Daragh O’Riordan eyes fourth Fastnet Rally

Aiming to win the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally for an unprecedented fourth time, Daragh O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta WRC) heads a close-to- capacity entry for what is the final counter in the Tritons Showers National Rally Championship and the PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 series.

On the recent Cork “20” the Midleton man was targeting a fourth straight win until he crashed. What effect this stop will have on his performance in Bantry should be seen in the first of three loops of three stages.

Kerry’s Alan Ring in the Mel Evans-hired S12B Subaru WRC, seeded behind O’Riordan, has withdrawn. The car will be driven by Evans, who is a late entry. It may well be the Welshman will give O’Riordan a stern test. The Welshman won the Fastnet in 2010 the same year he was the first driver from overseas to win the National series.

In the Triton series, Roy White of Clonmel can clinch a top three spot for the third year in succession. With Ring out of the equation, only Declan Gallagher can deprive White, but he has to secure at least 20 points and hope White does not improve on his points haul. It will be interesting to see how White will perform in his Ford Fiesta WRC that gets its first national outing in Bantry. On his debut outing in the Cork “20” he was improving on every stage until he slid off the road.

Meanwhile, it wouldn’t be a surprise were Clonakilty’s Kevin Kelleher (Subaru WRC) to be at the cutting edge.

The entry also features the Subaru WRC of Maynooth’s Kevin Barrett along with Donegal’s Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) and Cavan duo Jonathan Pringle and Chris Armstrong in Ford Escorts. The latter trio are in contention for the rally.ie award with Gallagher in the best position. The top 10 also includes Cavan’s Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort) and Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna, who will drive the Brendan Kelly Toyota GT86.

Elsewhere, Tyrone’s Aidan Wray (Mitsubishi Evo X) is favourite to wrap up the Motorsport Safety Group N title where Paul Barrett (Subaru) and Neil Tohill (Mitsubishi) are his rivals. As for the event itself Dunmanway’s David Guest (Mitsubishi) will be expected to set the pace within the category.

Having put his Subaru WRC through a rigorous test Ballylickey’s Daniel Cronin should finish much higher than his seeded position of 14.

The PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 series is between Killarney’s Tadhg O’Sullivan (Ford Escort) and Bandon’s Vincent McSweeney in his front-wheel drive Honda Civic. McSweeney is also among a group aiming to win the 1600 Cup with the likes of Killarney’s Rob Duggan (Peugeot 208 R2) and the Cork trio of Cal McCarthy, Jason O’Mahony and Bernard Foley, all in Honda Civics.

In the Triton Showers Junior Rally Championship, Roscommon’s Cormac Phelan (Citroen C2R2) can claim the title. Sunday’s opening stage is at 9am with the service park adjacent to Bantry Square.

Meanwhile, the only mixed surface event in the WRC calendar, the Rally RACC Catalunya swings into action today on gravel before switching to tarmac for tomorrow and Sunday. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle aim for a podium finish to help secure second in the manufacturers’ series for the Citroen outfit. Elsewhere, Irish interest includes Peugeot Rally Academy driver Craig Breen (Peugeot 208 T16), Enda McCormack/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia S2000), Pauric Duffy/Kevin Glynn (Ford Fiesta R5) and Jon Armstrong/ Noel O’Sullivan (Ford Fiesta R2); Irish co-drivers Chris Patterson, Michael Orr, Marshall Clarke and Stephen McCauley are also involved.