Reigning Irish Tarmac Champion Callum Devine is keen to kick on in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 at this Saturday’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally following a winning debut in the new supermini.
Devine caught fellow competitors and local fans off guard in June when he crossed the start ramp of the Donegal International Rally in the Czech-built car following a brief test aboard it.
The decision to switch over from his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 to the Fabia was rewarded with back-to-back Donegal successes – an outcome that bolstered the defence of his Tarmac title, and reduced the deficit to his rivals and Ford Fiesta exponents Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards.
Asked if he believes there is more to come from him and the Fabia in a few days’ time, Devine said: “I hope so. I do feel, having done a rally in the car, that it will help me. In Donegal it was a case of trying different things throughout the rally, particularly with the set-up – there was a bit of learning – but now we’ve something to work on, hopefully we can start a bit stronger.”
Played out over one day, ten special stages, and eighty-three competitive miles, the winner is going to be the person who finds their groove quickest and keeps their driving neat and tidy.
Unlike Cronin and Edwards, 30-year-old Devine – a former Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Award recipient – has never visited the top step of the podium at the Northern Ireland Motor Club Ltd event, which has undergone something of a refresh in what is its forty seventh year.
“It will be great if we could get a win on the Ulster Rally this time around. We have managed a third and a second on our last two visits, so hopefully we can go one better,” said Devine.
“It would definitely leave us in a good position heading towards the final round in Cork if we do, but no doubt Keith and Mat will be thinking the same. It will be a big battle at the front.
“It will definitely be a strong pace this year, much like all the other rallies have been in the Irish Tarmac Championship so far this year. Hopefully the weather is better – more settled – this time, because in previous years it has definitely added another challenge for the drivers.”
Further information on spectator viewing points, programme and seeded entry list for the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally, are now available HERE
