Circuit of Kerry Stages Rally - 2 Apr 23

Entry List Updates (Evo Link)

Posted: March 27, 2023 2:50 PM

https://www.shannonsportsit.ie/evo/Public?action=list&event=IE-KERY-CK23

Bumper Entry for Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally

Posted: March 27, 2023 2:47 PM

A record number of previous winners have entered the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally – the second round of the Triton Showers Irish National Rally Championship

Seven past winners of the Kerry Motor Club event are on the entry list but ironically, the top seed has never won in Tralee.

Defending Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally champion Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5) from County Monaghan and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty will have the hour of leading the 150-car field away on Sunday morning.

Ahead line nine classic Kerry tests including three runs over the daunting Desmond’s Grave, one of the most popular and challenging roads in Ireland.

Winners of the Midland Moto Rally in early March Callum Devine (Derry) and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan start at two in their Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

They led the opening round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship from start to finish

The first of the seven previous winners, Darren Gass, starts at three. The Armagh-based Citroen C3 Rally 2 driver won the Circuit of Kerry in 2011. He and co-driver Barry McNulty are in third place in the 2023 Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

Donegal’s Declan Boyle won the rally in 2014 and 2006. He and his Welsh co-driver Patrick Walsh return in another Polo Giti.

Walsh is also the first of many overseas competitors in the rally.

Waterford’s Andrew Purcell will have London-based Kerry co-driver Shane Buckley on the notes in their Skoda Fabia R5

Both Walsh and Buckley and many more will be fighting to take home to London Irish Motor Club Perpetual Shield which is presented to the highest-placed overseas competitor in the event.

Gary Kiernan and John McCabe top the Modified entry in their Ford Escort, one place ahead of Mark Alcorn and Donal McAleney in a similar car. Both drivers won the national section of the first two international rallies in Ireland this year.

The top ten is completed by the Wicklow/Mayo pairing of Daniel Barry and Lorcan Moore (Skoda Fabia R5), the all-Cork crew of Daniel Cronin and Donnchadh Burke (Polo GTI R5) and Monaghan’s Richard Moffett Darragh Kelly (Toyota Starlet RWD).

Triton Showers Paul Barrett will drive a Citroen C3 Rally

The latter two drivers are previous winners of the Kerry Winter Rally and will be hoping to bring home even more silverware from the Kingdom this weekend.

Other top modified drivers include Ed O'Callaghan from Limerick and Donegal’s Kevin Gallagher in a Darrian T90 GT9r.

Fan favourites Gary McPhillips from Monaghan and Frank Kelly from Tyrone are also on the modified entry list.

PAST WINNERS

It is four years since the Circuit of Kerry last ran. Daragh O'Riordan and Mikey Walsh from Cork were the winners last time out in a Ford Fiesta R5amd they are the third previous winners to take to the start line.

Others include historic class drivers Alan Ring (BMW M3) who won in 2015 and Welsh visitor Gwyndaf Evans (Ford Escort) a double winner in `1992 and 1994.

Ken Lyons was the 1987 winner, and the Limerick driver returns in a Ford Escort.

Tim McNulty won the last Circuit of Kerry that was based in Dingle back in 2006 and he returns in another Polo GTI R5.

OVERSEAS ENTRIES

Kerry Motor Club has attracted a sizeable overseas entry to the Circuit of Kerry Rally.

Aside from the aforementioned, multiple Scottish champion David Bogie makes his first appearance in Kerry in a Ford Escort.

Welshman Hugh Hunter has won several forest rallies in his native land, and he will make his second visit to the Circuit of Kerry in his Ford Fiesta. He will be joined by his Countryman Steve Woods, a previous podium finisher in Tralee and former Circuit of Munster winner.

He will be followed over the start ramp by the English/Welsh crew of John Stone and Dafydd Evans in a Polo GTI R5.

London-based Cork man Michael O’Brien will steer and Ford Focus on the event and he will be joined by fellow London Irish Motor Club member Paul McDevitt who is the top historic seed in the rally.

