The Rose Hotel will be a hive of activity this Sunday as the base for the Circuit of Kerry Rally which has attracted a strong entry field this year. Martin Walsh previews what’s to come…

The splendid and iconic west Kerry scenery provides the backdrop to Sunday’s second round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

The rally is also a counting round of the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship that began in Nenagh last February with Clonmel’s Roy White (Ford Fiesta WRC) taking victory.

Four former national champions are amongst the 130 plus entry list with Donegal’s Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC) first into action over the eleven-stage rally.  The influx of competitors and spectators is a great financial boost for the tourism sector.

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Boyle, from Lettermacaward and his Monaghan co-driver James O’Reilly made the perfect start to this year’s Triton series when they won the opening round Mayo Rally on Achill Island last month.

Indeed, they netted the maximum score of twenty-one points as they also secured the single point for posting the fastest time on the Power Stage.  Boyle is a double winner of the Vard Memorial Trophy, he won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, but his title challenges over the last two seasons have been blighted with niggling issues.  Despite an electrical problem en-route to the opening stage in Mayo, Boyle was in terrific form as he took the laurels.

It certainly won’t be a jaunt around west Kerry where the terrain and his rivals combine to provide formidable opposition.  On each of the last two occasions (2016 & 2014) that the Tralee based event was a counting round of the national series, Boyle has taken victory.

Another Donegal driver Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) will be one of Boyle’s main rivals, a national champion in 2015, Kelly, may chase the Vard Memorial Trophy should be amongst the major share of the Triton points in Tralee.  He was very much in the hunt in Mayo until a time consuming puncture dropped him way down the order before he recovered to claim tenth overall.

Meanwhile, Clonmel’s Roy White (Ford Fiesta WRC) was another to have difficulties in Mayo, he slid off the road at the end of the opening stage and although he re-joined under Rally2 it was little more than seat time.  He won Triton series in 2016 but is still chasing that elusive overall victory in a championship round.

Fourth in the first round, Donegal’s Joe McGonigle continues his Triton championship campaign in tandem with gaining more experience in his first season behind the wheel of his Mini WRC.

There’s little doubt that Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) has bitter-sweet memories of the Circuit of Kerry, the former triple national champion has won and lost events in Kerry on a tie-break.  No other event in Irish rallying has been decided on tie-breaks as much as the Circuit of Kerry and while Maguire was involved in three such events, the last tie-break finish was in 2012 when local hero Thomas Fitzmaurice denied Cork’s Brian O’Mahony although the latter went on to win the overall title.

In 2010, last year’s winner Derek McGarrity (Ford Fiesta WRC) beat Kerry native Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) claim the spoils after a tie-breaker.

The legendary Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) is also competing on the Rose Hotel backed event along with Midleton’s Darragh O’Riordan, who will campaign his Fiesta WRC that has been converted to right hand drive.

The aforementioned Kevin Barrett occupies the number eight berth in the Triton backed Subaru WRC in a top ten completed by Louth’s Brendan Cumiskey (Ford Fiesta WRC) and Donegal’s PJ McDermott (Subaru WRC).

Ex-Irish forest rally champion London based Corkonian Michael O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC) is making his first appearance of the season on Irish roads.

Another former champion – Tyrone’s Aidan Wray (Mitsubishi EvoX), who has won the Motorsport Safety Group N series in the Triton campaign, leads the showroom category in Tralee.  Opposition will emanate from Maynooth’s Paul Barrett in the Vado liveried Mitsubishi EvoX and Donegal’s Trevor Bustard (Mitsubishi EvoIX).

The strong Donegal contingent continues with ex-Billy Coleman award winner

Stuart Darcy (Darrian T90).  In Mayo, he had a tremendous battle with Cavan’s Chris Armstrong (Escort) and took the spoils on the final stage.  The pair will renew their rivalry in west Kerry and that should be an interesting duel, however, they are unlikely to have it all their own way with Limerick’s Ed O’Callaghan, local ace Mike Quinn, Tyrone’s Ryan Loughran, Carlow’s David Condell and Limerick’s Ed Synan – all in Ford Escorts, also on the list.

Elsewhere, Clare’s Padraig Egan (Subaru), Limerick’s Sean Liston (BMW E30), who was fourth overall in Kerry last year, Limerick’s Keith Lyons (Fiesta R5), Galway’s Pat Kelly (Subaru) and Monaghan’s Raymond Conlon (Toyota Corolla) are also amongst the entry.

