Devine and O’Sullivan lead championship after West Cork thriller

Devine and O’Sullivan lead championship after West Cork thriller

Killarney co-driver Noel O’Sullivan and Derry’s Callum Devine are heading into the third round of the NAPA Autoparts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship with momentum after a hard-fought second-place finish at the West Cork Rally last weekend.

The pair produced a monumental push on the final day in Clonakilty, moving from third to second on the final stage to pip Kilkenny’s Eddie Doherty by just over five seconds. Despite setting a stunning pace on the second run through Ardfield, they were unable to catch Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes, who claimed their third West Cork win in five years with a 9.9-second margin.

The result leaves the championship battle wide open as the series moves North for the Circuit of Ireland Rally over the Easter weekend (3-4 April). Devine, the defending champion, now sits at the top of the standings after two rounds, but the competition is heating up with Moffett and Doherty following closely behind.

The final loop in Cork proved particularly tense for the Skoda duo. Devine trailed Doherty by just 0.5 seconds heading into the final test before delivering a stage-winning performance to secure the runner-up spot. The weekend was made difficult by unpredictable weather, which saw conditions shift from bright sunshine to sudden heavy showers, making tyre selection a critical factor for the crews.

Other notable performances included Donegal’s David Kelly with Killarney’s Shane Buckley alongside, who finished a comfortable fourth.