Samdec Security International ITRC
A supreme line-up of Rally2 cars is set to take on the O’Connell Group Cork 20 Rally, the final round of this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
Defending Irish Tarmac Champions and last year’s Cork 20 winners, Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan will open the road on stage one knowing another win in Cork is imperative for their title hopes.
A brace of victories in Killarney and Donegal reignited Devine’s season, putting the pressure on year-long championship leaders Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin. Cronin stalled Devine’s Skoda attack on August’s Ulster Rally, however, to extend his championship advantage to 15 points.
That margin is cut to five when the series’ two dropped points are considered. A second-place finish in Cork would be enough for Cronin and Galvin to claim the title but finish any lower, and the title will go to their friendly rivals Devine and O’Sullivan should their Skoda Fabia Rally2 top Cork’s timesheets.
Entries from Josh Moffett, Matt Edwards, Eddie Doherty, and James Ford mean plenty of registered Irish Tarmac drivers could influence the title outcome.
Edwards currently holds third spot in the Irish Tarmac standings, an impact with a tree stump on the Ulster ending his sustained title challenge. You can never rule out the talented Welshman, though, especially as he bids to end his maiden Irish Tarmac campaign on a high.
Equally, Moffett will be keen to avoid recording his first winless ITRC campaign since 2019. The Monaghan driver has been in fine form on recent National Rally Championship events and will be looking to transition that into an end-of-season Irish Tarmac success.
World Rally Championship aces Josh McErlean and James Fulton make a welcome visit home to compete in the Cork 20 Rally. McErlean hasn’t competed at an Irish Tarmac event since his class-winning performance behind the wheel of a Peugeot 208 R2 at 2019’s Ulster Rally. Rally fans will be intrigued to see if he can bring the fight to the ITRC regulars on Cork’s eight-stage event.
Meirion Evans is another welcome addition. Evans knows how to compete at Cork 20’s sharp end and will be hoping for another tight battle aboard his Toyota Yaris Rally2.
Desi Henry and Declan Boyle also feature in the top ten, Boyle hot off the back of his Wexford Stages Rally victory.
In ITRC 4, Keelan Grogan leads a healthy line-up of Rally4 cars. Ioan Lloyd, Kyle McBride, Cian Caldwell, and Matthew Boyle continue the French front-wheel-drive theme, all driving Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars.
The action kicks off on the 12.8-kilometre Mullentaura test at 09:44 on Sunday 29th September.
McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC
Damian Toner and Frank Kelly’s thrilling duel for the McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC title will culminate over Cork’s single-day showdown. Four points separate the two Ford Escort Mk2 pilots with Toner’s Ulster Rally victory ensuring he holds the slender advantage.
Daniel McKenna, Conor Murphy, and Scotland’s David Bogie will start just ahead of the championship contenders on the road.
Colin Byrne and Class 13’s Cian Walsh will be fighting for local honours in the modified category.
Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC
Ray Breen’s Ulster Rally win wasn’t enough to deny Tomas Davies from sealing the Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC crown with a round to spare. Breen leads Cork’s Historic entry, though, as he looks to grab his third victory of the year in the sweet-sounding Subaru Legacy.
2022 Historic ITRC champions Neil Williams and Anthony O’Sullivan are back together for an assault on the Cork 20. O’Sullivan has put his faith in Williams to deliver a result good enough to secure the category’s co-drivers’ title. The Cork navigator holds a 15-point advantage over Damien Morrissey who is guiding Breen through the Cork 20 stages.
Wayne Evans, Philip Rogers, and Adrian Evans make it four Welsh drivers in Cork’s top six historic entries. Limerick’s Maurice and Stephen Meskell are seeded fifth.
The Father-Son duo of Craig and Guy MacWilliam find themselves third and fourth in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ standings. They are seeded tenth in Cork, aiming for another strong finish to seal a fond family podium in the series.
Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
It will be a Cork shootout in the Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC with Barry McIntyre hoping to fend off his county compatriot Dylan Sheehan. McIntyre’s two victories so far this year have given him a 14-point lead, his co-driver Brian Keohane has already claimed the navigators’ crown.
West Cork winner Kyle Browne is seeded second and will be gunning for glory on his home event while Limerick’s Graham and Trevor Roche will push the Cork men to the limit in their Honda Civic.
Jack Hallahan and Darragh Walsh complete the top five Junior crews with a total of 13 vying for class honours.
Latest ITRC standings
http://www.irishtarmac.com/results/
Photo by D Harrigan Images