Rally of the Lakes in Killarney to be crucial in championship race
This weekend's Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney is a crucial and possible defining moment within the context of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. It will be more than a head to head between reigning champion and current leader Ballylickey's Keith Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who is seeking a fourth straight win in Killarney. For Welsh driver Matt Edwards (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) it's a key event insofar as he hasn't finished the previous rounds - the West Cork Rally and the Circuit of Ireland.
Current regulations stipulate the best five scores from the seven events, however, a place has yet to be found for the postponed Galway International Rally (due to Storm Éowyn) and that is a concern, should it not go ahead, the series will be based on the best five from six.
That will put Edwards at an immediate disadvantage, right now though, he won't or can't think about that, yet it's nigh on imperative that he garners major championship points this weekend.
Devine has a strong record in Killarney - a fourth successive win will edge him closer to the all-time record of five set by the late Bertie Fisher. Having missed the opening round, the Derry driver quickly dialled into the pace showing fine form on his return after a six month absence and took advantage of Cronin's late demise to win the recent Circuit of Ireland.
He will be in confident mood and that should ramp up the pace over the Killarney terrain. The format is competitor friendly with Saturday's loop of three stages relatively close to Killarney (SS1 - Headford starts at 8.15am) while Sunday's action is the familiar double loop over Moll's Gap (SS10, 10.50am), Ballaghbeama and Shanera.
Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin have unfinished business as the Ballylickey driver explains. "We had a good lead built up on the Lakes twelve months ago when we got the puncture on Saturday afternoon, it cost us well over two minutes. Any chance of winning the rally was gone and I really felt like parking it up, but Mikie (Galvin) pushed me on to keep going. We had another few fastest times on the Sunday and wound up fourth."
There's no lack of motivation, with even more incentive to erase their Circuit of Ireland experience. Having dominated and led until the penultimate stage it only underlined the often cruel nature of the sport. But, Cronin has seen that long before now. "You have to put in the times, but you need a bit of luck as well to get it over the line."
Aware that Devine, Edwards will be his principal rivals, Cronin will manage his own pace, recently, he has expressed the view that he doesn't take the risks he did a few years ago, maybe that comes down to experience (or age) nevertheless, his pace is still hugely competitive.
Welsh driver Meirion Evans brings his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to Killarney for an inaugural visit that could prove interesting, especially without the shackles of championship points. Both Monaghan's Josh Moffett and Tyrone's Cathan McCourt have withdrawn from the seeded entry list.
Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) was a late retirement from the Circuit of Ireland with a double puncture on the penultimate stage, he continues to close the gap to Cronin, Devine and Edwards. The capacity entry also has the Donegal quintet of David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5), Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Michael Boyle (VW Polo GTi R5), Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Matthew Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally2) along with Cavan's Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5).
Donegal's Ryan McHugh (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Tyrone's Ryan Caldwell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) are the latest additions to the Rally2 category.
As ever, the chase for success in the Modified category includes locals Colin O'Donoghue and Rob Duggan in their Class 14 Ford Escorts with fellow Escort drivers Johno Doogan, Rodney Wilton and Damian Toner providing the opposition. Killarney's Alan Ring (BMW M3) heads the Historic section.
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