Kerry's Noel O'Sullivan and Derry's Callum Devine pounce for last-gasp Circuit of Ireland win
For much of the weekend, The Circuit of Ireland appeared to be firmly in the grasp of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin
Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan snatched a dramatic last-minute victory at the Circuit of Ireland over the weekend after a chaotic penultimate stage turned the leader board on its head.
The Skoda Fabia RS crew now head into the Rally of the Lakes, aiming for their fourth consecutive victory at the local event. For much of the weekend, The Circuit of Ireland appeared to be firmly in the grasp of Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin in their Citroën C3.
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Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: No fear of the unknown for championship leader Eddie Doherty
It doesn't really bother Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) that he will be in somewhat unfamiliar places and situations this weekend. As he continues his quest to win the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the former county minor hurler has never competed in the Cavan Rally, this Sunday's third round of the campaign. Following an impressive victory in the previous round - the Circuit of Kerry - he has grabbed a nine-point lead in the series - the first time he has ever led by more than a handful of points. Agreeing that a good reconnaissance of the stages is key, he said, "We don't treat these things any different to what we do any other rally weekend. The Circuit of Kerry was our first time doing it and we were able to win the rally. I don't think any more into it, that process could wreck your head. It's great to have a competitive entry and there are four of five (drivers) doing the Maiden City Rally on Saturday and they will have plenty of seat time. The national series is our primary concern for this year." He concluded: "Last year I made the mistake thinking about points and at the end of the year it didn't work out. You have to win rallies to get a good championship result." What will be familiar though is his championship opposition that includes Josh and Sam Moffett in Hyundai's, Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2, Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally2), Donegal trio David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and the Skoda Fabia Rally2 cars of Michael and Declan Boyle, local ace Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Cork's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is also in the top ten. Meanwhile and in the absence of series leader William Creighton from this weekend's Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, the third round of the Probite British Rally Championship is likely to have a new frontrunner with M-Sport's Romet Jurgenson, the FIA Rally Star and reigning Junior WR champion favourite to capitalise. A family wedding has ruled Creighton out on this occasion while top seed and last year's rally winner Keith Cronin withdrew his entry following his accident of the Rally of the Lakes and is pausing his rallying for the immediate future to concentrate on business interests. Estonian Jurgenson (25) is aiming to secure back-to-back wins but Welsh aces James Williams (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) and Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), local hero Garry Pearson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Max McRae (Citroen C3 Rally2) will aim to deny him the spoils. Evans is targeting a strong result. 'We certainly go to the event with confidence, having had a strong run on the Rally of the Lakes. Although the Scottish stages are a lot different in character to the ones in Killarney, the plan is to carry that form into this weekend and put in another good performance." Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) is a late entry. In the Junior BRC, Irish drivers Kyle McBride, Joe Kelly and Kalum Graffin, all in Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, will be chasing maximum points. Beginning with the Langton Mill stage and its iconic water splash, there are six stages this evening and eight more tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship reaches midpoint with tomorrow's Derry based Maiden City Rally. Local ace Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally) heads a competitive entry that includes series leader, Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5), who is seeded at nine. Like many others Kesh driver Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is utilising the rally as a shakedown for the Donegal International. That grouping also includes Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2), Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and recent winner of the Tipperary Forest Rally, Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Glengormley's Derek McGarrity (VW Polo GTi R5) returns to the series as Warrenpoint's Peadar Hurson and Strabane's Aidan Wray in VW Polo GTi R5's along with Joe McGonigle (Citroen C3 Rally2) round out the top ten. The first of the day's seven stages starts at 9.53am.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan claim fourth successive victory in the Rally of the Lakes
Taking the lead on the Moll's Gap stage on Sunday morning, Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan went on to claim a fourth successive victory in the Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. On the 14-stage event, underpinned by Assess Ireland, they finished 14 seconds ahead of Welsh driver Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) guided by Killarney's Ger Conway with the Hyundai i20 Rally2 of Welsh ace Matt Edwards and his Cork born co-driver David Moynihan 4.3s further behind in third. Saturday's action was over a loop of three stages - two to the east and one to the north of Killarney - all repeated three times. Onboard his Citroen C3 Rally2, reigning Irish Tarmac champion Keith Cronin was in superb form and with three fastest stage times the Ballylickey ace moved into an impressive 13.7s lead. "There's a lot of loose gravel on the first two stages, the third stage is fine," said Cronin at the Liebherr service complex, cautiously adding: "I'm not one hundred per cent confident yet, we made a few improvements to the car and they are working well but I have a small bit of understeer." Evans occupied second spot - 5.1s ahead of Devine with Edwards (fourth) 19.1s off top spot in a top six completed by David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5). While Devine was Cronin's closest pursuer on SS1 (Headford), Doherty showed fine pace and slotted into second on SS2 (Lisbabe) despite issues with the pop-off valve that proved more of a distraction than anything else. He remarked: "The tyres didn't work for that third stage (Red Bog) and I lost a good bit of time." Evans, akin to others found a patch of water on SS2, that like the opening stage was quite gravelly. Cronin's rally ended abruptly on SS4 when his Citroen seemed to be a little