Duggan the best of the Kerry drivers on Circuit of Munster
Rob Duggan was the best of the Kerry contingent at Sunday’s Lyons Motor Group Circuit of Munster Rally in Limerick.
On his first outing since winning the modified section of the Killarney Historic Rally last November, the Aghadoe-based driver finished xx overall and xx in class 14.
A faulty throttle positioning sensor was his only issue across the eight-stage rally in the Kildimo area.
Joined by fellow Killarney co-driver Kieran O’Donoghue for the first time, the Kerry crew had to give their best to local hero Chris O’Callaghan in the race for Class 14 honours.
“We did do course car together a good few years ago in Honda Civic and always said we would go for a proper run together,” said Duggan. “Kieran did a great job on the notes, he was comfortable from the word go.”
The rally was the fifth round of the Triton Showers-backed Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship and defending class 13 champions David Slattery and Denis Coffey were delighted to record their first finish since the Killarney Historic Rally.
Their 2024 season has been blighted by mechanical woes, a string of non-finishes in Mayo, the Rally of the Lakes and Birr means that the defence of their national title is on the back foot.
The Ford Escort crew were delighted to put that run of bad luck behind them and record third in class in Limerick.
“We are not fully over that bridge yet; we had intercom issues on the first loop but it is nice to get a finish too.”
They also won the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship ‘Drive of the Day Award’ for setting the best Class 13 stage time on the opening test.
Tommy Mason and Paul McGlinchey won class 12 in their Ford Escort.
Other Kerry finishers included Class 14 contestants Mike Quinn/Kieran Doherty; Denis Hickey/Eoin O’Leary and Jack Kelleher/Michael White.
Father and daughter Jason and Megan Costello were fifth in class 11R, a perfect preparation for their debut assault on the Donegal International Rally later this month.
Paul Stryker and Edwin Walsh were sixth in the same class in their Toyota Corolla
Co-driver Maurice McElligott guided Mike Reddy to fourth in Class 12 while Richard Talbot was on pacenote duty for Christy Carey and they won Class 15 in their Mitsubishi Lancer E9.
Denny Greaney was alongside the returning Nigel Shanahan and they finished third in Class 9 despite an altercation with a ditch early in the rally.ReplyReply allForward
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