Former Circuit of Kerry winner Kitney rekindles Darrian memories in Pembrey return
Thirty-six years after winning the Asphalt Rally Championship, former Circuit of Kerry winner Geoff Kitney climbed back behind the wheel of a Darrian T90 at the Welsh Motorsport and Supercar Festival at Pembrey.
The 1990 champion took the wheel of a modern version of the machine that carried him to national title success, bringing back memories of a landmark season for both himself and the mid-engined Welsh sports car manufacturer.
Kitney holds a notable place in Irish tarmac history, having won the Circuit of Kerry in 1990 during his championship campaign. Co-driven by Alan McCann, Kitney put together a consistent run on his way to the overall crown, scoring podium finishes on all seven rounds. He sealed the title with a victory on the Wexford Rally, beating John Price and Mike Bowen in their Metro 6R4 by 14 seconds after two hours of racing.
As the driver who handed Darrian its very first rally victory back in 1986, Kitney reunited with the marque alongside original designer Tim Duffee and his son Rhodri, who were both at Pembrey Circuit to oversee the run.
The demonstration outing was the first time Kitney had driven a Darrian since 1990. For the run, he drove Tony Rees’ Darrian T90 GTR+, powered by a Millington Series 2+ engine and equipped with a modern paddle-shift gearbox.
“The last time I drove a Darrian was 36 years ago, back in 1990 when I won the Asphalt Rally Championship, and getting to drive one again after all those years was thrilling,” said Kitney. “I had a lot of trepidation beforehand, but as soon as I sat in the seat and went through a systems check, I felt quite at ease. I couldn’t believe how relaxed I felt.”
Kitney described the experience of putting the car through its paces on the track:
“There was a fair bit of adrenaline pumping when I was out on track. The thrill and excitement of driving a Darrian at Pembrey again was fantastic. You can really fly down the back straight and around the final corner, and the brakes are phenomenal as you slow down for the hairpin. It really was a wonderful experience and thank you so much to everyone who was involved in making it happen.”
Rhodri Duffee praised the former Kerry winner’s quick adaptation to the modern car:
“Fair play to Geoff, he took to the new car really well. I guess, as they say, it’s like riding a bicycle, although there has been quite a lot of development to that bicycle in the last 36 years.”
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