Daragh O’Riordan rules Fastnet Rally

Midleton’s Daragh O’Riordan (Ford Fiesta WRC) celebrated his 34th birthday in style with an emphatic and record-breaking fourth victory in the Bantry-based Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally that brought an end to the first season of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

Co-driven by Derry’s Tony McDaid they finished a minute and 17.6 seconds ahead of the Fiesta WRC of Clonmel’s Roy White and Cork co-driver James O’Brien. Donegal’s Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore (Toyota Starlet) were 11.5 seconds behind in third as they secured the rally.ie title in the Triton series.

Blitzing the opposition on the opening stage, Mullaghmore, O’Riordan was 20.4 seconds better than the opposition. Belittling his seeded position of No. 14, Ballylickey’s Daniel Cronin (Subaru WRC) was next best. He could have been closer were it not for a transmission problem.