Motorpsport: Barrett hoping to go down a storm in Killarney

A year ago, Tyrone’s Ryan Barrett (Ford Escort) was set to sample the challenge of some of the classic Killarney stages until Storm Desmond forced the cancellation of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally.

Tomorrow morning, over an identical route Barrett, the top seed will set off on his maiden run up Moll’s Gap against relatively similar opposition. It includes former Irish National Rally champion, Welsh driver Mel Evans (Escort), who has West Cork co-driver Sean Hayde calling the notes.

Another national champion, Cork’s Owen Murphy, a double winner of the Irish Forest series is particularly bullish about his chances. Breaking the Escort dominance, the Ovens ace will campaign the John Leahy owned ex-Russell Brookes Sunbeam Lotus. “I’m going for the win. I’m always confident in Killarney, as I’ve done all these stages before,” Murphy said.