Kelly going into unknown territory in Fiesta R5

Former National and Irish Tarmac champion Donagh Kelly will sample a Fiesta R5 in competitive mode for the first time tomorrow at the Grizedale Rally in the forests of Cumbria.

It will be unknown territory for the Donegal man, who campaigned a Ford Focus WRC with huge success in 2015. Work commitments meant a diluted programme this season although he did win the West Cork Rally for the third consecutive year and took back-to-back wins in Killarney.

Kelly admitted: “I’m a bit rusty in the woods, it’s two years since I won the Lakeland Rally in the McGeehan Mini WRC. The entry is formidable and with just a set of notes and no reconnaissance, guys like Steve Petch and Hugh Hunter, big names on the domestic series, will have an advantage as they have competed on these stages many times. ”