Large Kerry contingent heading for Mayo for opening round of National Rally Championship

Large Kerry contingent heading for Mayo for opening round of National Rally Championship

The Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship makes a welcome return to County Mayo this weekend and there is plenty of Kerry interest in the 150-strong entry list.
The rally is also the opening round of the Top Part West Coast Championship and the second round of the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series.
Kerry drivers and co-drivers have signed up for all three championships.
Leading the Kerry challenge is the Ford Escort Mk2 crew of Colin O’Donoghue and Kieran O’Donoghue.
The Killarney pair have their sights set on a full National Championship campaign this season.
Returning to both the National and West Coast championship is their Killarney and District Motor Club colleagues Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey in another Ford Escort Mk2
Representing Kerry Motor Club, Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty are also Ford Escort mounted and they too will contest the two main championships.
The rally is also the second round of the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series and siblings Mossie and Megan Costello continue their campaign in that championship in their Ford Fiesta Rally 4 following their success at the recent Killarney Forestry Rally. On that occasion, they had the distinct honour of being the first all-Kerry crew over the line.
The Mayo Rally is the opening round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship as the first tarmac event in the MIJRS championship and the Tarbert-based crew are going to register for all three.
“It will be my first time doing this event. The stages look good and fast and no doubt there will be a battle all day in Class 2,” said Costello.
“Hopefully we will gain some good points for the MIJRS, Triton Showers and West Coast championships. Thanks to all my sponsors and everyone for their support.”
Kerry co-drivers are well represented on the entry list too with Cordal’s Denny Greaney set to contest the rally alongside Ronan Campbell in a Ford Escort Mk2 and Headford’s Ger Sommers continuing his partnership with County Down’s Raymond Spence in another Escort.
Mikie Cleary is on pacenote duty for Cork-based Ollie Kierce in a class 11 Escort,
The all-lady crew of Katie Quinn and Caz Somers will defend their Woman in Motorsport Ireland title in their Honda Civic 2A
Ballyheigue’s Gearóid O’Regan is competing in a Class 3 Honda Civic Type R.