Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Callum Devine and co-driver Noel O’Sullivan achieved a historic result on the 2025 Modern Tyres Ulster Rally last weekend (15-16 August) – sealing their first win on the Northern Ireland Motor Club event and with it his second Irish Tarmac Rally Championship title.
However O’Sullivan is not registered for the series and that title fight is now between Patrick Walsh and Andy Hayes.
Devine from County Derry and O’Sullivan from County Kerry after years of trying, sealed victory on the two-day Ulster Rally by dominating the event from start to finish – eventually finishing 21.4 seconds clear of the chasing pack. The Northern Ireland rallying showpiece had been one of the rally wins alluding the pair – but a commanding drive across the event also put their hands back on the coveted Bertie Fisher – Irish Tarmac Championship trophy after their last title triumph in 2023.
The Skoda pairing were chased hard by overseas visitor Osian Pryce with Irishman Andy Hayes sat alongside. The Welshman, who won the 2022 British Rally Championship, was using the Ulster as a warm-up for the UK round of the FIA European Rally Championship next month. Pryce took a few stages to dial himself into the C&M Motorsport Hyundai i20 Rally2 – which he was using for the first time, but by the Friday night stages was challenging for stage wins. From his opening stage base camp of third, Osian reeled in Declan Boyle and Patrick Walsh ahead in their Skoda Fabia Rally2 and on stage nine of 12 leapfrogged himself into a respectable second overall.
2014 Irish Tarmac Champion, Boyle has found a new lease of life in the Skoda and was revelling in the fight for victory and fastest stage times. With Welsh navigator Patrick Walsh calling the notes – third overall was a popular result with the thousands of fans lining the stages.
The Ulster Rally utilised stages around the Newry and Banbridge areas over the two days with 12 stages and 100 miles of competitive miles for the crews. New for 2025 was a Regroup at The Boulevard Outlet, allowing hundreds of spectators the chance to see the cars and stars close up – just moments after tackling the stages. Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council – Stephen Moutray was present to help wave the event off into the Saturday afternoon stages.
Speaking at the end of the final speed test, Devine was elated. “It’s fantastic, the rally couldn’t have gone any better for us – to get the win as well is brilliant. It’s been a great year for us, we didn’t actually plan a championship campaign but when we won in Killarney it gave us an incentive and to win four rounds on the bounce is incredible and my first Ulster win just tops it all off. Everything was faultless – Noel reading the notes, the team, my family – it’s a big effort from everyone to pull it all together.”
Speaking about the event – Devine was full of praise for the volunteer team from the Northern Ireland Motor Club. “The event has run like clockwork, so incredibly smooth and the weather was superb. A huge thank you to all the volunteers, marshals and organisers for making all of this happen – without them it wouldn’t be possible. It’s been a great rally all round.”
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