3 days ago
Motorsport: Callum Devine eyeing second title in three years
This is a very different Irish Tarmac Rally Championship season with backing from new title sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts. Storm Éowyn last February forced the postponement of the Galway International Rally and while the Galway club or Motorsport Ireland made no firm decision until last week, the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) brought clarity weeks earlier stating the Galway event would not be part of the 2025 championship - a decision necessary to give all the stakeholders clarity.
On an aside and with the Galway debacle dragging on, Motorsport Ireland informed some clubs only last Friday that the Galway Mini Stage Rally (only recently fixed for October 12th) would not be going ahead - but that's another story.
The real business begins today with the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, the penultimate round of the campaign where Callum Devine can take his second title within three years provided he garners maximum points from the two-day event. Having missed the West Cork Rally, the Derry driver has since won the Circuit of Ireland, the Rally of the Lakes and the Donegal International Rally and tops the current standings by twenty points. During the season, decisions by reigning champion Keith Cronin and title protagonist Matt Edwards to step away from rallying, albeit for different reasons, changed the dynamic of the championship. Their presence elevated the calibre of the campaign where Devine was one of the few drivers to match their skills. He continues to show great pace onboard his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 where in terms of the current campaign, he has Donegal trio - David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and Declan and Michael Boyle (both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars) as his title challengers. The presence of former British Rally champion Osian Pryce (Hyundai i20 Rally2) in the Newry based twelve stage rally is a boost.
Devine has never won this round of the series, whether he chases that elusive victory or concentrates on the championship battle with the Donegal trio will probably only take shape tomorrow afternoon for the opening loop of three stages that are repeated later in the evening including some in darkness. Others on the entry are Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Darren Gass (VW Polo GTi R5), James Ford (Citroen C3 Rally2), Matthew Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Mark Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5). In the Historic category, Donegal's John O'Donnell (BMW M3) and Welsh driver Meirion Evans (Ford Escort RS1800) are the leading title contenders.
On Sunday, the focus switches to the Oldcastle based ALMC Hellfire Rally, round six of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. Having regained the lead of the eight-event series last time out, Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) knows how quickly the pendulum can swing. From the disappointment of leading before steering woes dropped him out of contention on the Raven's Rock Rally that cost him the championship lead, he bounced back and took the spoils in the Sligo Rally.
With three rounds remaining, reigning champion Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Hyundai I20 R5), Donegal's Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Derry's Desi Henry (Ford Fiesta Rally2) are also in the hunt for the Vard Memorial Trophy. Moffett crashed out in Sligo and it remains to be seen what car he will drive on Sunday's nine stage rally where Henry and Boyle (a triple champion) have yet to win a round of the current series. Others like Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Daniel Cronin and Paul Barrett (both Citroen C3 Rally2), Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Tommy Doyle (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) can all play a part in the destiny of the title as they too are eligible for championship points.
Meanwhile, the European Rally Championship (Round 6) continues with the Barum Czech Rally Zlin where Kesh driver John Armstrong (Ford Fiesta Rally2), who is seeded at number four, will be trying to climb from his sixth place standing - 22 points off third placed Mads Ostberg. The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 duo of Poland's Miko Marczyk and Italian Andrea Mabellini are first on the road with the former enjoying a strong 22-points advantage. Ulsterman Philip Allen and former ERC champion Chris Ingram, both in Skoda Fabia RS Rally2cars are also competing.
