MAURICE MALONE
“Donegal: the one they all want to win”
It’s hard to quantify just how much a Donegal International Rally win means to a Donegal man, but if you can imagine what it might be like to win the Indy 500, Monaco GP and Le Mans and then multiply that feeling by 10, you begin to get some idea.
This year’s event has the makings of a classic, with Manus Kelly on top form, and Donagh Kelly pulling out all the stops (including a thorough preparation and fitness programme) in a bid to grab a maiden win.
‘Mandy’ – the nickname of Manus Kelly’s Impreza – is undoubtedly the favourite, fresh from a brilliant drive in Killarney and with the added confidence that comes from knowing he has what it takes to do the job after his 2016 and 2017 wins.
Garry Jennings has won twice before, although a lack of seat time recently may work against him, and 2014 victor Declan Boyle can be guaranteed to stick his Ford Fiesta RS WRC in the mix against the two-litre WRCS.
Despite their age, the old World Rally Cars favoured by the aforementioned crews clearly have the legs on the R5 machines, but the competition for Irish Tarmac points will be no less frenetic. A tight three-way scrap for the title between the Moffett brothers and Robert Barrable means that Donegal points will be vital for each contender, the pace this year seemingly cranked up another level. Desi Henry will be eager to build on his excellent speed, too.
If that’s not enough, there’s also the customarily huge Modified field, with battles guaranteed in each of the many classes. Donegal in June is akin to a festival, and past events have entered into rallying folklore.
Let’s take a brief look back at 1999 as an example. Ian Greer led the title race by a single point from the late Bertie Fisher, and the top 10 was filled with iconic names like Nesbitt, Mchale, Meagher and Cullen.
A classic weekend was to follow, with more drama than you could shake a stick at. Nesbitt ditched his Impreza within the first few miles, then spent the rest of the rally climbing back up through the field at a ferocious pace. Greer was excluded due to an underweight Celica and ran under appeal. Fisher was caught out on Kindrum Lake with a puncture that led to an off, and local man James Cullen looked to be out of contention with a ruptured Pirelli on the first morning.
Incredibly, Cullen edged his way back up to the front by the Sunday afternoon finish ramp in Letterkenny, and in doing so, became the first Donegal driver to win his home International twice. With Mandy equalling that accolade last year, and now gunning for an unprecedented three-in-arow, there is sure to be some spectacle in the hills come the middle of June.