Cronin targets another Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry crown

DANIEL Cronin, former multiple winner of the Kerry Winter Rally, has entered the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry on April 8. The Bantrybased driver ran his new Ford Fiesta R5 for the first time on last weekend’s West Cork Rally. He and his co-driver Shane Buckley finished seventh overall after two days of hard rallying near Clonakilty. Cronin and Buckley are multiple winner of the Kerry Winter Rally usually driving a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Other top local drives on the West Cork Rally included Colin O’Donoghue who finished second in the junior rally in just his second ever event as a driver Colin’s father Kevin was tenth in the national section with David Randles co-driving in his BMW M3. Keith Lyons and Sean Hegarty finished 15th overall in their new Fiesta R5. Bob Moran and Eoin O’Donoghue were 33rd in their Ford Escort in what was their first rally for a long time but there was no such luck for Rob and Tara Duggan who retired their Escort with electrical problems before the first stage.

Kerry Motor Club members PJ O’Dowd and Paudie Casey and Gene Stack and Tommy Mason and Conor Walsh were all amongst the finishers. Helen O’Suilivan was fourth in the historic section alongside Denis Cronon in a Ford Escort.

Top Part West Rally Championship leader Roy White has confirmed his participation in the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry.

The April 8 event forms round two of the popular regional championship. Top Part have sponsored the series since its inception in 1993 and it is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The first shop of the now nationwide chain of motor factors was opened by former rally driver and Kerry Motor Club member Donie Dillane in Rock St in Tralee in 1978.

White, driving his Ford Fiesta World Rally, won the opening round in Nenagh in February and will be hoping to add to his championship lead in Tralee next month. The Tipperary driver will face stiff opposition from former Top Part West Coast Champions like local driver Mike Quinn in a Ford Escort and Galway driver Sean Lyons who is making a return a few years away from the sport.

Defending champion Shane McGuire will also contest the Tralee event in his Mitsubishi Lancer E9. Other interesting entries confirmed for rally, which is also round two of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship include multiple Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes winner Darragh O’Riordan in another Fiesta WRC.

The Triton series is sponsored by another Kerry Motor Club member, Kevin Barrett who is also entered in his Subaru Impreza WRC. Completing the two-car Triton team , Kevin’s son Paul is entered in a Mitsubishi Lancer E10.

The Celbridge, Kildare-based rally family have huge links to Ballyduff in the north of the county and have been long-time supporters of what they consider their home motor club

Entries are set to top the 100 mark this weekend, and another a wave of new entrants are expected after this weekend’s West Cork Rally, ensuring another classic Circuit of Kerry.

Clerk of the course Richard Talbot said: “I was at the opening round of the Triton series in Mayo last week and the Circuit of Kerry was warmly received by competitors up there. I am going to West Cork this weekend where I hope to meet more crews and encourage them to enter our event. We are the only national rally in the country offering 11 stages and we are using some of the best rally roads in the county so drivers and co-drivers are in for a really challenge on April 8.

“Another indication of a full entry points to the fact that Rose Hotel is now full-to-capacity for the weekend with staff there directing competitors and fans to other hotels in Tralee.”