Motorsport: Kelly clinches dramatic back-to-back victories in Killarney

There was late drama at the Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Rally.

Sun, 30 Nov, 2025 - 14:30

Martin Walsh

There was late and indeed, late late drama on the Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Rally as Donegal's Donagh Kelly and co-driver Rory Kennedy (BMW M3 E30) secured back-to-back victories withstanding a terrific final stage challenge from two other crews.

As expected, former six time World Rally event winner Kris Meeke and local co-driver Noel O'Sullivan powered the MATS prepared Aherns BMW backed M3 E30 into the lead from the start and with seven successive stage wins they had amassed a lead of a minute and 19s prior to the penultimate stage, the first of two runs over Moll's Gap - both ending in Killarney - a reversal of the morning opener.

On the daylight run, their BMW M3 haemorrhaged time with engine trouble, dropping 43.5s to second placed Kelly/Kennedy leaving the margin between them at 35.5s. At the final service in Kenmare, the MATS engineers declared the end of their bid for glory.

In the darkness of the final stage towards Killarney, Kelly, who had lost time with differential woes, set off with a lead of 19.2s over fellow Donegal crew John O'Donnell/Paddy Robinson in a similar BMW with former winners and locals Rob Duggan/Ger Conway (Ford Escort) 34.7s off top spot.

In the end Kelly/Kennedy did enough to take a hard-earned victory a mere 1.5s ahead of O'Donnell/Robinson while Duggan/Conway (running directly behind Kelly/Kennedy) put in a storming run - 29.5s faster than Kelly/Kennedy - to finish third just 5.2s behind the winners.

On the early morning blast over a wet and slippery Moll's Gap, Meeke laid down a marker - extricating 8.9s from Kelly with Duggan 20.6s off the lead, most of which he attributed to a lack of confidence.

Three shorter stages around Kenmare saw Meeke increase his advantage over Kelly to 43.6s, the latter stalled after he had an off road excursion on SS3 and had to reverse to get back on stage. O'Donnell with three second-quickest stage times and despite a lurid moment on SS3 moved ahead of Duggan and into third. Welsh ace Tomas Davies (BMW M3) crashed on SS2 that was subsequently neutralised. The BMW M3's of Fergus O'Meara and World Drift star Conor Shanahan followed with Alan Ring's new Subaru 555 rounding out the top seven.

The narrative was that all three stages were "tricky" and places where the road surface was separated by a central grass margin, there was no room for error. On the repeat loop, Meeke extended his lead to a minute and 19s. "The stages have got greasy now, with the humidity in the air, the mud is getting dragged up the road and it's just slimy and getting more tricky. But, yea, I really enjoyed it, once you understand the car a bit more, you can really get your teeth into it. I just love driving cars and this car gives me so much and is so rewarding to drive." O'Donnell, who had another moment on SS6, cut the deficit to an untroubled Kelly to 9.1s. A change of springs brought more confidence for Duggan as Shanahan moved ahead of Meara, who had an excursion on SS6.

The event concluded with a double run of Moll's Gap with Meeke retiring after the penultimate run leaving a triple battle for supremacy on the final run where Kelly secured victory that both he and Kennedy dedicated to the late Bertie Fisher - for whom Kennedy was his co-driver in 1990 when they campaigned a BMW M3 to victory on the Carling Rally of the Lakes. Alan Ring was a final staged retirement when his Subaru 555 succumbed to a gear selector issue just shy of the finish line.

Killarney cousins Colin and Kieran O'Donoghue (Ford Escort) took an emphatic victory in the Modified category of the event.

Meanwhile, Sebastien Ogier claimed a ninth and record-equalling World Rally Championship title courtesy of third place in Rally Saudi Arabia. Ogier, who started the final day in sixth and one place ahead of title rival and team-mate Elfyn Evans, powered his way through the penultimate Asfan stage - moving into third overall before going on to equal Sebastien Loeb’s all-time record. Hyundai's Thierry Neuville won the event (his first of the season) from team mate Adrien Fourmaux. Overnight leader Martins Sesks and Kalle Rovanpera had to stop and change wheels while Takamoto Katsuta rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 but still managed to finish fifth. Irish pair Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) were ninth.

Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Rally (Round 1 Irish Tarmac Historic Rally Championship): Killarney: 1. D. Kelly/R. Kennedy (BMW M3 e30) 1h. 01m. 54.7s; 2. J. O'Donnell/P. Robinson (BMW M3 e30)+1.5s; 3. R. Duggan/G. Conway (Ford Escort)+5.2s; 4. C. Shanahan/A. Hayes (BMW M3 e30)+1m. 30.2s; 5. F. O'Meara/B. Duggan (BMW M3 e30)+2m. 11.9s; 6. S. Greaney/J. Folan (Toyota Corolla WRC)+2m. 14.6s; 7. J. Bonner/J. M. O'Donnell (Ford Escort)+3m. 24.7s; 8. M. McDaid/D. Rafferty (Ford Escort)+3m. 52.3s; 9. N. Williams/J. Falvey (Ford Escort RS1800)+ 4m. 06.6s; 10. T. McDonagh/P. Murphy (Ford Escort)+4m. 35.9s.

Modified: 1. C. O'Donoghue/K. O'Donoghue (Ford Escort) 1h. 03m. 45.7s; 2. C. Armstrong/C. Smith (Ford Escort)+ 1m. 29.4s; 3. G. McPhillips/C. Mohan (Ford Escort)+1m. 47.3s; 4. M. Cahill/K. McArdle (Ford Escort)+2m. 56.4s; 5. J. M. Kennelly/D. Harrington (Ford Escort)+2m. 59.7s; 6. T. Flood/A. Smith (Ford Escort)+3m. 02.9s; 7. L. Downey/M. Murphy (Ford Escort)+3m. 26.5s.

Rally Saudi Arabia (Round 14, World Rally Championship) Jeddah: 1. T. Neuville/M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3h. 21m. 17.3s; 2. A. Fourmaux/A. Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +54.7s; 3. S. Ogier/V. Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 03.3s; 4. S. Pajari/M. Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 51.7s; 5. T. Katsuta/A. Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+1m. 59.9s; 6. E. Evans/S. Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1)+3m. 43.9s.

FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers: 1. S. Ogier 293pts (Champion); 2. E. Evans 289pts; 3. K Rovanpera 256pts; 4. O. Tanak 216pts; 5. T. Neuville 194pts; 6. T. Katsuta 122pts; 7. A Fourmaux 115pts; 11. J. McErlean 28pts.