.m. and 4p.m. The kids will be treated to sweets, balloons and stickers while the fathers or mothers can have a closer look at the cars being serviced. All that’s need now is some sunshine and some luck on the stages.
08/03/06
Preperations continue for 2006 Circuit of Kerry
The Circuit of Kerry Rally is always an eagerly awaited event in the calendar of motor enthusiasts. Fans are in for an even bigger treat this year as it returns to the very fast and much loved by competitors’ classic stages of the Dingle Peninsula.

Both locals and visitors alike to the West Kerry Area on Sunday April 2nd will awake to the smell of high-octane fuel and to the sound of a different horsepower, that of the four-wheel variety when Kerry Motor Club host round two of both The Dunlop National Rally and The Top Part West Coast rally Championships. The Top Part Rally championship is now the most supported Regional championship in the country and is sponsored by local Tralee businessman Donie Dillane of Kingdom Motor Factors. The Headquarters for the event is the Skellig Hotel, Dingle.

Despite having to contend with and overcome many obstacles, Donal Lynch Clerk of the Course for the Event and his fellow Kerry Motor Club colleagues report that ‘everything is on target for the event and the entries are pilling in’. The event uses four stages run twice with centralised servicing in Dingle.

The economic benefit of an event like this to an area results in a lot of approaches from business interests to have the event based in their area. The benefits to accommodation providers, restaurants, pubs, shops and petrol stations, will be a tremendous start to the tourist season, especially at a time when tourists are pretty scarce on the ground. With 171 crews competing, plus their mechanical and technical support personnel, 500 volunteer marshals, medical and other services necessary for the running of a successful national rally and the many thousand of spectators who turn up will lead to a real party atmosphere, especially as the rally is based in the town of Dingle, for the first time since the late 1990’s.

Preparations for the event kick off this Friday night March 10th in the Skellig Hotel when Mr. John o Donoghue Minister for Sport & Tourism will officially launch this year’s event. Also in attendants will be the Mayor of Kerry Cllr. Toireasa Ferris, all local politicians and members from local and business organisations.

Involvement in motorsport is costly and all motorsport events are run on a break-even basis. Each year Kerry Motor Club as a goodwill gesture to the local residents on the stages for putting up with being inconvenienced for the weekend, donate a percentage of the revenue generated from the sale of the event programme. This year the nominated charities are the Cystic Fibrosis Society and the Munster Air Ambulance organisation.

14/02/06
Circuit of Kerry heads back to Dingle
After an absence of 2 years organisers of this years Circuit of Kerry Rally are delighted to announce that this years rally will return to the beautiful and scenic town of Dingle with new sponsors The Dingle Skellig Hotel.

Headquarters for the event will be The Dingle Skellig Hotel and The Management and staff are delighted to be involved with this year’s event and welcome all competitors and their crews to the Dingle Peninsula. The Hotel which has just undergone major refurbishment now has 72 luxurious new rooms and includes the award winning Coastguard Restaurant, Blaskets Bar, Leisure Club and outdoor Canadian Hot tub and relaxation suite overlooking Dingle Bay.

Clerk of the Course and well known competitor Donal Lynch and his team have been working hard over the past few months and have decided on a 4 x 2 stage format consisting of approximately 112 stage kilometres with centralised servicing in Dingle town.151 crews will start the main event with 20 junior crews joining the rally for the last 4 stages. The rally which is round 2 of both The Dunlop National Rally Championship and Top Part West Coast Rally Championship is sure to attract some of the top Irish and overseas crews battling it out for overall honours on these top class and demanding stages which have some of the best scenic views in Ireland

Regulations will be posted to competitors on Friday 17th of February and will also be available to download @ www.kerrymotorclub.com from Wednesday the 15th of February.
Any competitors who do not receive regulations in the post or who do not have access to the internet and wish to receive regulations can send a S.A.E to the Entry Secretary:
Siobhan Lynch, 47 Kileen Heights, Tralee, Co. Kerry.

Entry Fee for this year’s event is €500 main field and €290 for juniors. Closing date for entries is Friday the 10th of March 2006.

Regulations and entry on line from the 15th February:

Topics: Circuit of Kerry 

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