Motors: Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin win Irish Tarmac Rally 

MOTORS: Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2) the 2024 Samdec Securities Irish Tarmac Rally Champions. The Ballylickey/Killarney duo clinched the title courtesy of their second place on the O'Connell Group Cork '20' Rally that was based at the Corrin Events Centre in Rathcormac. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Keith Cronin and co-driver Mikie Galvin are the Samdec Securities Irish Tarmac Rally champions after they finished second to outgoing champions Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan on the O’Connell Group Cork ‘20’ Rally, the seventh and final round of the series.

The event was to have featured eight stages but amidst safety concerns and deteriorating weather conditions, the event was curtailed after six stages with the results based after S.S.5.

Tyrone’s Frank and Lauren Kelly (Ford Escort), who were tenth overall, won the Modified category in the event and the McEvoy Motorsport backed Modified Tarmac series.

Derry driver Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and Killarney’s O’Sullivan finished 12.1s ahead of the Ford Fiesta Rally2 of Ballylickey’s Cronin and Killarney’s Mikie Galvin, who took the title for the second time in eight years. Welsh ace Matt Edwards (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Mallow native David Moynihan were 25.2s further behind in third.

There were only fractions of a second between Devine and Cronin on the opening pair of stages. On the first, Mullenataura, north-west of Rathcormac, Devine eked out a 0.8s lead while on S.S.2 Badger’s Hill near Glenville, Cronin was best to edge 0.4s ahead. Not surprisingly, the conditions were treacherous with constant heavy rain accompanied by strong winds. Devine was best on the final stage of the loop to regain the lead - 1.5s ahead of Cronin.

At the Corrin Events Centre service park, Devine commented, “There’s a lot of water out there, one cannot take any risks.” 

Cronin echoed the same sentiments “The conditions are really difficult, it’s easy to get caught out, we’re not taking any risks.” 

Edwards was third -10.9s behind Cronin, the Welsh ace was wary of a loose section in the middle of S.S.2. Late entry David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) occupied fourth followed by the Citroen C3 Rally2 of Preston’s James Ford and Kilrea’s Josh McErlean (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who completed the top six. McErlean, who was contesting the event as a shakedown for the forthcoming Central European Rally, had a difficult opening loop, he spun and stalled on the first stage and punctured in the final quarter of SS2.

Dunmanway’s Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5) lost time on all three stages when the windscreen misted over , he held seventh with the top ten completed by Donegal’s Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia Rs Rally2), Ovens driver Owen Murphy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Donegal’s Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2). Murphy had a brief encounter with a ditch on the opening stage and a misfire thwarted his drive on the other stages.

In difficult conditions, Devine was best on S.S.4 where Cronin experienced a moment when his Fiesta aquaplaned, however, he quickly regained control of his Fiesta Rally2 as Devine extended his advantage to 10.4s. Cronin remained in second - to keep his championship ambitions intact as second to Devine was always going to be enough to secure the Tarmac title. Edwards hit a bank on SS5 that brought some cosmetic damage to the front left wing of his Fiesta. Devine had a moment on S.S.6 that saw him lose the front of his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, and while he ended the stage 9s ahead of Cronin, it mattered little as the organisers stopped the event on safety grounds as conditions worsened. Results were based on those at the end of S.S.5 with all the competitors in total agreement with the decision of the organising Munster Car Club. Late retirements included David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and Ford (Citroen C3 Rally2), their demise promoted McErlean to fourth in a top six that also featured McSweeney and Declan Boyle.

The Historic category was won by Welsh driver Neil Williams (Ford Escort) and his West Cork co-driver Anthony O’Sullivan; victory in the Junior category went to the Cork crew of Darragh Walsh/Gary Lombard (Honda Civic) where second place for another Cork crew Barry McIntyre/Brian Keohane (Honda Civic) was enough to clinch the category with the Tarmac series.

Remarkably and with the ITRC based on the best five score from seven rounds, Cronin and Devine both ended up with 100 points (three wins and two second places) with Cronin winning on a tie-break as he had the best result (win) on the opening round.

O’Connell Group Cork ‘20’ Rally (Final round, Samdec Securities Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Corrin Events Centre, Fermoy: 1. C. Devine/Noel O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 38m. 12.3s; 2. K. Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+12.1s; 3. M. Edwards/David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+37.3s; 4. J. McErlean/James Fulton (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 11.8s; 5. J. McSweeney/L. Brenan (Skoda Fabia R5)+1m. 41.9s; 6. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 55.7s; 7. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (VW Polo GTi R5)_1m. 59.7s; 8. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+2m. 02.1s; 9. O. Murphy/A. Nestor (Citroen C3 Rally2)+2m. 08.8s; 10. F. Kelly/L. Kelly (Ford Escort)+2m. 16.8s.