As ever, for the local contingent, a strong performance on the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry is a very specific target.  Last year, Tralee’s Tim Enright (Escort) claimed the bragging rights, however, Lyreacrompane man Quinn will endeavour to claim top spot on this occasion.

There are others too, such as Kilflynn’s Tom Relihan, Killarney trio Charlie Hickey, Ed Murphy and Tadhg O’Sullivan along with Kenmare’s Vincent O’Shea, Ballylongford’s Tommy Mason, Tarbert’s Jason Costello, Lisselton’s Pat Barry and Killarney’s John Hickey, all in Ford Escorts all vying for success.

Elsewhere, Killarney’s Mark Falvey in his Mk. 1 Ford Escort competes in the Historic section.

Two Kerry drivers are in the keenly contested Class 11F – Tralee’s Darren Young and Kenmare’s Shane McCarthy, both in Honda Civics will face stern opposition from the similar cars of Mallow’s Derek Butler and Donegal’s Michael Boyle.

In the Junior category of the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Armagh’s Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) is the top seed, he won the opening round of the Triton Junior series in Mayo.  The top six also features Monaghan’s Jonny Treanor (Honda Civic), Armagh’s Gareth Black (Toyota Starlet), Galway’s Billy Riordan, Tipperary’s Shane Norris and Clare’s Michael Hamilton, all in Honda Civics.  The local challenge will be provided by the Honda Civic pair of Steven O’Connor and Daniel Chung.

RALLYING returns to Kerry for the first time this year with the annual Circuit of Kerry Rally, based in Tralee on Sunday.

The Rose Hotel-sponsored rally is the first of four major rallies set to take place in The Kingdom this year and organiser, Kerry Motor Club, has set a high standard in terms of entry and stage location.

Although lacking in overall numbers, the entry list has strength in depth with several high-quality World Rally cars, state-of-the-art R5 machines and high-powered modified cars on the list and the fact the it is round two of the locally sponsored Top Part West Coast Rally Championship.

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Leading the field away on Sunday morning from the Rose Hotel will be former winner Derek McGarrity who will have Beaufort’s Diarmud Falvey on pace note duty in their Ford Fiesta World Rally Car.

Falvey is aiming to become the fourth Kerry navigator to win the rally, following in the footsteps of John Crone, Paul Nagle and Fionn Foley, in the 40 years of the event.

Maintaining the strong local interest, Kevin Barrett is also on the entry in his Subaru Impreza.  Barrett is a long time resident of Maynooth, County Kildare but his family have strong ties to Ballyduff in the north of the county and both he and his Limerick-based co-driver Sean Mullaly are members of Kerry Motor Club and will be hoping to win the James O’Rourke Memorial Trophy at the finish.

Daniel Cronin, last year’s Kerry Winter Rally winner is another sure to be at the top end of time sheets on Sunday, as a late entry is expected from the West Cork man later this week. The Mitsubishi Lancer E9 driver will have his usual co-driver, Shane Buckley, from Faha, alongside.

Welsh visitor Steve Wood, a former Circuit of Munster winner is another regular visitor to Tralee  and he has Abbeyfeale’s Keith Moriarty in the hot seat. Moriarty always maintains that the Circuit of Kerry is his home rally and will be hoping to displace the other crews in front and add to his previous Circuit of Munster success.

Two contenders in this year’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Brendan Cumiskey and Arron MacHale bring their respective Skoda Fabia R5 and Citroen DS3 R5 rally cars to the event ahead of the next round of that series, the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes.

The two Leinster-based drivers will be hoping to make the most of their time in the Kingdom this weekend ahead of the county’s second rally at the end of April.

Local hero Mick Quinn is facing a race against time to have his Escort ready in time for the event.

The former winner of the Kerry Winter Rally was forced to retire from the recent West Cork Rally after his car suffered a serious engine failure.  One of Sunday’s stages passes within a whisker of Quinn’s home place, so he will be pulling out all the stops over the next few days to ensure he is on the start-line Sunday morning.

Quinn’s former navigator Sean Enright is another Escort driver on the entry list  the nine-stage rally.

