NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship
Two weeks after an epic Circuit of Ireland showdown, the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship heads to its third round, Killarney’s Rally of the Lakes.
Keith Cronin and Callum Devine share a win apiece after 2025’s opening two rounds, with ITRC’s previous two champions set to go head-to-head once again in Killarney.
Callum Devine and Kerry co-driver Noel O’Sullivan lead Killarney’s maximum entry of rally cars after winning each of the last three Rally of the Lakes. The Skoda Fabia Rally2 partnership is in form too, bagging victory on the Circuit of Ireland, their first rally in six months.
Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin looked invincible on the Circuit of Ireland as the West Cork Rally winners dominated the timesheets for most of the event. Brake issues and a puncture on the Circuit’s penultimate test cost them a chunk of time as they plummeted down the leaderboard.
A puncture also denied Cronin Rally of the Lakes success 12 months ago. The now Citroen C3 Rally2 driver picked up 10 stage wins from 14 and will be hoping he can renew his Irish Tarmac title push with similar speed this weekend.
Completing Killarney’s top three entries, Matt Edwards and David Moynihan will be desperate to string together a finish on the 15-stage event. Edwards has retired from runner-up positions in both West Cork and Circuit of Ireland rallies. The Hyundai i20 Rally2 crew has shown it has the pace to challenge for victories but will want to balance that with ensuring they make the finish in Killarney.
Josh Moffett and Eddie Doherty were two more drivers who lost out on strong Circuit of Ireland finishes. Moffett got stuck in a ditch on Saturday’s slippery stages while a double-puncture spoiled Doherty’s podium hopes. Both return to action in Killarney, seeded fifth and sixth respectively.
2022 and ‘23 ITRC frontrunner Meirion Evans is seeded fourth in Killarney as local co-driver Ger Conway joins the Welshman aboard the stunning Toyota Yaris Rally2.
Strong finishes in West Cork and on the Circuit of Ireland Rally have earned David Kelly a healthy position on ITRC’s leaderboard. Kelly and co-driver Arthur Kierans kept their heads down as chaos ensued around them on the Circuit’s final day to leap up to a podium finish. The 29-year-old will be hoping to bring that positive momentum forward to Killarney where he finished sixth 12 months ago.
Declan Boyle, Cathan McCourt, and Michael Boyle will all be match-fit after their Circuit of Ireland outings. James Ford and Neil Shanks had been third after the Circuit’s opening test but were one of the crews to succumb to its notorious The Hollow test.
Former modified favourites Kevin Eves and Gary Kiernan complete Killarney’s initial group of Rally2 contenders.
Rapid young driver Shane Quinn tops Killarney’s Rally3 entry while Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy high-flyer Kyle McBride starts ahead of Jack Brennan, Joseph Kelly, and Kalum Graffin in Rally4.
McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC
Local aces Colin O’Donoghue and Robert Duggan will set a high modified benchmark in Killarney this weekend. The two Ford Escort Mk2 drivers start in front of Monaghan’s Johno Doogan.
With Rodney Wilton, McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC leader Damian Toner, and Vincent O’Shea all in hot pursuit, spectators heading south-west will be in for a treat.
Drifting star Conor Shanahan will take on the Rally of the Lakes stages in Declan Gallagher’s Class 14 Toyota Starlet.
Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC
Four BMW M3s line up at the head of Killarney’s Wales Motorsport Fabrication Historic ITRC pack. Alan Ring, John O’Donnell, Fergus O’Meara, and Kevin O’Donoghue will battle it out in the sweet-sounding coupes.
Circuit of Ireland Historic winners Meirion Evans and Anthony O’Sullivan will pit their Ford Escort RS1800 against their BMW rivals.
Duncan Williams, Gareth Bevin, and Walter Dick continue Killarney’s theme of top Historic drivers littered through the jam-packed field of cars.
Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
Ronan Dorrian and Mickey Joe Browne top the Junior entry of 14 cars. The Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC leaders will aim to keep the fellow Honda Civic crew of Kyle and Aaron Browne at bay.
Cian Hynes, Graham Roche, and Eoin Sheehan complete the Rally of the Lakes’ Junior top five.
Photo by D Harrigan Images