airborne entering a lefthander, unfortunately, it careered to the right, clipped a bank before it rolled several times. Fortunately, himself and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin escaped injury. Their demise promoted Evans into the lead that stood at 2.5s from Edwards with Devine and Doherty tying for third, a further 6.7s behind. Stage by stage the quartet eased themselves away from the chasing pack led by Donegal's Michael Boyle (VW Polo GTi R5), who was 28.1s further adrift. Evans could have been further ahead were it not for stalling his Toyota GR Yaris on SS5 while a delay at the start of SS6 led to cold tyres. Devine benefitted from a few tweaks to what he described as a "few things" while Doherty, once more couldn't find the pace on the final stage. "It must be the car as I think I am going as hard as I can." Edwards was ramping up his pace and with a growing confidence, it came as no surprise when he took the lead on SS7 where Devine also upped his pace, Evans was second but a 1.7s blanket covered the top trio illustrating the intensity of the rally. Edwards was best on the final two stages and led Evans at the overnight halt by 4.8s with Devine ominously close - half a second further behind. Doherty, Michael Boyle and Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia Rally2) completed the top six. Rob Duggan (Ford Escort) led the Modified category by almost a minute but experienced alternator trouble while fellow local Colin O'Donoghue had issues with the water pump of his Escort. With more experience than his rivals over the first run over Moll's Gap and Ballaghbeama it came as no surprise that Devine dominated both and moved into an 8.7s lead over Edwards with Evans another 6.3s behind. Devine admitted to pushing hard on "The Gap" where he clipped a bale soon after the start. Then, on Shanara, Edwards was quickest to trim the deficit to 7.1s. Edwards was happy given his lack of experience as his Hyundai had some understeer on the fast corners. Evans was an additional 5.1s behind in third. Doherty, who was 24s quicker on the Gap than he was twelve months ago, remained in fourth while Declan Boyle leapfrogged his son Michael into fifth when the latter slipped of the Ballaghbeama stage and dropped time. Declan's Skoda boiled the brakes at the start of Moll's Gap and he had no brake pedal until around two kilometres into the classic stage. Devine sealed a fine win courtesy of the best times on the repeat of Moll's Gap and Ballaghbeama and he eased off to claim the laurels. Evans edged out Edwards for third spot after the latter punctured on the penultimate stage. The top six was unchanged as seventh placed Rob Duggan (Escort) took the Modified honours. Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes (Round 3, NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Killarney 1. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1h. 48m. 15.7s 2. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+14.0s 3. M. Edwards/D. Moynihan (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+18.3s 4. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5) 42.7s 5. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+2m. 35.9s 6. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (VW Polo GTI R5) +2m. 43.3s 7. R. Duggan/J. McCarthy (Ford Escort)+5m. 12.3s 8. R. Caldwell/S. O'Brien (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+5m. 14.6s 9. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5m. 30.3s 10. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+5m. 49.7s.
RTÉ News
04-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Absence of Mike Gaine from rally described as dark shadow
The organisers of the International Rally of the Lakes, taking place this weekend in Killarney, Co Kerry, have described the absence of Mike Gaine from this year's event as a dark shadow. Mr Gaine, who has been missing from his home in Kenmare for more than six weeks, is a former participant in the rally. Cars in this year's event are carrying his image with an appeal for information about him. The May bank holiday weekend has been synonymous with the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney for almost 50 years. This year, 170 cars from across Ireland, Britain and elsewhere went to the start line, many of them carrying images of Mike Gaine with appeals for information about his whereabouts. Rally organisers say they wanted to show their solidarity with Mike Gaine's family. "It's definitely a dark shadow, and the campaign now is to bring Mike home," rally organiser and Chairman of Killarney and District Motor Club, Tommy Randles, told RTÉ News. Tommy Randles lives in Kenmare and is a friend of Mike Gaine. "He was a cool character, never got too excited, a deep thinker that would steady things," he said. "He read a lot and he had an interesting view on a lot of thinkgs." In a practical way, Killarney and District Motor Club has printed 6,500 programmes for this weekend's rally and their appeal and Mike Gaine's story takes up a page in that programme. "For his family not knowing, that there is no conclusion is the real factor to this, it's devastating," said Rally of the Lakes Clerk of the Course, Dermot Healy. "His sister, Catherine, I would know pretty well because she's living in Killarney for many years, his other sister and his wife: it's absoutely devastating for the whole family." Many of those taking part in this year's event participated in the rally previously with Mike Gaine, either as his driver or as his navigator. Brian Hickey from Kenmare, one of the local drivers is this year's event, described being navigator for Mike Gaine during the Rally of the Lakes as "an experience". He said their participation one year came to an end when one of the back wheels came off their car and passed them out. "Mike asked: what's that!" Brian Hickey recalled. "Mike was a gentleman," he added. "He had a heart of gold. Rallying was a passion as well as his farming. He was very good to us, we were very good to him and we had a great friendship, you know. "There's five of us hung around together and the way I can only describe it to you is that one of our digits is missing." Another one of those five, Adrian Randles from Kenmare, described Mike Gaine as a great support to all of them. "He had a fierce knowledge of what went on in the history of rallying," Adrian Randles said. "Stuff we will never again hear, Mike had it." Mr Gaine was last seen in Kenmare on the morning of 20 March, where he purchased phone credit in the local Centra shop. His bronze-coloured Toyota RAV4 was found in his farmyard the following day. There were a number of personal items in the car. Detectives at the incident room in Killarney continue to work on the case this weekend. The re-classification of the investigation into Mike Gaine's disappearance mid-week means the investigation team based at Killarney Garda Station has now been expanded with the addition of several more detectives. There is a change in the type of resources being deployed to the investigation, but there is no change in the scale of the effort to establish exactly what happened.
