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Irish Examiner
25-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Controversy continues over Galway rally rescheduling in busy October calendar
The saga surrounding the Galway International Rally that was postponed last February due to the damage caused by Storm Éowyn took another twist this week, further to the Galway Motor Club's request to run a mini stage rally (six stage/one day) event on October 12th next. It appears that the Motor Sport Council took an e-vote on the matter last Tuesday night but due to objections and other issues, the MSC will discuss the matter further when they meet in person next Tuesday night. As reported in the Irish Examiner in recent weeks, senior MI and Galway Motor Club officials discussed the matter with the latter, then holding a club meeting. It's not clear how the decision was made to apply for the mini stage event, that, in reality, is - given the change - in effect a new event. MI had previously informed GMC that any single-day event (at that time understood to be a multi-stage event) would not have international status. Some clubs, particularly those that could be affected by the latest move actually knew nothing about the Galway plan. Two Cork clubs have events on either side of the October 12 date. The Cork '20' Rally, the final round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is fixed for October 4/5 and the Fastnet Rally, the final counter in the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, is scheduled for October 26. In addition, the Laois Rallysprint is slated for October 18. Even with the adoption of the biennial calendar, it is obvious that October is already a congested month. The Irish Examiner understands that the Munster Car Club (organisers of the Cork '20') had already made their concerns known to those at the top echelon of Motorsport Ireland while the Skibbereen and District Car Club weren't even aware of the issue until after e-vote, although they have since objected to the event being given the green light. So, where's or what's the missing link? Is it unreasonable to suggest that Motorsport Ireland are still keen to have GMC host an event so as to lessen the impact of the financial losses from February? Is an additional rally at this time of the year respectful to the other clubs hosting events? Are GMC going to be refunded the monies already paid to MI if they don't host an event? A point worth considering (that seems to occur annually after the Donegal International Rally) is that entry numbers are already dropping off. Last Sunday, the Sligo Rally didn't attract a capacity entry and the same is true for Sunday's Imokilly Rally. It's not rocket science to suggest that an additional event is only going to further reduce entries on the remaining rallies. It's time for someone to take a stance, but the question is, who? Meanwhile, the number one decals mean a lot to Killarney driver Rob Duggan (Ford Escort). Indeed, it's the principal reason that he is contesting Sunday's CDE Components Imokilly Rally that is based in Midleton in east Cork. "It will be the first time that I have the #1 decals on the door, I've never had that before, it's an honour and that's really why I'm going down there," Duggan said. Armagh's Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) is the only other driver in the top ten from the event two years ago where Duggan took a start-to-finish victory. He added: "Yes, new faces this time but it doesn't diminish the challenge. I'm hearing that the stages are very fast and James Stafford (Darrian T90 GTR) will go hard and it will be a tough job to stay in front of him." The format (two stages repeated three times) is something that suits many competitors and is less pressurised than multi-stage rallies. Others on the entry are Monaghan's David Moffett (Toyota Starlet), Cavan's Johno Doogan (Ford Escort), Black and Cavan's Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort). Ladysbridge driver Cian Walsh in the Tom Randles Ford Escort is the top local entry. Limerick's Ed O'Callaghan (Ford Escort) could be re-seeded from the No. 14 spot. The first stage is at 10.03am.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- 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.