Son and father Tomas and Ian Davies will drive an Escort and a BMW M3 in the rally. Tomas finished third overall in Kerry four years ago and the Welsh man was the inaugural winner of the London Irish shield on that occasion.

Kerry brothers Ross Hilliard and Joey Hilliard are another crew to represent the London Irish Motor Club in their Ford Escort.

Tralee businessman and sponsor of the RallyTown event in Tralee town centre on Saturday afternoon will drive an Opel Corsa. His co-driver Niall Mulcahy will travel from the Netherlands for the rally.

Three drivers will return home from Australia for the rally. Kerry’s Amy Burke and Limerick’s Donal Balfe are both based in Perth and East Kerry’s Billy McCarthy currently lives in Brisbane.

TOP PART 30 YEARS.

The rally is also a round of the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship. The championship is 30 years old this year and Tralee-based motor factor group Top Part has been the title sponsor since day one.

Kenmare’s Vincent O'Shea had the honour of being the first-ever West Coast champion in 1993 and he is back this year in a Darrian T90.

He was co-driven by Brian Hickey 30 years ago and he is also on the entry list but as a driver this time out.

LOCAL ENTRY

There are nearly 50 cars on the entry list representing the hosts Kerry Motor Club and neighbouring Killarney and District Motor Club.

Leading drivers from Kerry include Mike Quinn (Ford Escort) Tom Relihan (Escort Mk2) and defending Moriarty’s Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry champion Darren Young.

Mark Murphy will drive a Toyota Starlet while both Sean Enright and Conor Walsh are Escort mounted. Eddie Kennelly will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of his first Circuit of Kerry start.

Top Killarney drivers include Denis Hickey, Tadhg O'Sullivan, Charlie Hickey, Dave Slattery, and Thomas Randles in a fleet of Ford Escorts. Kevin O'Donohoe will drive a BMW M3 in the event.

Raymond O'Neill, Cyril Wharton, and Peter Kelly are another trio of Killarney-based Escort drivers.

EVENT SCHEDULE

The Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry gets underway on Friday night with an overseas visitor reception in the rally headquarters.

Saturday is devoted to sign-on, route recce and mechanical scrutiny which will take place at Kelliher’s Toyota garage.

RallyTown – a static display of some of the top cars taking part in the event, returns for a second year and will run in The Mall, in Tralee town centre from 1 pm until 5 pm on Saturday.

The nine-stage rally starts at 830 am on Sunday, there will be a service halt at the Rose Hotel after every three stages at 10:55 am and at 1:45 pm ahead of the finish celebrations at the hotel around 4:30 pm.

An official programme will be on sale in local outlets before the end of the week and this official publication contains the full entry list, timetable and route maps. The purchase of a programme helps the club offset some of the costs it takes to put on an event of this scale.

