Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Callum Devine says he is primed and ready for the challenge that awaits over both days of next month’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally in County Armagh.
Devine has never won the Northern Ireland Motor Club showpiece but knows success at the forty seventh instalment will see him crowned the 2025 Irish Tarmac Rally Champion.
The County Derry-Londonderry-based driver put himself in the box seat for a second ITRC trophy following a superb win on June’s Donegal International alongside Noel O’Sullivan.
They held off the challenge of double FIA European Rally champion Hayden Paddon, M-Sport Ford-supported driver Jon Armstrong, and British Rally Championship frontrunner William Creighton to end the three-day contest with a commanding 20.3s margin. In the process, Devine became only the fourth person in history to win it three times in a row.
Remarkably, despite his success in the cross-border championship in recent campaigns, former Junior British title holder Devine’s yet to triumph at the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally.
He is the bookies’ favourite to finally right that wrong on the weekend of August 15th/16th, despite a very competitive Rally2 contingent from the UK and Ireland standing in his way. These include former Tarmac champion Declan Boyle in another Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2), David Kelly (VW Polo) and James Ford (Citroen C3 Rally2).
“I am looking forward to the Ulster Rally. It’s always a good event, but a tricky one too,” said Devine. “The stages are very demanding and unique to Northern Ireland; what grip you have changes constantly, and the surface is unpredictable – it is such a big challenge.
“Mathematically, I can win the Championship at the Ulster – but I will need a strong result. That adds a bit of pressure because you’re trying to manage the risk if you find yourself in a good position. At the same time, the rally is notorious for unpredictable weather, muddy conditions, and plenty of places that can catch you out, so it requires full concentration.”
He added: “I know it is going to be a super tough weekend – but I am feeling confident and I am more than ready for the task in hand. It is going to be a big fight with the Rally2 boys.”
The top seeds will lead the field away on Friday, August 15th, from 3.30pm for the first of three closed road stages that are repeated later that evening. Saturday’s itinerary has a similar feel of two loops of three stages before the winners are crowned just before 5pm.
The service park and Rally HQ will both be based within the confines of Modern Tyres’ Carnbane Industrial Park premises, with this also hosting the finish ramp celebrations.
