Killarney and District Motor Club could be facing €40,000 rally loss

The activation of the Kerry County Council’s emergency plan prohibited the Killarney and District Motor Club from proceeding with Saturday’s Rentokil-Initial Killarney Historic Rally.

The Council’s Emergency Co-ordinating Team issued the directive in the midst of a Code Red weather alert. It is the second time in four years the event has fallen victim to the weather. In 2012, snow and ice forced the Killarney club to cancel the rally. It is estimated the club could lose as much as €40,000 on Saturday’s event.

The following statement was issued by the clerk of the course of the Killarney event, Kevin Flannery on Saturday.

“The directive has been considered in consultation with Motorsport Ireland officials and a decision has been taken to postpone the event subject to the allocation of an alternative date and Motorsport Ireland approval. The club respects this decision issued by the local authority and, very much regret this decision, which has been forced on it by circumstances beyond their control. In the light of the postponement of the Rentokil-Initial Killarney Historic Rally, Killarney and District Motor Club wish to acknowledge the Trojan work by officials, marshals, emergency services and timekeepers, who were working since the early hours of the morning setting up the stages and acknowledge the help received from neighbouring clubs despite the horrific weather conditions which faced them today.”

While the event was postponed, it is unlikely to be re-scheduled given the congested Irish motorsport calendar. Possible dates in January and February could be met with opposition from clubs organising events then.

One window of opportunity is Easter weekend, as the 2016 Circuit of Ireland will not run at this time, however, it appears that this date is too close to the club’s International Rally of the Lakes. A quick estimate of costs leaves the club with losses close to €40,000.

Very early Saturday morning the organising team had already cancelled the opening stage at Moll’s Gap and were planning to run a five-stage event — also dropping the night stage at Gortnagane. It appears that while there were no real issues with the stages, the Council’s concern was centred on spectator traffic between stages and on the Rathmore to Killarney road that was being used as an alternative route to the flooded road at Glenfesk.

Club chairman Diarmuid Cronin said, “We are disappointed, especially, given the huge entry. We had planned to run a shortened version but the additional traffic that was being diverted via Rathmore changed the situation. I suppose the Council’s decision made it easier for us but we are extremely sorry for the crews especially those that travelled from other parts of the country and from overseas and brought an income to Killarney.

“We hope that it will not affect entries in the future. There is new criteria now, with all the weather alerts and like everyone else, we have to follow procedure.”

Meanwhile, yesterday’s MEC Rallysprint at Mondello Park was won by Cashel’s Pat O’Connell (Mitsubishi Evo IX). O’Connell was quickest on the opening run – some five seconds ahead of the Suzuki Swift of Alan Smyth.

The pair were also the best performers on the second run as O’Connell stretched his lead to almost 20 seconds with what transpired to be his best time of the day. He gained over six seconds on the third run and with the fourth and final run cancelled after the timing beam failed, O’Connell’s winning margin over Smyth was 27.21 seconds. Jason Roche (Escort) was third – 26.14 seconds further behind.