Change of approach for 2023 Killarney Historic Rally

For the first time in some six years, the rally will incorporate a night stage, the eighth and final stage of the rally.

Fri, 13 Oct, 2023 - 07:00

Martin Walsh

This year’s Killarney Historic Rally (December 2nd) is set to become a more integral part of the “Christmas in Killarney” festival and in a change with tradition, will be based in the town centre with the Killarney Towers Hotel (O’Donoghue/Ring Collection) as its title sponsor.

For the first time in some six years, the rally will incorporate a night stage, the eighth and final stage of the rally, Ireland’s only dedicated historic event and the opening round of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championship.

“We are delighted to bring the rally into the heart of the town and be a central part of the Christmas in Killarney annual festival," commented clerk of the course Anthony O’Connor.

He added: “We welcome the O'Donoghue Ring Collection and the Towers Hotel as title sponsor. Well-known local driver Alan Ring has always been a great supporter of club events and it’s great to see his family business come in as title sponsor for the iconic event.”

In a break with a long tradition, the classic stages at Moll’s Gap and Beallaghbeama will not feature in this year’s itinerary as O’Connor explained.

“At the moment, Kerry County Council are carrying out repairs on parts of the Moll’s Gap stage. While there is a time frame, we don’t want to put anyone under pressure and we have decided to use other stages in the county. We have a great relationship with the local authority and it’s important that we too play our part. If there were delays, then everyone would be under pressure. In fact, we actually now have one more stage than last year so everyone will be happy.”

The four-stage locations will be in mid-Kerry and the service halts will be at the Liebherr complex in Fossa.

The ceremonial start on Friday night will also take place in Killarney town centre.

Meanwhile, the Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Championship gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) night with the Cork Startrek Navigation Trial that also signals the start of the Munster Navigation series.

Based at the Araglen GAA complex on the Cork, Tipperary, Waterford borders, the 80-mile route will be based on OSI Discovery Sheet 74.

Reigning champion navigator Denis O’Donovan will be partnered by Limerick’s Alan Shinnors with opposition provided by the Ulster crews of Micky Carbin/Conor Mohan; Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes, the Cork crew of James Fitzgerald/Ken Carmody and the Monaghan/Limerick duo of Andy Mackarel/Greg Shinnors, any of whom are well capable of victory. The first car away is at 10.30pm.

Former Irish Forest rally champion Omagh’s Patrick O’Brien will debut a new Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2 on the forthcoming Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally on October 29th next that will decide the outcome of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship between Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5) and Derry’s Callum Devine (VW Polo GTi R5) Entries, currently over the 160 mark, close on Monday.

Following the conclusion of last week’s Willie Loughman Forest Rally, two of the J1000 competitors were excluded from the event.

Down driver Cameron Crozier (Nissan Micra), who was provisionally shown as the category winner and Cork’s Ger Hartigan (Citroen C1) were excluded as their cars breached the technical regulations.

Results were not finalised until Monday night last at 8.42pm with Wexford’s Tommy Furlong (Skoda Citigo) as the winner of the J1000 (Class 21) category.