Limerick driver Ed O’Callaghan, a former winner of the Clare Stages and on occasion in the past a leader of the Kerry Winter Rally will be another contender for overall honours.

Ed Murphy and John McCarthy, from Aghadoe are another crew hoping for a top ten result and will field yet another variation of the ever-popular Ford Escort, as does Timmy Enright from Baenmore.and Tommy Mason from Tarbert who are also likely top ten runners.

Tom Relihan and Maurice McElligott are another local crew likely to feature in the top ten in their Ford Escort. Pat Barry and Kerry Motor Club secretary Stephen O’Connell have entered their Ford Sierra Cosworth as part of car’s 30th anniversary that will be celebrated on the event.

Ger O’Brien form Abbeydorney returns in his Escort, while the Honda Civic line-up will be headed by tralee natives, Darren Young and Sean Walsh

The rally gets underway at 0920hrs  on Sunday morning before the crews face nine demanding stages in the North Kerry area.  Centralised service after each loop is in the main car park of the Rose Hotel with the first pit-stop scheduled for 1155hrs. The first car is due back at the finish ramp at 1715hrs Sunday evening.

Late entries are still be accepted and can be directed to clerk of the course Richard Talbot on 00353 87 2680732.

Full details of the rally route and entry list will be published in the comprehensive official programme which will go on sale in the  following locations.

Nolan’s Garage, North Circular Road Tralee

Rose Hotel, Tralee

Kellihers Garage, Tralee

Topaz Rathass, Tralee

Topaz Mounthawk, Tralee

Gala  Mounthawk, Tralee

Joe O’Connor’s Filling Station, Tralee

Foley’s Spar,  Castlemaine Road, Tralee

Apple Green filling Station,  Manor, Tralee

O Shea’s Texaco,  Blennerville

Anne Mac’s Castleisland

Whyte’s Centra, Castleisland

Moriarty’s Centra Farranfore

The Rock Filling Station Killarney

The Reeks Filling Station, Killarney

Daly’s SuperValue  Killarney

Fitzgerald’s Filling Station Listowel

Dominic Kelly’s Six Crosses

Maloney’s Maxol Abbeyfeale

Horgan’s Ardfert

Sheehy’s Londis, Ballyduff

Cronin’s Filling Station Castlemaine

KERRY Motor Club will launch its Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally with a special function at the landmark Tralee establishment on Monday night, March 20.

The event attracts thousands of rally fans to town say the organisers and this creates a great tourism boost for the town.

A counting round of the locally sponsored Top Part West Coast Rally championship, the April 2  event is expected to attract some of the best drivers in Ireland and further afield to compete on some the best rally roads in Ireland.

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Already confirmed is former winner and multiple Northern Irish Rally Champion Derek McGarrity in his state-of-art Ford Fiesta World Rally Car.

Triton Showers boss Kevin Barrett, a driver with strong Kerry connections, will contest the rally in his Subaru Impreza WRC and will be aiming on a top result in what he considers one of his local events.

Last year’s Circuit of Munster winner, Steve Wood, is also entered in his Subaru Impreza and will employ Abbeyfeale-based co-driver Keith Moriarty for the weekend. Moriarty is very much looking forward to his local stages.

Additional big names are expected to commit after this weekend’s West Cork Rally in Clonakilty.

Monday night’s event gets underway at 7pm when clerk of the course, Tralee man Richard Talbot, outlines some of the route details and reveals some of the star names that have entered the nine-stage, 120km rally.

It is the longest possible mileage allowed under current Motorsport Ireland rules for a one day rally, offering a great challenge to the driver and an incredible spectacle for the thousands of fans expected in Tralee for the weekend.

Richard Talbot said: “The Circuit of Kerry is one of the most important events on the Irish rally calendar. World rally star Paul Nagle cut his teeth on this rally and recorded one of his first national rally wins on this rally when it was based in Dingle.”

An extensive route survey has already taken place and residents in the proposed route have offered their all-important support to the rally.

A total of nine stages, in a three-by-three format, using roads not used in The Kingdom for many years, and on stages made famous by the old-style Circuit of Ireland, ensures that competitors and fans can look forward to a long and challenging rally.

Another plus point for the rally is that driver sign-on, the service park, and other event-related activities are all housed within the Rose Hotel’s complex, making it a very easy event to manage from both an organiser and competitor point-of-view.