RECORD BALTINGLASS HISTORIC ENTRY SIGNALS MASSIVE FIELD FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY KILLARNEY HISTORIC RALLY
An unprecedented entry of historic rally machinery for next month’s Baltinglass Garda Rally suggests only one thing: a bumper field is on its way to Kerry for the upcoming Killarney Towers Hotel Killarney Historic Rally on November 29.
A total of 16 historic crews have entered the Wicklow-based mini-stages event, a remarkable figure when compared to recent national rallies, including the Donegal Harvest Rally, which attracted fewer than five historic entries. No other national or club event in Ireland has matched this level of historic interest in a single field this season.
With the Killarney Historic Rally taking place just three weeks after Baltinglass, drivers and co-drivers from across Ireland, the UK, and further afield are using the GSMC event as a final high-speed shakedown for Killarney.
Leading the charge in Wicklow is defending Killarney Historic champion Donagh Kelly and co-driver Rory Kennedy in their BMW M3 E30,
Local Killarney and District Motor Club (KDMC) crews are out in force making the journey east to Wicklow. Robert Falvey and John Doody line up in their Ford Escort RS1800, while Todd Falvey makes his second outing in an RS1800 accompanied by Iarla McCarthy. Local driver Colin O’Meara makes his historic debut alongside Jason Ollerenshaw in a Ford Escort RS1800, former Killarney historic winner Mark Falvey lines up in his Ford Escort RS2000, and local driver Fergus O’Meara returns alongside co-driver Anthony O’Sullivan.
Also returning from retirement are local favourites Donie O’Sullivan and Joe O’Leary. Maurice Meskell and Stephen Meskell bring their striking Bertie Fisher replica Ford BDA, while Michael Cullen and Lorcan Moore campaign a BMW E30 M3. Former Irish National Rally Champion and preparation expert Melvyn Evans enters a Subaru Impreza 555 alongside Killarney regulars Colin McDowell and former event winner Geraldine McBride in their iconic Austin Mini.
Adding further interest to the Baltinglass entry list is Fenit’s Brendan Brosnan, who competed on the very first Killarney Historic Rally back in 1996. Rumours in the service park suggest Brosnan is attempting to coax Kerry Motorsport News journalist Sean Moriarty out of retirement for the November rally.
Other notable entrants fine-tuning their machinery ahead of Killarney include US-based Briton Kyle Tilley alongside co-driver Martin Brady, while Aidan Long makes a welcome return to competitive action for the first time since the West Cork Rally in a BMW M3 E30
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