Kerry crews set for Baltinglass test as Killarney Historic preparations intensify
A large contingent of Kerry drivers and co-drivers is heading to Baltinglass this weekend for the Garda Síochána Motor Club Mini Stages Rally. For the historic crews, the event serves as a direct shakedown ahead of December’s Killarney Historic Rally, while for many in the modified ranks, it offers a vital competitive runout in the hope of securing a late entry for the main event in Killarney.
Leading the field away at number one are the defending event champions from June 2024, Donegal driver Declan Gallagher and Kerry co-driver John McCarthy, who bring their rear-wheel-drive Toyota Starlet back to defend their crown in Class 14.
The Class 14 modified battle is packed with Kingdom interest, where several crews will be putting in extra stage miles while eyeing up potential entry slots for the modified section in Killarney. Conor Murphy and Sean Collins lead the Kerry charge at car six in their Ford Escort, joined in the top tier by Vincent O’Shea in his Darrian T90 GTR at car 16, and the Ford Escort Mk2 pairing of Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty at car 17. Further back in Class 14, Denis Hickey and Denis O’Leary bring their Escort Mk2 fresh from a recent Belgian rallying adventure, while Peter Wilson partners Meath navigator John McCarthy at car 49. Tadhg O’Sullivan and Frank Byrnes line up at car 55, with Kevin O’Donoghue and Paddy Moore bringing their BMW E30 into the mix at car 69.
The historic and historic-modified categories feature targeted shakedowns ahead of the December showpiece. At car 23, Fergus O’Meara and Anthony O’Sullivan bring their Class 19 BMW M3 to Wicklow for valuable stage miles. Right behind them at car 24, Welsh driver Tomas Davies features Kerry navigator Shane Buckley in his BMW M3 as the crew makes a final attempt to resolve the mechanical gremlins that plagued their recent outing on the Dawn International Rally, where a last-minute seat swap brought Buckley into the car.
Class 18 and Class 19 offer several driver and navigator combinations with one eye on Killarney. At car 26, Galway’s Jason Ollerenshaw takes the wheel of a Ford Escort RS1800 with Kerry’s Colin O’Meara in the navigator seat, gaining mileage ahead of Colin’s first run at the Killarney Historic. Todd Falvey drives an Ari Vatanen-replica Ford Escort RS1800 at car 27 alongside Kerry co-driver Iarla McCarthy, while Donie O’Sullivan makes a return after years away from the driver seat to shake down his Class 19 BMW M3 alongside Joe O’Leary at car 32. Grace O’Brien takes the wheel of a Class 19 Ford Escort RS1600 at car 33 with Cork’s Mark Falvey sitting alongside, while Brendan Brosnan brings another Class 18 Ford Escort to Baltinglass at car 36 for a pre-Killarney runout.
Class 13 sees Raymond O’Neill and Jason O’Connor take to the stages at car 52 for their first rally of the year in their Escort Mk2. They are joined in the class by Ger O’Brien and John Liston at car 83, key organisers of the upcoming Kerry Motor Club Haunted Roads to Tralee Road Run. At car 90, brothers Michael (Ray) Stack and Gene Stack team up in an Escort, while the father-and-son duo of Willie Power and John Power bring their Darrian T90 GTR to Wicklow at car 91.
In Class 2A, Kerry Motor Club associate member Daniel Seaman provides navigating duties for Meath’s Ryan Caldwell in a Peugeot 208 R2 at car 71. In Class 11F, Shane McCarthy returns to action in his Honda Civic at car 89 for what is believed to be his first rally since the Galway International.
Further down the field, Maurice McElligott navigates for Clare’s Mike Reddy in a Class 12 Escort Mk2 at car 129, while Gearóid O’Regan debuts a new Ford Escort alongside Wexford co-driver PJ Maloney at car 130.
The reserve list features strong Kerry representation holding out for a late run in Wicklow. Sean Hartnett sits as reserve 148 in a Ford Escort, while reserve 149 sees Tony Healy making his return after a long hiatus to navigate for Down driver Peter Lennon in a Class 13 Escort. Completing the Kingdom contingent, the father-and-son pairing of Mike Costello and Paddy Costello wait on the reserve list at car 159 in their Class 11R Ford Escort Mk2.
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