Photo: Sean Moriarty

Seeded Entry List

Posted: March 26, 2023 1:39 PM

1 Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
2 Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
3 Darren Gass/Barry McNulty (Citroen C3 Rally2) [5]
4 Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
5 Andrew Purcell/Shane Buckley (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
6 Gary Kiernan/John McCabe (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
7 Mark Alcorn/Donal McAleney (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
8 Daniel Barry/Lorcan Moore (Skoda Fabia R5) [5]
9 Daniel Cronin/Donnchadh Burke (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
10 Richard Moffett/Darragh Kelly (Toyota Starlet RWD) [14]
11 ED O'Callaghan/Kaine Treanor (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
12 Kevin Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
14 Aidan Wray/TBA (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
15 Enda O'Brien/John Butler (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
16 Daragh O'Riordan/Mikey Walsh (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
17 Jason McSweeney/Liam Brennan (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
18 Brendan Cumiskey/Martin Connolly (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
19 Paul Barrett/Kevin Reilly (Citroen C3 Rally2) [5]
20 David Bogie/John Rowan (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
21 Gary McPhillips/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
22 Frank Kelly/Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
23 Mike Quinn/Kieran Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
24 Michael Carbin/Dean O'Sullivan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) [20]
25 Chris O'Callaghan/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
26 Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
27 Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
28 Hugh Hunter/TBA (Ford Fiesta) []
29 Raymond Conlon/Gavin Doherty (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [13]
30 John Warren/Ruthann O'Connor (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [13]
31 David Moffett/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
32 Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
33 Aaron Machale/Derek Brannigan (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
34 Keith Lyons/JJ Cremin (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
35 Gareth Sayers/Gareth Gilchrist (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
36 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
37 Steve Wood/Kenny Hull (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
38 John Stone/Dafydd Evans (VW Polo GTI R5) [5]
39 Cal McCarthy/Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2) [5]
40 Michael O'Brien/Michael Maher (Ford Fiesta WRC) [7]
41 Tom Relihan/Maurice McElligott (Ford Escort Mk1) [13]
42 Darren Young/Sean Walsh (Honda Civic) [11F]
43 Des Lyons/Ashling McArdle (Honda Civic EG6) [11F]
44 Ed Synan/Denis O'Connell (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
45 Vincent O'Shea/Eoin O'Donoghue (Darrian T90) [14]
46 Stephen Greaney/Johnny Folan (Ford Escort) [14]
47 Denis Hickey/Eoin O'Leary (Ford Escort) [14]
48 Tadhg O'Sullivan/Keith McCarthy (Ford Escort) [7]
49 Kevin O'Donohoe/John McElhinney (BMW M3) [14]
50 Charlie Hickey/Charlene Hickey (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
51 Dave Slattery/Denis Coffey (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
52 Ken Lyons/Paddy McDonnell (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
53 Gwyndaf Evans/Jordon Jones (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
54 Thomas Randles/Cathal Quill (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
55 Dylan Donoghue/Kirsty O'Callaghan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
56 Johnny O'Connor/Mike Breen (Mitsubishi Mirage RS) [20]
57 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (BMW M3) [19]
58 Paul McDevitt/Ray Fitzpatrick (Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2) [18]
59 Tomas Davies/Eurig Davies (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [18]
60 Sean Lyons/Emel McNamara (Ford Escort Mk2) [19]
61 Ian Davies/Gwynfor Jones (BMW M3) [19]
62 Eoghan Fogarty/Cian Fogarty (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [17]
63 Tomas O'Rourke/Tomas Scallan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [4]
64 Paul Manton/Derek Gibbs (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
65 Ryan McHugh/Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
66 Anthony Hand/David McCrudden (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
67 Mark Murphy/Damien Fleming (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
68 James Cassidy/Domhnall Lennon (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
69 Sean Moynihan/Padraig O'Donovan (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
70 Sean Enright/Kevin Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
