DonaghKelly dominates 2015 Circuit of Munster

Donagh Kelly continued his dominance of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship taking a 4th consecutive maximum score Sunday's Circuit of Munster Rally.

 

Kelly, reunited with navigator Kevin Flanagan, led from the front and the pair were fastest on all of the 9 stages in their VSM prepared Ford Focus World Rally Car taking a commanding win of almost 2 minutes over the Subaru crew of Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy. Kelly also picked up extra points as he was fastest on the power stage, strengthening his case for a first national championship. Kelly's title assault was also helped when his nearest title rival, Niall Maguire, retired on stage 7 with electrical issues.

Kelly and Ring were joined on the podium by the Tipperary/Cork pairing of Roy White and James O'Brien who rounded off a fine drive with 3rd overall in their 2.4 litre MG ZR. Clonakilty's Kevin Kelleher claimed 4th overall in his Subaru Impreza World Rally Car and he finished just 5.8 seconds ahead of championship sponsor Kevin Barrett, in yet another Subaru.

In the 2 wheel drive section local drivers Barry Ryan and Ed O'Callaghan caused a sensation on the opening stage of the rally as they lay in 2nd and 3rd place overall in their Ford Escorts. Ryan and co-driver Emmet Sherry unfortunately retired with a light roll on stage 2 allowing O'Callaghan to take a 2 wheel drive lead he was never to relinquish. O'Callaghan's winning margin over the similar Escort of 2 wheel drive national championship leader Chris Armstrong, was 1min 20secs.

The Wexford Motor Club crew of Graham and Tom Scallan took 8th overall and won the 'R' category in their R4 specification Evolution 10 Mitsubishi while Strabane drive Aidan Wray won Group N in his similar car. In the junior section there was a welcome return to form for Cormac Phelan and Katja Auhl as the pair swept to a 58.8 second win in their Citroen C2 ahead of the Honda's of Brian Brady in 2nd and James Bradley in 3rd. Niall and Conor Keane took the honours in the historic category in their Talbot Sunbeam.

 Richard Burke Motorsport Ireland PRO 0868167822

Full Results at Shannon Sports IT

Loads of interviews from the day at the club's Facebook page

{youtube}Z4OK4VcAMs0{/youtube}

Launch 005

This year the Circuit of Munster Clerk of Course Kieran Ambrose is planning a 120km loop of stages with 86km of road sections. Service will be centralised  in the Kilmallock area.

 
Seeded Entry List added 14:47 22 May 2015
 
Map

1 52.400892, -8.570124 Headquarters Deebert House Hotel
2 52.395937, -8.564893 Service/trailer Park Golden Vale Mart
3 52.407131, -8.582314 Scrutiny Kilmallock Business Park

 
Regulations
Entry Form
Please note entries open 20 April 2015

Online Entry at Shannonsports IT

 
 
Deebert House HotelRally Headquarters Deebert House Hotel 063 31200
 
 
 
 
 
 
Neighbouring hotels also doing packages for the rally weekend.
 
Charleville Park Hotel 063 33700
Rathkeale House Hotel 069 63333
Kilfinane Hostel 063 91625
Woodlands House Hotel 061 605100

For advertising opportunities email  news

Thanks to Alan at Rally Through A Lens for the photos

Launch 003