Thrills and spills for Kerry crews at Abbeyleix Manor Rally
LONDON-BASED Faha co-driver Shane Buckley guided Daniel Cronin to eighth overall on Sunday’s Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Rally. A broken drive shaft on stage three hampered progress for the Ford Fiesta R5 crew.
Co-driver Damien Fleming was one place behind alongside Raymond Conlon in a Toyota Corolla and as well as their top ten finish, they took the class 13 win.
Vincent O’Shea and Eoin O’Donoghue were the best all-Kerry crew and they marked their first run in their new Darrian T90 DXE with 35th place overall.
Co-driver Ger Somers was 48th alongside Raymond Spence in a Ford Escort Mk2.
Alan O’Sullivan and Mark Doody were third in the junior section and finished best all-Kerry Motor Club crew in their Honda Civic.
Sean Enright and Kevin Doherty were two places behind O’Sullivan in their Escort and they took home second in Class 12.
Father and daughter Eoin and Ciara Duffin had an adventurous day on their way to 63rd. An offroad excursion in the early stages was followed a broken exhaust manifold on the final stage.
David Griffin and PJ O’Dowd won the historic class in their
Toyota Corolla GT.
Retirements included Mike Quinn and Kevin Tydings after the gearbox broke in their Escort. A similar fate befell Mike’s daughter Katie, she had to change the gearbox in her Honda Civic at the second service but her efforts were in vain after a broken driveshaft put her out of the rally later in the day. Co-driver Maurice McElligott, who was on pacenote duty for John Kennelly, retired after a broken radiator in their Civic ended their day.
Kerry Motor Club has announced details of its April 5 Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally and the good news is that the Tralee-based club has not increased entry fees for the 44th edition of its flagship event.
The nine-stage 120km rally will feature the return of the classic Desmond’s Grave stage alongside a spectator friendly stage near Killflynn.
“I am delighted to offer an entry fee of €725 for main field, the same as last year, our committee has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to cut back running costs without taking from the standards drivers would expect from Kerry Motor Club,” said clerk of the course Eoin Duffin. “We look forward to welcoming new and old friends to Tralee in April, especially the returning National Championship contenders.
The organisers of the locally sponsored Top Part West Coast Rally Championship have announced that the prize giving for this year’s championship will be held in Tralee. The championship got underway on Sunday with the Birr and District Motor Club’s Abbeyleix Manor Rally where championship officials revealed that the Rose Hotel will host the awards night next January.
Antrim’s John Rowan will deputise for Paul Nagle on this weekend’s Ralli SM ItRalli in Finland alongside Craig Breen.
The Kerry/ Waterford team have put together an extended international programme of events that includes all eight rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship and other selected events in Ireland, Belgium and Italy, subject to confirmation, but the offer of the all-snow Finnish rally drive came too late for Nagle who has a family commitment this weekend.