Donegal ace Kelly ready to turn on the power

Donagh Kelly’s record in this season’s Triton Showers National Rally Championship is near perfect.

With the popular series introducing the Power Stage format akin to the World Rally Championship, there is an extra three points on offer in every round for the driver that sets the best time on the final stage.

As the series enters its second half, the Donegal driver has racked up all but three of the 92 points available.

On Sunday, in the Dooley’s Hotel Raven’s Rock Rally in Waterford, the Donegal driver can crank his title bid even further. The entry is formidable and gaining all 23 points on offer may be the toughest task thus far.

His nemesis and former triple champion Niall Maguire will have his first outing in the recently acquired ex-Declan Boyle S12B Subaru WRC.

Two other former national champions – Peadar Hurson and Mel Evans both in Subaru WRC’s will mount a serious challenge for event victory.

Meanwhile, Alan Ring will campaign the Mel Evans-hired S12B Subaru and having moved to within five points of Maguire in the Triton standings, he will need no motivation. Others in line to improve their championship standings are Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) and Roy White (MG ZR).

, Triton Showers Group N pacesetter Aidan Wray (Mitsubishi) and two-wheel drive category leader Chris Armstrong (Escort) are also on the list along with Craig Breen,The first of the nine stages begins at 10am and servicing is at the Waterford Airport Business Park. The finish at the Quay’s in Waterford is timed for 4.45pm.

European Rally Championship leader Craig Breen heads the entry for the Ypres Rally, round five of the series that begins this afternoon. The Waterford man seeks a fourth successive win and aims to extend his 14-point advantage over Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Ford Fiesta R5). Other Irish entries are the Moffett brothers Sam and Josh, both in Fiesta RRC’s and Marty McCormack (Skoda Fabia S2000). There are seven stages this evening and ten tomorrow.

The British Rallycross Championship, in association with the Shannon Group, makes a welcome return to Mondello Park this weekend. It’s the first time in over a decade that the Kildare circuit features such a high profile event with the fourth round tomorrow and round five on Sunday.

London-based Limerick driver Ollie O’Donovan in his all-new four-wheel drive Fiesta Supercar will be joined by the similar cars of Julian Godfrey, Andy Grant and Kevin Procter.

The home challenge will be led by the Fiesta’s of Thomas O’Rafferty and Declan Kelly. The action starts at 10.30am on both days.

Cork racer Matt Griffin teams up with Richie Wee for the third and fourth rounds of the GT Asia Series with the Clearwater Racing Ferrari team at the Okayama Circuit in Japan.

Elsewhere, the Midland Autocross, Ballyfeeny in County Roscommon has an 11.30am start.

There’s been mixed reaction to the announcement by the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) of changes to the championship structure for the 2016 Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Only competitors in cars from Classes 1 to 5 will be eligible to score points and win the championship.

Essentially, none of the competitors that finished in the top six in last week’s Joule Donegal International Rally will be eligible to win the overall award if they retain their current cars.

TROA also plan to introduce a new trophy which is called the WRC Class 7 Trophy.

Changes to the structure are subject to Motorsport Ireland approval.