71 Eddie Kennelly/Paul McGlinchey (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
72 Raymond O'Neill/Jason O'Connor (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
73 Ryan McArdle/Conor Moloughney (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
74 Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne (Ford Fiesta) [2]
75 Cian Caldwell/Liam Egan (Ford Fiesta) [2]
76 Robbie Allen/Emer Kearns (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
77 Shay Laheen/Kerrill Dempsey (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
78 Pat Kelly/Jonathan Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [20]
79 Jer O'Donovan/Sean Hayde (Ford Fiesta R5) [5]
80 Michael Cahill/Conor Lappin (Ford Escort) [11R]
81 Conor Walsh/Sean Mulvihill (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
82 Colm Browne/Michael Browne (Ford Escort) [12]
83 Cyril Wharton/Donal Falvey (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
84 Bob Moran/Eoin Collins (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
85 Sam Johnston/David Gibbons (Honda Civic EG6) [11F]
86 David Healy/Stephen McGing (Honda Civic EG6) [11F]
87 Jack Brennan/John McGrath (Renault Clio Rally5) [1]
88 Peter Kelly/TBA (TBA) []
89 Eamon Daly/John Falvey (Toyota) []
90 Niall O'Connell/Tommy O'Connor (Citroen C2 R2 MAX) [11F]
91 Keith Costello/Rosaleen Kelly (Ford Fiesta) [2]
92 Sean Hickey/Noel Fleming (Toyota Starlet RWD) [12]
93 Katie Quinn/Ciara O'Connell (Honda Civic) [2]
94 Craig Rahill/Conor Smith (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
95 Jack McKenna/Damian Doherty (Honda Civic) [16]
96 Conor Wilson/Sean Marsh (Ford Fiesta Rally4) [2]
97 Brian Hickey/Noel Murphy (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
98 Lloyd Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick (Austin Mini Cooper S) [9]
99 Paul Cloke/Liam Howlett (Honda Civic) [3]
100 John Hickey/Michelle Hickey (Fubaru) [20]
101 Aidan Walsh/Kieran Bailey (Ford Escort) [13]
102 Jason Costello/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
103 Ger O'Brien/John Liston (Ford Escort) [13]
104 PJ O'Dowd/Patrick Lawlor (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
105 Paul Cullen/Brian Rowan (Opel Corsa) [10]
106 Declan Gannon/Ivan Gannon (Ford Fiesta) [20]
107 Liam Mulcaire/Steve Meskell (Ford Escort Mk1) [12]
108 Mick Lonergan/Áine Phelan (Honda Civic Type R) [11F]
109 Mossie Costello/Megan Costello (Honda Civic) [16]
110 Jamie O'Rourke/Patrick Brislane (Honda Civic EG6) [16]
111 John Michael Kennelly/John Fleming (Honda Civic) [16]
112 Mikey Ryan/Eoghan Doherty (Honda Civic) [16]
113 Joe Browne/Jack Shealy (Honda Civic 1.6VTI) [16]
114 Eamonn Barrett/Adrian O'Gorman (Ford Escort) [9]
115 Dominic McLoughlin/Emer Kearns (Peugeot 206) [13]
116 Alan Costello/Paddy Costello (Ford Escort Mk2) [10]
117 Daniel Dunne/David Dunne (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
118 Patrick Slattery/Tommy Commane (Subaru Impreza) [15]
119 Ross Hilliard/Joey Hilliard (Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1) [18]
120 Brian Comiskey/Declan Campbelll (Subaru Impreza) [15]
121 Pat Price/Andy Curran (Subaru Impreza N12B) [4]
122 Hazel O'Callaghan/Ella Ryan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
123 Kieran Roarty/Micheal O'Donnell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
124 Colum Browne/Kieran Carroll (Honda Civic) [11F]
125 Padraig Coll/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
126 Des Roche/Dan Browne (Honda Civic EK4) [1]
127 Gerry Casey/Conor Duffy (Ford Escort) [13]
128 Gavin Sheill/Ken Blanche (Ford Fiesta ST) [1]
129 Rory Carroll/John Conway (Ford Escort) [12]
130 Michael Forde/James Flanagan (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
131 Michael Ormond/Paddy King (Honda Civic Type R) [3]
132 Pa Malone/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
133 Pat Ryan/Jack Dalton (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
134 Podge Cronin/Josh Radford (Honda Civic) [9]
135 Nelius O'Carroll/Tim Diggin (Ford Escort G3) [13]
136 Michael (ray) Stack/Gene Stack (Ford Escort) [6]
137 Maurice Browne/Chris Browne (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
138 Brendan Furlong/Jack Harris (Peugeot 205 GTi) [10]
139 Mike Walsh/John Nugent (Ford Escort) [12]
140 Jason McConnon/Daniel McConnon (Peugeot 208 R2) [1]
141 Michael Dowling/Stephen Buckley (Ford Escort Mk1) [13]
142 Justin Comer/Ken Flanagan (Ford Escort) [13]
143 John Corrigan/Niall Mulcahy (Opel Corsa) [13]
144 Stephen O'Connor/Jonathan O'Shea (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
145 James Hall/Tony McCarthy (Audi Coupe) [19]
146 Donal Balfe/David Carmody (Honda Civic) [11F]
147 Francis Kelly/Kasey McKeon (Honda Civic) [3]
148 Colin Mullins/Cathal Mullins (Honda Civic EK4) [1]
149 Amy Burke/Eugene Cronin (Ford Fiesta Mk1) [11R]
150 Gearóid O'Regan/Brian Martyn (Honda Civic Type R) [11R]
151 Colin Neligan/Damien O'Donovan (Suzuki Swift) [9]

