The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Quinn is best local finish at Circuit of Kerry rally
page 64
THIS year’s running of the Circuit of Kerry was a huge success for Kerry Motor Club who attracted over 100 cars for its annual flagship event.
Run in new territory along the Dingle Peninsula this year, drivers for home and abroad praised the challenging and tricky route that visited places like the Short Mountain and Caherconree.
Best of the local crews was Mike Quinn and Tony Buckley who steered their Ford Escort MK2 to 11th overall. They won the James O’Rourke Memorial Trophy for the highest place Kerry Motor Club crew.
The enjoyed a day long battle with Liesselton crew Tommy Mason and Conor Walsh but a coming together witha wall on the Minard Castle stage caused enough delay to hand to lead to Quinn and Healy. Kevin Barrett and Sean Mullaly separated the two Escort crews by bringing their Subaru Impreza World Rally Car home in 12th, one place behind Quinn and in front of Mason.
Co-driver Keith McCarthy, from Lixnaw was the top Kerry competitor, finishing eighth overall alongside Donegal’s Stuart Darcy despite being troubled all day by an overheating engine in their Darrian T90 GTR.
Ed Murphy and Diarmuid Lynch from Aghadoe and Glenflesk were 16th in another Escort. Kilflynn’s Denis O’Connell guided Limerick driver Ed Synan to 19th overall despite a problem the gear change in their Escort all day.
Other local finishers in the hotly contested class 14 included Vincent O’Shea and Brian Hickey (Kenmare); Charlie and Johnny Hickey (Killarney) and Tim Enright and Stephen Buckley (Lixnaw).
The Killflynn / Lixnaw pairing of Tom Relihan and Maurice McElligott are the leaders of the newly formed Moriarty’s Centra Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship after a troube-free run in their Escort.
There were several father and daughter crews in action including Tadhg O’Sullivan and Lianne O’Sullivan and Jason Costello/ Megan Costello , the latter crew finishing second in their class.
Other finishers included Darren Young / Pa Lawlor (Honda Civic, Tralee Sean Enright / Kevin Doherty (Listowal Escort) Pat Barry / Kevin Tydings (Lisselton Escort); Sean Hickey/Noel Fleming (Killarney Toyota Starlet) Eddie Kennelly/Timmy Murphy (Lisselton Escort) John Hickey / Eamon Creedon (Killarney Escort), James Kissane / Tim Kissane (Killarney Escort) Pa Naughton / John Cahill (Honda Civic).