Tyre choice for the final pair of stages proved crucial and decisive as Ballylickey’s Daniel Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Shane Buckley won the Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Rally for the second time in three years.

Banbridge driver Kenny McKinstry (Subaru WRC) with Kenny Hull calling the pacenotes won the Carey Cleaning Machines Icebreaker Rally in the forests of north Antrim.

Cork-born driver, Donie O’Sullivan and his Kerry co-driver, Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) finished the best of the Irish trio in Rally Catalunya, the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship that was won by Ford ace, Markko Martin.