Noel O’Sullivan’s European Rally Championship return alongside Meeke in Wales

Noel O’Sullivan’s European Rally Championship return alongside Meeke in Wales

Killarney co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a high-profile return to the FIA European Rally Championship this week, partnering five-time WRC event winner Kris Meeke at JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion in Wales (September 4–6).

The pair will tackle the Aberystwyth-based asphalt event in a Michelin-shod Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 fielded by Welsh outfit Melvyn Evans Motorsport.
While Ceredigion marks Meeke’s debut on the Welsh tarmac counter, O’Sullivan brings crucial event knowledge to the cockpit. The Muckross man secured second overall alongside Osian Pryce in 2022 and guided Callum Devine to a fine fifth overall in 2024 against strong ERC competition.
Meeke and O’Sullivan have built a strong partnership in recent years, including notable runs at New Zealand’s Ottago Rally and leading last year’s Killarney Historic Rally in a BMW M3 E30 before late engine failure struck.
“I wanted to try to do Rali Ceredigion,” Meeke explained. “The car I used in Donegal was from Melvyn Evans Motorsport. Melvyn’s obviously very local to Aberystwyth and the rally, so everything started from there. The stages look narrow, bumpy and tricky, not dissimilar to Ireland. I don’t underestimate the challenge, but I’m excited.”
While Ceredigion is the immediate focus, this outing could pave the way for further international and domestic appearances. With Meeke maintaining strong ties to Toyota Portugal, a run on the final ERC round, the Rally Six Cities North of Portugal in late October remains a possibility.
Local supporters are also hopeful the duo might reunite for the 30th anniversary Killarney Historic Rally on November 30, though plans for the local showcase remain unconfirmed.
O’Sullivan is not the only Kerry competitor on the entry list. Rockfield’s Shane Buckley is on pacenote duty for local driver Tomas Davies in a BMW M3 E30 in the historic section. The long-term pairing has enjoyed plenty of success together, most notably finishing second in the historic category of the same event two years ago and taking third overall at the 2019 Circuit of Kerry Rally.

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