Wake-up call in Spain has Devine and O’Sullivan ready for Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes

Wake-up call in Spain has Devine and O’Sullivan ready for historic fifth Lakes win

Most top drivers hate to be beaten. It is in their blood to stay at the front, but that is not exactly how Callum Devine and Muckross man Noel O’Sullivan are looking at things as they prepare for this weekend’s Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes.

The Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew is chasing an unprecedented fifth win in a row in Killarney this weekend.

Since their last outing in Ireland at the Circuit of Ireland, where an off-road excursion ended their dominance of that event, the pair headed to Spain for the Sierra Morena Rally.

Facing the best of the European Rally Championship on Andalusian asphalt, they finished 15th overall.

While some might see that as a disappointment, O’Sullivan explained that being beaten by  Europe’s best has sharpened their focus for their return to home turf.

“It was a wake up call we needed,” said Galway International Rally winner O’Sullivan conscious that the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship has produced three different winners in as many rounds so far this season,

Devine and O’Sullivan lead the entry list and are looking to reclaim the lead in the championship.

West Cork Rally winners Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes in a Toyota Yaris Rally2, who currently lead the series, are chasing their first Killarney win are the rally’s fourth seed.

National champions Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy start third on the road, followed by Circuit of Ireland winner David Kelly and local Rockfield co-driver Shane Buckley.

Local interest at the head of the field also includes Daniel Cronin and Milltown co-driver Ger Conway, who are expected to be in the top ten mix.

THE MODIFIED BATTLE

The modified section is packed with local heavyweights, led by Robert Duggan in his Ford Escort Mk2 in what is his first outing since Rally Legends in San Marino last October.  

He starts just ahead of the returning Conor Murphy, setting up a battle between two of the fastest Mk2 drivers in the county.

They are joined at the front by Vincent O’Shea in the Darrian T90, making it an all-Kerry top three in the category.

 Further down the order, Glenflesk-based Denis Hickey and Eoin O’Leary return to action in their Escort following a big accident at the Historic rally last year

Glenflesk’s Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey, usually found cometing in the National Rally Championship, are also back for their home international, while Ballylongford’s Tommy Mason and Paul McGlinchey move up to the competitive Class 14 with 2500cc machinery for the first time.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

The rally remains a family affair for many Kerry crews. Charlie Hickey is joined by his son Cathal, who makes his debut as a co-driver. Cathal is the third sibling to take the navigator’s seat for his father, following in the footsteps of the late Johnny and sister Charlene.

John (Charlie’s brother) and Michelle Hickey form a father-daughter partnership in their Mitsubishi E9.

Another father and daughter crew; Pat and Tara Looney are competing in their Escort to raise funds and awareness for the Irish Kidney Association, a cause long supported by the family.

CLASS CONTENDERS AND DEBUTS

The entry list features a mix of seasoned veterans and those in new machinery. Noel O’Sullivan and Nicholas Burke represent the longest-serving crew in the event, with over 30 starts each in their local rally.

Killarney driver’s Tadhg O’Sullivan and Kevin O’Donoghue bring high-powered Escort and BMW machinery to Class 14, while Tralee crew Eoin Duffin and Mike Cleary make their debut in a Ford Fiesta R5.

In the Rally 4 category, Mossie Costello and David Randles will be fighting for class honours in a Ford Fiesta R4 and a Peugeot 208R4.

Darren Young and Pa Lawlor lead the Class 11F frontrunners in their Honda Civic.  

Keel’s Steven O’Connor and Niall Myers team up for the first time. Myers faces a busy schedule, as he heads straight to the Isle of Man on Monday morning to compete in the following weekend’s Manx Rally for the first time.

HISTORIC AND JUNIOR FIELDS

The Historic category sees the return of Fergus O’Meara in his BMW M3. It has been a race against time to get the car ready, as the engine was still in the Czech Republic for a rebuild late last week.

He will face former Killarney Historic Rally winner Mark Falvey in a Ford Escort RS1600 and Paul Ahern in another BMW M3.

 In the Junior rally, which runs on Saturday this year, only two Kerry crews are entered. Jaden Leane and Padraig Devane lead the local charge in a Honda Civic, while Conor Horgan and Aaron O’Halloran take part in only their second ever rally in a Citroen Saxo.

The rally gets underway with a ceremonial start on Main Street, Killarney, at 7pm on Friday. Saturday’s action is centred around Millstreet, featuring a mix of old and new roads in the East Kerry area alongside the nearly traditional Sunday route with a Fossa base.  

A pre-rally forum, featuring 2024 Circuit of Kerry winners Doherty and Murphy (the event’s third seeds) takes place in Liam Lynch Skoda dealership in Faranfore on Thursday evening at 7pm. This is free-to-attend family-friendly event.

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