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.

“I will have very little time in the car before the event. Hopefully, I will have the seat adjusted and may get a few miles under my belt,” said Horan, who remarked on the prospect of future outings: “I have my licence now, in rallying, you never say never.”

It’s a tribute to the dedication of the Kerry club and its clerk of the course, Richard Talbot that some 90 crews will tackle the mixed surface event where competitors will have four timed runs over the circuit. Horan’s Mitsubishi is the car that Clonakilty’s Kevin Kelleher drove to victory in the Baltinglass Rally last November.

Tipperary’s Trevor Harding (Subaru WRC) leads the opposition to Horan and the current National Forest Championship pacesetter will provide a stern test. Former Irish and British Super1600 champion, Brian O’Mahony from Carrigaline, swaps his usual Renault Clio S1600 for the all-traction Metro 6R4 that could prove quite spectacular at the Kerry venue. Another driver switching cars is Clare’s Anthony O’Halloran. He reacquaints himself with his Opel Manta as opposed to his regular Mitsubishi.

Local stalwart, Mike Quinn will campaign his Mk 2 Ford Escort, having impressed on the Circuit of Kerry.

Mallow’s Barry Meade, is set to return after crashing out of the Circuit of Munster. Elsewhere in the top 10 there are places for Clare’s Christy Carey (Mitsubishi), Donegal’s Stuart Darcy (Subaru), Mike O’Connor (Subaru) and Ed Synan (Escort). Other entries include Frank Sweeney, Aidan Walsh, Thomas Fitzmaurice, Charlie Hickey and Ray Hilliard. Former Billy Coleman award winner, Owen Murphy is listed to drive a Toyota Corolla. The first timed run is scheduled to start at 2pm.

The Lurgan Park Rally (Saturday August 8) will retain its usual format that has contributed to its success over the last 30 years. Derry’s Kevin Lynch is seeking a sixth straight victory and will have nine-time winner, Kenny McKinstry and triple winner, Gwyndaf Evans as opposition. Other top names for the eight-stage event include Glenn Allen (Toyota Corolla WRC), Denis Biggerstaff (Subaru), John McGlaughlin (Mitsubishi). The Escort Mk 2 Challenge category features Wesley Patterson, Camillus Bradley, Trevor Moore and Adrian Hetherington.

Entries for the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally (August 9) remain open. The organising club have received some 70 entries to date.

Although Daniel Barry has won the Mitsubishi Evo UK Challenge, the Enniskerry ace plans to compete in the final two rounds — the Antrim-based Todd’s Leap Ulster Rally (August 21/22) and the Pickering-based Rally Yorkshire (September 26).

Meanwhile, Gary Thompson competes in the Formula BMW Europe series, one of the support races for the Hungarian GP. The Dunlop Driver of the Month for April will race with Raikkonen Roberston Racing. Meanwhile, Star Mazda championship leader, Peter Dempsey has targeted another strong brace of points in Autobahn, Joliet, Illinois this weekend. The Ashbourne driver tackles the Illinois road course double-header fresh from his dominant form with his Juncos Racing car on the oval in Iowa just over a week ago. “We had a two day test at Autobahn last week and found a set up that gives us a good starting point,” said Dempsey who has a nine-point lead over Adam Christodoulou after seven rounds.

Elsewhere, Ali Jackson awaits the second leg of the Firestone Indy Lights sojourn in Edmonton, Canada. The Moyvalley.com-supported driver with RLR Andersen Racing, ran as high as seventh in Toronto last time.

Other weekend events are the Limerick Autotest double header at Pallas Foods, Newcastle at 3pm start tomorrow and 11am on Sunday.

Aghabog’s Monaghan Autotest starts at noon Sunday and the Castle Automobile Club Sprint at Baltrasna, Oldcastle begins at the same time.