The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Fourth in GB for Nagle
KRIS Meeke and Paul Nagle secured a top-five position on Wales Rally GB, over the weekend, their last competitive outing of the 2016 World Rally Championship.
The Kerry/Tyrone pairing were hindered by poor road position on the opening day’s muddy conditions and their Citroen DS3 World Rally Car suffered two slow punctures on day two so their drive to fifth was all about making the finish as opposed to challenging for the lead.
They now turn their attention to the final developments of their new C3 World Rally Car ahead of the 2017 season which gets underway in Monte Carlo in January.
They will be back in Wales later this week to apply knowledge gained on last weekend’s rally to their test mule Citroen.
Meeke said: “We’ve had a fantastic season. It was very important for me to keep competing in rallies, looking ahead to 2017. Yes, we won two rallies in Portugal and in Finland, but we also had a very high level of performance in Monte-Carlo, Sweden and Corsica. I did my best here in Wales and I’m pleased with my performance, given the conditions. It’s the end of a very special period for me, as the last three seasons have enabled me to secure my place at the highest level. But above all, I can’t wait to get started next season. Kris Meeke: “We’ve had a fantastic season. It was very important pour me to keep competing in rallies, looking ahead to 2017. Yes, we won two rallies in Portugal and in Finland, but we also had a very high level of performance in Monte-Carlo, Sweden and Corsica. I did my best here in Wales and I’m pleased with my performance, given the conditions. It’s the end of a very special period for me, as the last three seasons have enabled
“What happened Saturday morning was fairly unusual! After the first stage, we had a slow puncture on the road section. And then we had the same problem after SS10… I don’t understand what happened, but in any case it dictated – at least in part – the rest of the day. I kept pushing but I had to cope with early wear on my four remaining tyres. Apart from my misfortune with the tyres and our difficult starting position, I think we were just short of speed on this surface.” What happened this morning was fairly unusual! After the first stage, we had a slow puncture on the road section. And then we had the same problem after SS10… I don’t understand what happened, but in any case it dictated – at least in part – the rest of the day. I kept pushing but I had to cope with early wear on my four remaining tyres. Apart from my misfortune with the tyres and our difficult starting position, I think we were just short of speed on this surface
It was also a difficult rally for Rob Duggan and Ger Conway. The British Junior Champion’s much anticipated battle with European champion Chris Ingram failed to materialise when the Briton’s Vauxhall Adam broke a drive shaft on the second stage. Later during the opening day Duggan put his Adam off the road in spectacular fashion – thankfully without injury to himself or Conway – but the car was beyond repair and their second WRC event ended in a Welsh ditch.
In local news, the three most recent winners of the Banna Beach Hotel Kerry Winter Rally have entered this year’s rally ensuring one of the most competitive events in recent years.
Organised by Kerry Motor Club, the November 13 rally is the final round of the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship.
Last year’s winner, Stephen McCann and his local co-driver Damian Fleming were one of the first crews to place an entry. They will field a newly acquired Ford Fiesta S2000 on the six stage rally. They will be hoping for better luck than the car’s maiden outing in Wicklow last month where they retired due to mechanical issues halfway through the event.
Two years ago the rally was won by West Cork’s Daniel Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Shane Buckley. The pair finished second to McCann and Fleming last year, so no doubt there are scores to be settled.
The Mitsubishi Lancer E9 crew arrive in Banna in fine form following their victory on the Fastnet Rally in Bantry over the October Bank Holiday weekend. Cronin up holds a fine family tradition on the Kerry Winter Rally. His brother Keith and uncle Denis are all multiple winners of this end of season affair.
Local heroes Mick Quinn and Tony Healy had to wait 18 years for their first Kerry Winter Rally win. That came in the notoriously wet 2013 edition when the Ford Escort Mk2 crew overcame a though challenge from Limerick-based Ed O’Callaghan in a similar car.
Father and son team Charlie and Jonny Hickey, from Killarney, were crowned Southern Four Rally Champions on the Fastnet Rally on Sunday and are also entered in the Kerry Winter Rally.