KELLY TO PRIORITISE FIESTA RALLY4 DRIVE
Experience gained in R5 but Irish youngster will stick to his guns in 2022
Eamonn Kelly has elected to focus on competing in his Ford Fiesta Rally4 for the remainder of the season, despite finishing fifth overall on his debut drive in a VW Polo GTi R5 on the Mayo Rally at the beginning of March.
The 23-year-old son of Irish perennial Donagh reverted to Rally4 equipment for the more recent West Cork Rally to claim 10th overall as the runaway class winner.
“[Fifth in Mayo] was a great boost of confidence to come here against good competition and lead from start to finish in a comfortable way too,” Kelly told Motorsport News.
“I was a bit unsure for a few stages with the brakes and stuff and I didn’t want to take any chances and go braking late, which you can do with the R5. I think at the end of Saturday’s stages it served as an advantage as we were going a lot deeper into the square [corners].
“It didn’t feel like we were pushing crazily at any point and it’s great seat time [in preparation] for the British Rally Championship.”
For most of the event
Kelly was untroubled except when fluid leaked on to the brake caliper and the front left caliper broke, both issues were sorted during
Sunday’s second service
For good measure Kelly ended with a pair of top-10 fastest stage times – 10th on the penultimate stage and eighth fastest on the final stage.
On further R5 outings, he added: “I would like to think I will [have more]. I suppose after Mayo I have given myself another opportunity and it would be nice to get out again but the front-wheel drive is the priority.”