Kelly defends Killarney Historic crown in thrilling finale

Kelly defends Killarney Historic crown in thrilling finale

By Adam Hall

The Killarney Historic Rally kicked off the 2026 NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship in breathtaking fashion as Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy defended their crown, clinging on to victory by a mere 1.5 seconds as John O’Donnell and Robert Duggan mounted a ferocious late charge through the darkness of Moll’s Gap.

The BMW M3 crew survived intense pressure from 2025 Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC Champions O’Donnell and Paddy Robinson, who came agonisingly close to snatching victory on the final stage. Still, O’Donnell and Robinson’s runner-up finish was enough to secure top Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC points.

Local heroes Robert Duggan and Ger Conway completed a thrilling podium, finishing just 3.7 seconds behind O’Donnell after the 2019 Killarney Historic winner set a remarkable 15.5-second fastest time down the night-time Moll’s Gap finale.
The rally appeared destined for a very different conclusion after World Rally Championship legend Kris Meeke delivered a masterclass performance in his Killarney Historic debut. The five-time WRC event winner, making his first appearance on an Irish Tarmac event since the 2008 Donegal International Rally, dominated proceedings alongside co-driver Noel O’Sullivan.
Meeke stamped his authority on the event from the wet opening stage through Moll’s Gap, going 8.9 seconds faster than Kelly’s similar BMW M3 despite limited experience in the tricky conditions. The 2007 Rally of the Lakes winner’s pace proved relentless as he won seven stages in succession to build a commanding one-minute, 19-second lead.
However, an engine issue on Killarney’s penultimate test brought Meeke’s remarkable run to a premature end. The retirement opened the door for Kelly to inherit the lead, but also set up a nail-biting finale.
Kelly’s route to victory was far from straightforward. The Donegal pilot endured a moment on stage two when the rear of his M3 ended up in a ditch on the narrow test, yet still managed the second-fastest time. Transmission issues on stage eight threatened to derail Kelly’s victory bid, but he held his nerve as O’Donnell and Duggan closed in behind.
O’Donnell’s title defence got off to a strong start as the M3 man found his rhythm on Killarney’s challenging stages. After starting cautiously, he moved up to fourth by stage three, setting a string of second-fastest times. He preferred the narrow, technical stages, though overheating issues on stage four caused brief concern.

The 2025 champion halved the gap to second-placed Kelly on stage seven with a rapid time only three seconds off Meeke’s benchmark. Despite his own engine concerns, O’Donnell mounted a fierce late attack, taking 15 seconds off Kelly on the final stage to narrow the gap to just 1.5 seconds at the finish.

Duggan struggled initially to adjust to the different characteristics of his historic-specification Ford Escort RS1800, finding the bumps more severe than expected and bottoming out on several sections.
His confidence grew through the day, culminating in a sensational final stage performance where he was fastest by an unbelievable 15.5 seconds, catching Kelly in the process to secure his podium position.
The battle for fourth place provided compelling action throughout the day. Conor Shanahan and Andy Hayes ultimately prevailed, holding off the challenges of Fergus O’Meara and Brian Duggan, who claimed second-placed Historic ITRC points, and Stephen Greaney and Jonathan Folan.
Shanahan found it difficult initially to take chances without knowing how his BMW would react over the bumps, but he grew in confidence as the stages progressed. He moved ahead of O’Meara on stage six and survived a moment on stage eight when he clipped the rear of his M3 against a barrier.
O’Meara went fifth-fastest on the opening stage despite catching Belgian legend Patrick Snijers. He was cautious over the jumps to avoid putting a wheel on the grass, but lost crucial time on stage six when he lost control of the rear of his BMW in fifth gear, dropping around 20 seconds.
Greaney closed to within 0.6 seconds of O’Meara by stage six, but couldn’t quite find the pace to overhaul him by the finish.

A fascinating Ford Escort fight developed between John Bonner and John Michael O’Donnell, Michael McDaid and Denver Rafferty, and 2022 Historic ITRC champion Neil Williams and John Falvey. Bonner enjoyed the tricky stages to move ahead of Williams early on and maintained his advantage to finish seventh overall, keeping the duo behind him in their mini-battle. McDaid finished 27.6 seconds behind Bonner in eighth with Williams a further 14.3 seconds back in ninth.
Ronan Campbell secured third-placed Historic ITRC points with his 12th overall finish in another Ford Escort.
The top ten saw two notable Subaru retirements in Alan Ring and Ray Breen, who both looked set for top ten finishes in their four-wheel-drive machinery. 2024 Historic Irish Tarmac Champion Tomas Davies had been fourth after Killarney’s opening Moll’s Gap test, but his BMW M3 would go no further after an off on the tricky roads of Lissaclearig.
Killarney Historic Rally top five:
1 Kelly/Kennedy (BMW M3) 1:01:54.7s
2 O’Donnell/Robinson (M3) +1.5s
3 Duggan/Conway (Ford Escort RS1800) +5.2
4 Shanahan/Hayes (M3) +1:30.2
5 O’Meara/Duggan (M3) +2:11.9

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