Reserve List 152 Billy McCarthy/TBA (Nissan Micra) [9]
153 Robert Counihan/Timmy Kelly (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [13]
154 Maurice Kennelly/Eoin Mulvihill (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
155 David Leslie/Melissa Leslie (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
156 Cathal Mulcaire/Podge Doody (Ford Escort Mk2) [12]
157 Anthony Cullinane/Liam Dennehy (Ford Escort) [13]
158 Peter Wilson/John McCarthy (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
159 Donal Flynn/Denny Greaney (Toyota Toyota) [11R]
160 Conor McCarthy/Gavin Sheehan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
161 Kieran Fitzgerald/Denis O'Leary (Toyota Starlet) [11F]
162 Aaron Doran/Eoin Kinsella (Honda Civic) [16]
163 Mark Martley/TBA (Talbot Sunbeam) [6]
164 Gareth Deazley/Ben Thompson (Ford Fiesta) [11F]
165 Greg O'Brien/Jake Lennon (Honda Civic) [11F]
166 Aaron Martley/TBA (Toyota Corolla Twincam) [13]
167 Alan Doherty/Colm Doherty (Toyota Starlet) [13]
168 Mark O'Leary/Andrew Cronin (Toyota Starlet) [9]
169 Jason Mitchell/Paddy McCrudden (VW Polo GTI R5) [6]
170 Joseph Kelly/Ronan Comerford (Peugeot 208 Rally4) [2]
171 Hugh Sheehan/Declan Casey (Honda Civic EG6) [11F]
172 Tom Holton/Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta) [2]
173 Tim Flood/Anthony Smith (Ford Escort) [13]
174 Barry Morris/Dylan Doonan (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
175 Cyril Casey/Sean Nolan (Ford Fiesta) [2]
176 Letisha Conn/Stephen Conn (Ford Fiesta) [2]
177 Scott Singleton/Ashley Trimble (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
178 James McCarville/Liam Doherty (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
179 Kevin Dolphin/Mannion Dave (Ford Escort Mk2) [14]
180 Michael Brazil/John Burke (Peugeot 205 RWD) [13]
181 Derek Butler/Diarmuid O'Shea (Honda Civic) [11F]
182 Seamus Morris/Jarlath Kelly (Darrian T90 GTR) [14]
183 William Nolan/Evan Downey (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
184 Andrew Lehane/Cliff Desmond (Honda Civic) [11F]
185 Dáire Gleeson/Shane O'Mahony (Ford Escort) [11R]
186 Rory Thomas/Aidan Thomas (Ford Escort) [13]
187 James John Wall/Pauline Knowles (Ford Escort) [13]
188 Ciaran Casey/Steven Clarke (Talbot Sunbeam) [11R]
189 Patrick O'Connor/Harry Stubbs (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) [20]
190 John Joe Williams/Kenny Bustard (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
191 Kevin Wilson/Katie Wilson (Hyundai i20 R5) [5]
192 Brian Bolger/Andrew Cullen (Ford Fiesta Rally2) [5]
193 Paul Crosby/Eoin Lennon (Toyota Starlet RWD) [11R]
194 Jason Tuthill/TBA (Ford Escort) [13]
195 Gerard Greene/Jamsie Ward (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
196 Kieran O'Kane/Barry McGleenon (Opel Ascona) [14]
197 John Smithwick/Alex Wilsdon (Ford Escort) [11R]
198 Patrick Herity/David McSorley (Toyota Corolla Twin Cam) [11R]
199 Eugene Meegan/Paul McPhillips (BMW CSL) [14]
200 Lee Burke/Sean Mitchell (Ford Escort Mk2) [11R]
201 Michael Lucey/TBA (Honda Civic) [11F]
202 Ronan Clohessy/Ailis O'Loughlin (Honda Civic EK4) [11F]
203 Jamie Lally/Nathan Maguire (Honda Integra) [11F]
204 Micheal O'Donovan/George Swanton (Opel Corsa GSi) [10]
205 Daniel O'Leary/TBA (Ford Escort G3) [13]
206 Michael O'Regan/Shane Dillon (Honda Civic) [11F]

