Kerry Crews at Rallylegend in San Marino
It was a weekend to remember for Kerry’s rally crews and their loyal supporters as Rallylegend in San Marino delivered four days of noise, mayhem and magic in the mountains.
Aghadoe crew Rob Duggan and John McCarthy showed real determination after hitting trouble early in the event. Their Ford Escort Mk2 suffered a steering rack failure on Thursday night’s Super Special Stage, forcing them to stop. With quick help from fellow competitor Frank Kelly, they managed to source a replacement left-hand-drive rack.
Their mechanics, Jason Farrell, Gary Dineen, Michael O’Sullivan and Anthony Cronin, worked into the early hours of Friday morning to get the car back out for the next leg. The effort paid off as Duggan and McCarthy rejoined the action and thrilled the thousands of fans lining the narrow mountain roads.
The atmosphere throughout the weekend was electric. Fireworks lit up the night sky, glowing brake discs shone through the darkness, and the echo of engines filled the hillside villages high in the San Marino mountains. The combination of night stages, steep climbs and packed crowds created an unforgettable setting for the Irish crews.
Unfortunately, Duggan and McCarthy’s event came to an end late on Saturday when another mechanical issue forced them to retire. Despite the setback, Duggan praised his crew for their relentless effort and commitment throughout the weekend.
There was more Kerry interest as Ciara Griffin, from the Killarney and District Motor Club, co-drove for Cork’s Neil Phelan, bringing home a finish in another Ford Escort. It marked Griffin’s first competitive outing on European tarmac, an important milestone in her co-driving career.
Ray and Gene Stack also completed an incredible weekend in their Ford Escort Mk2, their first competitive start outside Ireland. Backed by a large Kerry Motor Club support crew and more than 200 travelling fans, the Stacks embraced the full Rallylegend experience.
Their weekend nearly ended early when the Escort’s rear differential failed late on Saturday night, but heroic work from their mechanics PJ O’Dowd and Mike Kenny, who worked until 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, got them back on the stages.
The group’s trip was the brainchild of Thomas Fitzmaurice, whose efforts in organising the Kerry contingent were widely praised. The travelling fans created a sea of green and gold in the service park and along the mountain roads, ensuring Kerry’s presence was felt throughout San Marino.
From late-night service park repairs to mountain stages lit by fireworks, Rallylegend 2025 will live long in the memory of all who made the journey from Kerry.
Kerry Motorsport News 