Horan returns to battle in Tralee

SOME 23 years after he won the event, Tralee’s Donie Horan headlines Kerry Motor Club’s Tyre Stop-backed Rallysprint tomorrow at Tralee Racecourse. The 46-year-old makes his first competitive outing since the mid-1980s and will drive a hired Mitsubishi Evo9.

“It began as a bit of bravado, but I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t back out, I got my competition licence and I’ll give it a go,” said Horan.

Horan previously campaigned an ex-Richie Heeley Group 2 Escort and a rear-wheel drive Ford Fiesta, winning single stage rallies like Banna and Ballylickey. In the Fiesta he notched up top 10 finishes in the Rally of the Lakes and the West Cork Rally.