Press Release: 2023 Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Launched with record entry

Posted: March 23, 2023 4:22 PM

The 2023 Circuit of Kerry Rally was officially launched in a formal night at the Rally HQ and title sponsor The Rose Hotel, Tralee on Wednesday night. Guests of honour at the launch were the Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy, President of Tralee Chamber Alliance Nathan McDonnell, and Cllr Terry O’Brien whose brother Tom was a founding member of Kerry Motor Club 51 years ago.

Entries have been of a huge standard and some of the top crews in the country have signed up to take part in this year's event, which is Round 2 of the Triton National Rally Championship as well as counting rounds for the Top Part West Coast Championship and the Moriarty’s Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry Championship

Among the top crews committed to the trip to Kerry are the championship leaders Callum Devine and Kerry Motor Club Co-Driver Noel O’Sullivan. Having won the opening round of the National Championship just a couple of weeks ago, the Derry/Kerry crew will be one of the pre-event favourites.

But they will have their work cut out to leave Tralee with a win, as the winners of last weekend's West Cork Rally and defending National champions Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty also committing to the rally in their Hyundai i20 R5.

Multiple former winners of the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry rally will also make a return to the event next week. The winner the last time the rally took place in 2019 Darragh O’ Riordan will attempt to defend his crown in a Ford Fiesta.

Kerry driver and 2015 overall winner Alan Ring will drive his BMW M3 in the Historic class. Declan Boyle, who won the event in 2014 returns in his Volkswagen Polo Rally 2, as does Darren Gass, the 2011 winner returns in a Citroen C3 Rally 2.

Niall Maguire and Ken Lyons will also try to roll back the years and take silverware home from Tralee on Sunday week.

There is also a huge overseas interest in the Circuit of Kerry Rally. Multiple Scottish Champion David Bogie will be on the start list in his Ford Escort Mark II, as will Hugh Hunter, the Welshman finished runner-up in 2015 and returns in his Fiesta. John Stone is also making the trip from England in his VW Polo R2.

Billy McCarthy and Amy Burke are both home from Australia for the event and will compete in a Nissan Micra and Ford Fiesta respectively. While Tomas Davis, winner of the London Irish Motor Club shield in 2019 returns after finishing on the podium in 2019.

Leader in the modified section of the National Championship Gary Kiernan will look to extend his lead of the championship. Kiernan took the top step of the West Cork podium last weekend. The runner-up Frank Kelly has also entered the rally. Winner of the Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Stages Rally in 2022 Richard Moffett will also come back to the Kingdom in search of further Kerry Motor Club silverware.

Some of the top Kerry Motor Club crews include Mike Quinn in his Escort with his daughter Katie in a Honda Civic. The Motor Clubs' social media officer Conor Walsh will swap the laptop for a Ford Escort for the day of the event. While John Corrigan of Tralee Quickfit, who is the sponsor of the Rally Town event on Saturday, April 1 will tackle the rally in an Opel Corsa. Niall Mulcahy will be in the co-drivers seat after travelling home from the Netherlands for the event Brother and sister crew of Mossie and Megan Costello will drive a Honda Civic in the rally.

Meanwhile, Paul McDevitt of the London Irish Motor Club and the leader of the Triton Showers National Historic Championship will be hoping for another historic class victory.

The 2023 Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally takes place in the North Kerry area next Sunday, April 2 with three stages running times with trips back to the service park at the Rose Hotel. Keep an eye on the Kerry Motor Club's social media pages for the full-seeded entry list.

Circuit of Kerry Marshal Incentive Scheme launched thanks to local sponsor

Posted: March 23, 2023 4:19 PM

Marshals volunteering for next weekend’s Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry are in for a special bonus thanks to the generosity of one of the event's main sponsors ‘Tralee Quickfit Nice Price Tyres’

The April 2 rally, a counting round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the Top Part West Coast Championship and the Moriarty’s Centra Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship has attracted over 200 entries from all over Ireland and beyond.

