Title holder O’Mahony aiming to fend off Kelly

HORSEPOWER of a different variety will reverberate at the Tralee Racecourse tomorrow for the Tyre Stop Kerry Rallysprint.

One hundred competitors will be in action with former Irish and British S1600 champion, Brian O’Mahony heading the entry list. The Carrigaline driver will campaign the Metro 6R4 he drove to victory in last year’s inaugural event. The 2.4km course is a gravel and tarmac surface where equal amounts of precision and pace will be order of the day. O’Mahony renews his rivalry with one of the surprise packets of last year’s sprint, Jakes Kelly, who will drive a hired Subaru N10. Last time, O’Mahony finished 16 seconds ahead of the Tralee ace, who will be expected to be amongst the challengers along with fellow Group N aces, Clonakilty’s, Kevin Kelleher and local, Thomas Fitzmaurice (Mitsubishi) and Banteer’s, Barry Meade in his 2.4 engined Mk. 2 Escort.

The top ten also includes Vincent O’Shea (Escort Cosworth), Mike O’Connor (Mitsubishi), Jimmy Deane (Ford Escort), Anthony Hand (Ford Escort) and John McQuaid (Ford Escort). Locals seeded outside the top ten include Charlie Hickey (Escort), Mike O’Leary (BMW Compact) and Jason Costello (Escort).