Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan win Donegal International Rally for third year in a row
Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took his third consecutive victory in the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally amidst some of the toughest competition the Derry driver has ever faced.
He finished 20.5 seconds ahead of the Toyota GR Yaris of Welsh driver Meirion Evans while Donegal driver David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) took a late third place following the final stage retirement of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Kesh driver Jon Armstrong. The top three of Devine, Evans and Kelly mirrored the same positions of last year's rally.
The principal constant through Saturday's eight stages was Devine's possession of a lead margin that fluctuated throughout the day.
On the first run through High Glen (SS7) Armstrong set the pace and moved from fifth to second with Devine actually increasing his lead to 17.3s. Evans remained third, just 0.2s behind Armstrong and a similar margin ahead of Creighton. However, Paddon slipped three places to fifth as he struggled with the handling of his Hyundai.
On SS8 Lough Keel Creighton was quickest to become Devine's nearest challenger as he cut the deficit to 12.9s. Ironically, the former Junior World Rally champion was unhappy as he didn't get into a satisfactory rhythm.
Evans, Armstrong and Paddon followed, the latter reckoning it was difficult to keep the Hyundai on the road.
The repeat of both stages had consequences for some of Devine's rivals. Armstrong's Fiesta developed a mechanical issue that manifested itself about a kilometre into the stage that cost him some 20s as he dropped to fifth - 35.7s off the lead. Creighton, with another stage win, cut Devine's lead to 9s.
Having raised the car and adjusted the dampers, Paddon was best through SS10 (Lough Keel) and slotted into fourth and was still very much in the hunt - 16.3s off top spot as Creighton took half a second from Devine.
The afternoon stages were a double run over the iconic Knockalla and Garrygort. Creighton exceled and with another fastest stage time closed to within 5.7s of Devine, who experienced a problem with the handbrake.
Maintaining a fine rhythm, Creighton continued to exert pressure on Devine and by the end of Garrygort, there was just 4.9s between them.
For rally leader Devine, it was all about remaining calm and composed, a one-time 17.3s lead had evaporated in the sunshine to those 4.9s and given the handbrake issue, he couldn't afford to take any risks.
Creighton's Toyota had some understeer that resulted in a slight altercation with the scenery that only yielded cosmetic damage.
Evans, in third, had a slice of luck prior to the start of SS12 when he noticed the power steering pipe rubbing off the engine belt and was able to regularise matters.
The day's final stages (repeats of SS11&12) brought double drama. Paddon's rally ended with a soft roll and little damage.
There was no change at the top as Creighton and those that stopped at Paddon's accident were all given Devine's time for the stage.
Creighton's bid for victory ended on the day's final stage when he punctured that saw him slide off the road - losing in excess of seven minutes. Overnight, he was classified 16th but opted not to compete on Sunday.
Devine was back in something of a comfort zone overnight - leading Evans by 21.8s with Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) 40.7s further adrift in what was a repeat of last year's final top three.
Tyre choice was a lottery for Sunday's opening loop of three stages that saw Devine stretch his advantage over Evans to 30.1s as Armstrong was best on Atlantic Drive to leapfrog Kelly and slot into third over the wet roads.
On a bone dry Fanad Head, Evans set the pace and pared the deficit back to 22.6s.
Elsewhere, Kelly, Moffett and Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) completed the top six, the latter taking advantage after his father Declan, in a similar car, who lost time with a front right wheel puncture.
On the closing loop Devine secured his third consecutive victory in Donegal.
"I was quite happy with my pace all weekend. I didn't have any moments."
Given the calibre of the opposition, he concluded: "It just shows you the (pace) Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is pretty fast."
Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally (Round 4, NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Letterkenny
1. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally) 2h. 23m. 30.2s
2. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+20.5s
3. D. Kelly/A. Kierans (VW Polo R5)+1m. 02.4s
4. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5)+1m. 48.2s
5. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 18.0s
6. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+4m. 03.3s
7. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+4m. 39.4s
8. J. Ford/N. Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2)+5m. 27.4s
9. R. Loughran/D. McGettigan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+6m. 28.4s
10. M. Boyle/G. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+8m. 03.6s.
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