The official launch of the rally took place on Wednesday night.

As well as the rally itself, Kerry Motor Club are also hosting a ‘Rally Town’ event, in conjunction with the Tralee Chamber Alliance,

This will include a static display of rally cars in the Mall area of the town. This year’s RallyTown event is kindly sponsored by ‘Tralee Quickfit Nice Price Tyres’ on Rock Street, which was recently acquired by John, Sandy and Lauren Corrigan.

As rally competitors themselves, they understand the huge role the 100s of volunteer marshals play in the rally.

As a result, they will give a €10 voucher, which can be offset against a new set of tyres to all marshals who sign on for the rally.

“This kind of generosity is unknown in rally terms,” said deputy clerk of the course Sean Moriarty at the launch.

“As rally competitors themselves, they know the importance our marshals play in rallying and to repay the marshals in this way is unprecedented.”

RallyTown will run from 12 noon until 6 pm in The Mall, Tralee, on April 1, thanks to support from Kerry County Council and Tralee Chamber Alliance.

The Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry will run over nine stages all day Sunday, April 2. 150 cars will be permitted to start, representing all corners of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, The Netherlands and Australia.

An overseas visitor reception will take place 0n Friday night March 31 in the Rose Hotel to welcome all the foreign participants to Tralee. This is another free event laid on by Kerry Motor Club and by Tralee Chamber Alliance and is open to the public.

Rally Town to return to County Capital on Saturday, April 1

Posted: March 16, 2023 1:45 PM

Kerry Motor Club and the organising committee of the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally are delighted to announce the return of the ‘Rally Town’ event on Saturday, April 1st to coincide with the running of the rally which will take place on Sunday, April 2nd in the Tralee and North Kerry area.

Following the success of the ‘Rally Town’ event in 2019, the motor club has decided to run the event once again on April 1 as a curtain-raiser to the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally, which is the second round of the Triton National Rally Championship and takes place on Sunday, April 2nd. The ‘Rally Town’ event, in conjunction with the Tralee Chamber Alliance, will include a static display of rally cars in the Mall area of the town. This year's event is kindly sponsored by ‘Tralee Quickfit’ on Rock Street, which was recently acquired by John, Sandra and Lauren Corrigan and without their support, the event couldn’t happen.

Rally Town will run from 1 pm until 5 pm on April 1 (subject to final permit granting by Kerry County Council and Tralee Municipal District officials).

Speaking on the event, Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally Clerk of the Course Eoin Duffin said:
“It is fantastic to announce the return of the Rally Town event to Tralee. It is important to bring the rally into the town centre so locals and tourists alike get a chance to see the rally cars and drivers up close. It is also an opportunity for local businesses to get a well-earned spin-off from the rally which takes place the following day.”

Chief Executive of the Tralee Chamber Alliance Colette O Connor said:
“Tralee Chamber Alliance gives its full support to Kerry Motor Club for its event scheduled to take place in the Mall area of the town centre on April 1. We are delighted that the club are bringing a large crowd to Tralee and surrounding areas providing a spectacle for all in the area and are particularly delighted to see it will operate as a family-friendly event, further promoting Tralee as a town that has something for all ages.”

Tralee Quickfit owner John Corrigan said:
“All of us here in Tralee Quickfit is delighted to support the Rally Town event, run by Kerry Motor Club in conjunction with Tralee Chamber Alliance. To have our shop on Rock Street associated with such a spectacular event is something we are very proud of. We would like to thank Kerry Motor Club for the huge effort they are putting in to organise an event of this magnitude. Tralee Quickfit/Nice Price Tyre’s, Rock Street, Tralee - your one-stop shop for Tyres and windscreen replacement in Tralee”

ROSE HOTEL CIRCUIT OF KERRY RALLY TO BE LAUNCHED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND

Posted: March 13, 2023 3:38 PM

The 44th running of the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally will take place on April 2nd and planning is now at an advanced stage for the event.

