Kelly heads blockbuster Donegal entry list

Winners for the last two years, Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett will head the field in Donegal this weekend for the International Rally, based in Letterkenny.

Kelly scored a surprise win in 2016, his first time on the event in a WRC car, and followed that up with another win last year. He’s looking to match the feats of Cathal Curley, Billy Coleman and Andrew Nesbitt in taking three overall wins in consecutive years.

Local man Donagh Kelly has won a number of high profile events in Ireland apart from his home international, and he’ll be looking to land his first in Donegal. Declan Boyle, who usually drives a 2016-spec Ford Fiesta, could also be swapping to a Focus for the event. Garry Jennings, the 2013 winner, and Darren Gass, the 2012 Irish Tarmac champion, round out the top five seeds.

The Irish Tarmac Championship is awarded to R5 cars and reigning champion Sam Moffett is the first on the entry list.

Last year’s event class winner Alastair Fisher is yet to contest an ITRC event and won’t start despite appearing on an early draft entry.

Instead, Robert Barrable – a winner in Killarney last time out – along with Josh Moffett and Desi Henry make up the R5 favourites.

For what will likely be the most hotly contested Modified class contest on the 2018 Irish calendar, Kevin Eves will look to overcome last year’s crash and he is car one in that field with a host of possible Ford Escort threats to his Toyota Corolla.