Kerry was well represented at the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Stages Rally, organised by Skibbereen and District Motor Club and based in Bantry. The event formed the final round of both the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and the Top Part West Coast Championship.
The best of the Kerry finishers were Denis Hickey and Eoin O’Leary (Ford Escort Mk2), who placed 14th overall and fourth in Class 14. A misfiring engine in the second half of the day cost them time, but Hickey was still pleased with the result — and celebrated his birthday with another strong finish.
Glenflesk’s Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey (Ford Escort Mk2) were 27th overall and fourth in Class 13, having lost ground when caught on slick tyres during the wet middle loop.
Kenmare’s Cathal Granville and Patie Murphy (Ford Escort) finished 51st overall, third in Class 12 after a consistent run.
David Randles and Aidan Kennedy (Peugeot 208 Rally4) came home 57th overall and fourth in Class 2, a category dominated by rising young Billy Coleman Award hopefuls. The Killarney crew were happy with their pace and progress.
John Hickey and Natasha Murphy (Subaru Escort RS 4×4) were 65th overall and fifth in Class 20. Hickey, from Headford, returned to action with newcomer Murphy from Dunmanway on the notes, as his daughter and regular co-driver Michelle Hickey, a nurse, was unable to get time off work.
Kevin O’Donoghue and Eric Deane (BMW E30) used Super Rally rules to rejoin after alternator problems early in the day and were classified ninth in Class 14.
Killarney and District Motor Club member Ciara Griffin and her Wexford-based driver Sean Cahill (Honda Civic) took an excellent Class 11F win and finishing 24th overall.
Behind them, Eoin Sheahan and Glenbeigh’’s Daragh Lynch (Honda Civic) were sixth in Class 11F, while Ronan Creagh and his East Kerry co=driver Kieran Reen (Honda Civic) finished eighth in Class 11F after a tidy run through the closing loop.
Daniel O’Connor and Michael O’Shea (Honda Civic) completed the Kerry presence in the class with tenth in 11F, adding valuable seat time to their growing partnership.
Further down the order, Eamon Daly and John Falvey (Toyota KP60) finished 85th overall and ninth in Class 13, while Milltown’s Raymond O’Neill, with stand-in co-driver Ronan Comerford from Armagh, rejoined under Super Rally rules after an early off-road excursion and were classified 88th overall in their Ford Escort Mk2.
Kerry Motorsport News 