The sport of Autotesting is set to return to Kerry for the first time in five years.
Killarney and District Motor Club will run an event on July 30.
The last time the club ran an event was in 2018.
This year’s autotest, with Todd Falvey as clerk of the course, is a round of the Partsworld Munster Autotest Championship. A venue is yet to be announced.
Last year’s champion, Don Giles, will be out once again to defend his title. He will be using his faithful Westfield for some of the rounds but for others, the Tractor will be out. If you have not seen or heard the Tractor in action, you are in for a treat.
Martin Walsh, last year’s runner-up, will be back out in his highly developed Starlet Special. The Cork-based postman will definitely be one to keep an eye on.
This year there will be four Mini Specials competing in the Championship and none of the four should be discounted for top honours. Paddy Power returns to the Championship for another crack at the overall.
The Waterford man will be difficult to stop if he is on form. Alan Clarke will be back out in his modified Mini Special and will be hoping to go one better than last year’s Class honours.
Michael Mulcahy has parked his Class D Micra and will take part in his Mini Special. He will also be joined in the class by Victor Beamish who can never be counted out.
Interestingly, Mulcahy was the last person to win the Kerry Motor Club autotest championship. Way back in 2008.
“Hopefully we can do something about that,” he told Kerry Motorsport News, hinting that the Tralee club should return to what was once one of its mainstays.
New for 2023 is the Club Class. This class allows a team of three drivers from a Motor Club, to compete against other Motor Club teams for honours over five rounds.
The teams are allowed to use a standard saloon car up to 1350cc and will run on a simplified version of the main tests. Hopefully, this class will bring some newcomers and some more craic to the sport.
Photos by Gearoid Holland
2023 Championship Rounds:
- Laois Rallysport Club – March 12th
- Limerick Motor Club – April 1st
- Limerick Motor Club – April 2nd *
- Birr & DMC – April 22nd
- Birr & DMC – April 23rd *
- Skibbereen & DMC – May 13th
- Skibbereen & DMC – May 14th *
- Skibbereen & DMC – July 1st
- Skibbereen & DMC – July 2nd *
- Killarney & DMC – July 30th
- Munster CC – September 2nd
- Munster CC – September 3rd *
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Kerry Motorsport News 