The rally will be officially launched on Wednesday, March 22nd with proceedings getting underway at The Rose Hotel from 7:30 pm. There will be guest speakers in attendance as well as opportunities to see rally cars up close and personal. There will be a meet and greet with drivers and members of the organising committee and light refreshments will be served.

The event, being run by Kerry Motor Club, is now at an advanced stage of planning. The nine-stage route, which covers over 110km of competitive action, is sure to test some of the best drivers in the country. The route, localised to the North Kerry area includes multiple variations to some classic stages. The Rally HQ will once again be at our title sponsor, The Rose Hotel, with the service park also located on the hotel grounds.

The rally is the second round of the Triton National Rally Championship. Kerry Clubman Noel O Sullivan was on the notes for Callum Devine as the Derry/Kerry combination took the top step of the podium at the championship opener in the Midlands Rally last weekend. The Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry is the opening round of the Top Park West Coast Championship, which is celebrating its 30th year of running, the 3rd round of the IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship and the second round of the local Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry Championsh

ip. Speaking on the launch, 2023 Deputy Clerk of the Course Sean Moriarty said
“I would like to extend an invitation to everybody to come along on Wednesday, March 22nd as we officially launch the rally at The Rose Hotel. We are very much looking forward to welcoming a huge crowd to Tralee on the first weekend of April which is a timely boost to tourism numbers in the town during a typical downtime for the tourism sector. We are very much looking forward to meeting you all for the launch which is sure to be a night of chat and excitement as we build up to the off on April 1st”

Tralee revving up for the first Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally in four years

Posted: February 22, 2023 5:32 AM

The Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally is back after a four-year hiatus. The 2023 event, the 43rd in total, is scheduled for April 1 and 2.

As ever, organisers, Kerry Motor Club have planned a host of innovations that have made the rally one of the most popular one-day events in Ireland.

A nine-stage 110km route over some of north Kerry’s finest rally roads is on offer, including variations of some classics in formats that have not been used for years.

The rally will be based at the Rose Hotel, often rated as the finest rally headquarters in the country as the service park in the hotel’s grounds and all rally-related activities like documentation, drivers briefing and the rally control room are all under one roof.

Triton National Rally Championship – Round 2
Top Part West Coast Championship – Round 1
IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship - Round 3
The Central Car Sales Kingdom of Kerry Championship – Round 2

The Triton National Championship makes a welcome return to Tralee after a five-year absence.
The Top Part West Coast Championship is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and fittingly, the Circuit of Kerry Rally was the opening round of the inaugural championship three decades ago.
The Circuit of Kerry is included in the IPS Packaging Southern 4 Championship for the first time but it is not the first time Kerry Motor Club hosted the series as last year’s Kerry Winter Rally was included in the 2022 championship.
The Kingdom of Kerry Championship has a new title sponsor for this year in the shape of Central Car Sales, Farranfore.

Plans are afoot to bring the rally into the heart of Tralee too, with support from Tralee Chamber Alliance, the Rally Town festival, first introduced for the 2019 event will make a return to The Mall on Saturday afternoon. (April 1).
A reception for overseas visitors will be held in the Rose Hotel on Friday, March 31. International visitors will be racing for the London Irish Motor Club Shield presented by Kerry Motor Club member Sean Moriarty who was a founding member of the London Irish Motor Club in 2006.

“The club and organising committee are well away with organising this year’s event, we have completed the initial route survey and we are delighted to get such support from the local community,” said the clerk of the course Eoin Duffin.
“We are looking forward to welcoming drivers, service crew, volunteers and fans to Tralee on the first weekend of April.

More details will be announced in due course.

Meetings continue every Wednesday night at the Rose Hotel – all are welcome to attend.

On Line Entry / Sportity / Club Website

Posted: February 20, 2023 5:53 AM

On line Entry

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Sportity Password:

Kerry2023
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Sportity Web Link:

https://webapp.sportity.com/channel/Kerry2023

Kerry Motor Club