Samdec Security International ITRC
Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan lead the Ulster Rally’s 101-car strong entry as the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship heads north for its penultimate round of 2024.
Ten tough stages over 130 stage kilometres will decide this year’s winner and give a strong hint at who could become Ireland’s latest Tarmac Rally Champions.Devine is yet to win the Ulster Rally but will start first on the road after finishing behind rally winner Adrien Fourmaux 12 months ago. The Skoda Fabia Rally2 pilot is looking to make it three ITRC wins on the bounce, a run that has put him right back into title contention after a tricky start to the year.Leading the seven-round series are Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin who started the year with two sensational wins but blows in Killarney and Donegal mean they’ll be looking to rebound in Newry. The Cork-Killarney crew hold a 10-point championship lead over Devine and O’Sullivan with Circuit of Ireland winners Matt Edwards and David Moynihan sandwiched between.Edwards looked set to secure his first-ever Donegal International Rally win last time out only to damage a steering arm on the final day. Still, his never-give-up attitude ensured he picked up third-place points to move within 1.5 points of Cronin.With dropped scores considered, the gap between Irish Tarmac’s top three crews is cut to a tantalising five points. This is an end-of-season run-in you can’t afford to miss.
Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan lead the Ulster Rally’s 101-car strong entry as the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship heads north for its penultimate round of 2024.
Ten tough stages over 130 stage kilometres will decide this year’s winner and give a strong hint at who could become Ireland’s latest Tarmac Rally Champions.Devine is yet to win the Ulster Rally but will start first on the road after finishing behind rally winner Adrien Fourmaux 12 months ago. The Skoda Fabia Rally2 pilot is looking to make it three ITRC wins on the bounce, a run that has put him right back into title contention after a tricky start to the year.Leading the seven-round series are Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin who started the year with two sensational wins but blows in Killarney and Donegal mean they’ll be looking to rebound in Newry. The Cork-Killarney crew hold a 10-point championship lead over Devine and O’Sullivan with Circuit of Ireland winners Matt Edwards and David Moynihan sandwiched between.Edwards looked set to secure his first-ever Donegal International Rally win last time out only to damage a steering arm on the final day. Still, his never-give-up attitude ensured he picked up third-place points to move within 1.5 points of Cronin.With dropped scores considered, the gap between Irish Tarmac’s top three crews is cut to a tantalising five points. This is an end-of-season run-in you can’t afford to miss.
Two-time Irish Tarmac Champion Josh Moffett is seeded fourth for the Ulster Rally and is another top name looking to etch his name on the winners’ list for the first time.
Up-and-coming Rally2 drivers Eddie Doherty and David Kelly have both impressed this year and will be keen to challenge for a podium finish on Saturday’s stages.
Up-and-coming Rally2 drivers Eddie Doherty and David Kelly have both impressed this year and will be keen to challenge for a podium finish on Saturday’s stages.
McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC
Local ace Jason Black tops the Ulster Rally’s modified entrants alongside Galway co-driver Karl Egan. The Toyota Starlet duo finished inside the top ten last year as they took Ulster’s two-wheel-drive victory.Black will face stiff opposition from Ulster rivals Damian Toner and Frank Kelly who themselves are in an intense battle for the Modified ITRC title.
Kelly holds a slender one-point advantage with two rounds remaining and will have to be at his best to withstand Toner who has narrowly missed out on Ulster success in recent years.
Camillus Bradley, Oli Benton, John Devlin, and Gareth Black will provide further two-wheel-drive entertainment on the stages outside Newry.
Camillus Bradley, Oli Benton, John Devlin, and Gareth Black will provide further two-wheel-drive entertainment on the stages outside Newry.
Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC
Wales’ Tomas Davies could seal the Historic ITRC title if results go his way on the Ulster Rally. West Cork and Circuit of Ireland wins have helped give him a 37-point lead over Ray Breen with two rounds to go.Breen, and co-driver Damien Morrissey, will be hoping to utilise their Subaru Legacy’s power to take their second top-points finish of the year.Davies will have 2022 championship-winning co-driver Anthony O’Sullivan calling his pacenotes on Saturday with O’Sullivan currently leading the co-driver standings by 12 points.2023 Ulster Historic winners Trevor Wilson and Paul Mulholland start just behind Davies and O’Sullivan as they look to record their first ITRC Historic win of the year.
Spectators will be treated to the spectacular sights and sounds of Adrian Hetherington’s Fiat 131 Abarth with David Armstrong’s Ford Escort completing the top five Historic entries.
Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC
Barry McIntyre will be aiming for a drama-free run on the Ulster Rally as he bids to move ahead of Dylan Sheehan at the top of the Junior ITRC standings. McIntrye will be navigated by leading Junior ITRC co-driver Brian Keohane.
The Honda Civic duo tops the Ulster’s Junior entry ahead of the Nissan Micra of Philip White and Liam Callaghan.
Latest ITRC standings
http://www.irishtarmac.com/
