Three-Time British Champion Mark Higgins Set for Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally Debut in Works-Spec Triumph TR7
Former BRC champion returns to Kerry stages with unfinished business on Moll’s Gap in David Appleby Engineering TR7 V8
Three-time British Rally Champion Mark Higgins will make his debut on the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally this November, driving a tarmac-spec Triumph TR7 V8.
The Manxman, who won British Rally Championship titles in 1997, 2005, and 2006, will make his second career appearance in Killarney. His previous visit came in the 2006 Rally of the Lakes, driving a Subaru Impreza WRC to fourth overall.
Higgins returns to Kerry with unfinished business on the event’s famous test, Moll’s Gap.
“I am really looking forward to returning to Killarney and having another go at Moll’s Gap,” said Higgins. “I got a puncture halfway up the hill last time, nicked something, and never got a proper crack at that stage, so I am looking forward to getting back out there.”
Higgins and co-driver Carl Williamson have campaigned the Triumph TR7 V8 on British gravel events since 2024, in a car prepared by David Appleby Engineering (DAE).
Appleby’s team has built FIA-papered recreations of the original works Triumph TR7 V8 rally cars, with components engineered to match factory specifications.
While DAE originally built the cars in gravel trim, 2025 marked the debut of their tarmac specification rally car.
Having run on asphalt at the Ypres Historic Rally in Belgium last season and Rali Ceredigion in Wales in September, the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally will be just the asphalt car’s third tarmac outings
“I believe that some of most challenging tarmac roads in the world are in are Ireland and the Isle of Man,” Higgins said. “Part of me hopes it isn’t raining, as the wipers don’t work very well in these old cars! But if the roads are wet, we can go more sideways and put on a show for the fans at the top of the Gap. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Classic Stages Return for 2026 Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally
Organisers Killarney and District Motor Club have unveiled route details for the 2026 event, which marks the 30th anniversary of the rally founded in 1996 by the late Maurice Nagle.
Serving as Clerk of the Course for this landmark year is his son Paul, a five-time World Rally Championship event winner and current FIA Safety Delegate in the WRC.
The route for the Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally is headlined by an extended Moll’s Gap stage starting at Torc Waterfall for the first time in years.
Sponsored by the Killarney Towers Hotel, this year’s rally features 110 kilometres of competitive action across classic tests, including, Beallaghbeama, and Caragh Lake.
All competitive stages will take place in full daylight, with a ceremonial start scheduled in Killarney town centre on Saturday night.
The Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally takes place Sunday November 29, Entries for the event remain open and can be submitted online via Shannon Sports IT: https://www.shannonsportsit.ie/evo/Login?referer=https://results.shannonsportsit.ie/&event=IE-KDMC-KH26
