Motorsport: Devine gearing up for Rally of the Lakes 

Derry’s Callum Devine (VW Polo GTi R5) seeking back-to-back victories on the Circuit of Ireland Rally. Pic: Martin Walsh.

The primary purpose of Derry’s Callum Devine’s (VW Polo GTi R5) participation in Saturday's Maiden City Rally is for a shakedown ahead of next week’s Assess Ireland Killarney Rally of the Lakes, round four of the Samdec Securities Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

The Claudy based event is the third round of the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship that has a very competitive entry thus providing Devine with the perfect barometer. 

“I haven’t finished either of last two rounds of the Tarmac series, retiring from both with wheel damage. Look, I suppose it doesn't usually happen like this to me, to be honest. I was looking back at my onboards and bits and pieces, there's been no moments, no scares, I just didn’t have the luck, it was small margins. Hopefully the bad luck's away now.” said Devine.

Kilrea’s Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally2) is another driver that hasn’t enjoyed the best of fortune, he too made a quick exit from the recent Circuit of Ireland. Interestingly, the last time they both competed against each other on this rally (2019) Henry took a start to finish victory with Devine taking second spot - 14.1s behind.

Northern Ireland Championship leader Jonny Greer (Citroen C3 Rally2) can extend his six point lead and along with Castlederg’s Gareth Sayers Ford Fiesta Rally2) has plenty experience of the event, both are also on the Lakes entry list.

Competition over the loop of three stages that will be repeated twice, should be competitive with Victoria Bridge driver Jason Mitchell VW Polo GTi R5) and Strabane’s Aidan Wray (VW Polo GTi R5) also on the 100+ entry. 

Others in the top ten are Kinallen’s Stuart Biggerstaff (Ford Fiesta Rally2); Peadar Hurson (VW Polo GTi R5) and Donegal’s Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5), who is second in the NI series. Current leader of the Irish Forest Rally Championship Jordan Hone (Ford Fiesta R5) is on home territory in what is a rare outing on tarmac surface.

Meanwhile, Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Josh McErlean (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) will make his debut with the Toksport World Rally Team Skoda on the Rali Terras d'Aboboreira in Portugal where he will be co-driven by Killeagh’s Eoin Treacy, McErlean is using the event as a shakedown for next month’s WRC round, Vodafone Rally de Portugal.

Craig Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith (Ford Fiesta Rally4) are also competing. Former WRC co-driver Killarney’s Paul Nagle is an FIA Observer for the event and the Fossa native is set to continue this role in many of the other counting rounds of the FIA European Rally Trophy series.

The top ten for next week’s Assess Ireland Killarney Rally of the Lakes, the fourth round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is as follows: 1. Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTi R5); 2. Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 3. Matt Edwards/David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4. Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2); 5. Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 6. Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh (Citroen C3 Rally2); 7. David Kelly/Dean O'Sullivan (VW Polo GTi R5); 8. Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5); 9. Garry Jennings/Ger Conway (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 10. Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty (VW Polo GTi R5). 

The top quartet in the Historic category are Duncan Williams (Ford Escort RS1800); Alan Ring (BMW M3); Ray Breen (Subaru Legacy) and Meirion Evans (Ford Escort RS 1800). 

The Killarney and District Motor Club has received 153 entries along with thirteen in the Junior category that will contest the six stages of the second leg.