Evans can spoil Irish party in Clonakilty

Irish and Welsh contests are nothing new in the Quality Hotel West Cork Rally and Denis Cronin and Daragh O’Riordan will have Welsh ace Melvyn Evans as their most formidable opponent when the 13-stage event starts in Clonakilty tomorrow.

All three have won the popular rally, Evans twice. Just a year ago, Cronin was involved in a great dice withBrian O’Mahony that went down to the final stage.

Both made a few errors but Cronin lost out on the final stage when his Subaru made contact with the scenery. Another crash on the Rally of the Lakes dented his confidence but it was restored with victory in the Fastnet Rally. Cronin’s only concern is that he still cannot fathom out what led to his demise in Clonakilty.

O’Riordan is very much up to speed with the Ford Fiesta WRC he debuted in this event last year. Like Cronin, the terrain will be as familiar to him as it will for Evans, who sampled the spoils in 2002 and 2006. The popular Welshman is seeking to become only the second driver to win the rally three times, joining fellow countryman Bob Fowden.

It is difficult to see Donegal’s Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) match the pace of the top three but it would be foolish to rule him out.

Local driver Kevin Kelleher won his race against the clock to have his Subaru WRC ready and James Stafford (Darrian T90) is also a late entry. Meanwhile, forest regular Michael O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC) makes a rare tarmac appearance.

The rally will also mark the Irish debut of the Ford Fiesta R5 in the hands of former winner Robert Barrable, whose performance will attract keen interest.

Having extracted the maximum from his Mitsubishi, Ovens ace Owen Murphy was rewarded with second place last year while Kerry’s Alan Ring (Subaru) heads the Group N category.

For the first time the rally has a Modified category of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship. Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and Frank Kelly (Escort) were always bound for Clonakilty while Phil Collins, Wesley Patterson, Adrian Hetherington and Pat Donegan, all in Escorts, have their work cut out to match their pace.

Meanwhile, Damien McCarthy (Ford Puma) heads Class 11, along with Jason Ryan (Toyota Starlet) and Cal McCarthy (Honda Civics). Jason McSweeney (Mitsubishi), David Guest (Subaru) and Stephen Carey (Honda Civic) provide more local interest.

There are seven stages tomorrow and six on Sunday, with the servicing at Darrara agricultural complex.

The McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship begins in Bishopscourt tomorrow. The principals are Derek McGarrity, Derek McGeehan and Alan Carmichael in Mini WRC’s and the Subaru duo of Kenny McKinstry and Dessie Henry.

Meanwhile, Monaghan’s Sam Moffett will be hoping to compete in next month’s circuit of Kerry, round two of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, provided he has his Ford Fiesta WRC converted to RRC (Regional Rally Car). He will use the Tralee-based rally as a warm-up for the Circuit of Ireland. The Irish Examiner also understands the high-profile driver could also use Kerry as a test.

Former Tarmac champion Darren Gass is considering hiring a Derek McGeehan-prepared Mini for the Easter classic.

Matt Griffin is in the USA for the Sebring 12-hour tomorrow, a counter in the TUDOR United Sportscar Championship and the North American Endurance Cup. The Douglas driver has Marco Cioci, Michele Rugelo and Jack Gerber as team-mates in their No. 51 Spirit of Race Ferrari 458.

In the 24-hour at Daytona, a gearbox problem thwarted their efforts but Griffin is upbeat about tomorrow.

The Irish racing season gets under way at Mondello Park on Sunday with the introduction of ‘Champion of Mondello’ titles for a number of racing classes. Formula Ford makes a return with Formula Vee, GTs, Touring Cars and the Patch Fiesta Championship all on the itinerary.