Motorsport: Kelly delivers maiden success

David Kelly and Shane Buckley compete in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 during the Circuit of Ireland Rally in Dungannon, Tyrone. Pic: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

Victory in a drama-filled McKinney Competitions Circuit of Ireland Rally saw Donegal driver David Kelly and his Killarney co-driver Shane Buckley (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) secure their maiden success in a round of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. 

For Kelly, it completed a memorable six weeks during which he won his first national rally (Mayo) and now his first win in a round of the ITRC - becoming its 70th different winner since the series began.

The lead changed three times during Saturday's final leg of eight stages as Kelly/Buckley fended off a final stage challenge to finish a mere half second ahead of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 crew of Monaghan's Josh Moffett and Wexford's Andy Hayes. 

The Kilkenny/Limerick pairing of Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) were 59.2s further behind in third.

Overnight leader Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) began the day with a 26.4s advantage over Moffett, a margin he extended to 30.6 seconds on the day's first stage near Eglish where Kelly moved into second - 4.9s ahead of Moffett. 

Heavy rain on the remaining two stages of the morning loop changed the complexion of the rally. Moffett had selected full wets (tyres) for the loop and took 17.7s and 15.1s from the respective stages to slash Devine's lead to 2.7s at the Granville service halt. 

Devine had selected a cut slick as he described his passage through both stages as one of "damage limitation" due to the copious amounts of standing water, adding that he was "happy enough" with his position. 

Understandably, Moffett, who based his tyre selection on the weather forecast, was quite content and along with closing the gap to Devine, had moved 39.7s away from Kelly, who like Devine was also on a cut slick; he lost time with an overshoot on SS6. Doherty was fourth. 

Meanwhile, Sam Touzel (Ford Fiesta Rally2) lost some two minutes and four places with a puncture on SS7 that dropped him to ninth. Following the penultimate service, Devine increased his lead to 5.5 seconds and seemed to be back on track for back-to-back Circuit wins. With the rain continuing, conditions were described as difficult to say the least. 

There was double drama on SS 9, Brantry Lough - Devine slid off and beached his Skoda that was eventually pushed back on the stage by a group of spectators, albeit having lost over six minutes. 

Moffett was also in bother, his Toyota collected a front right wheel puncture and although he lost some 40s to stage winner Kelly, he actually became the new rally leader - 4.4 ahead of Kelly, who began the stage 41.6s behind the Monaghan driver. 

However, that position was short-lived as Kelly arrived at the final service as the day's third different rally leader having punched in the best time on SS10 to move 4.1s ahead of Moffett. Third placed Doherty was, in his own words, "going through the motions." 

Fourth-placed Sam Moffett was locked into fourth and didn't need to take any risks due to the time margins ahead and behind.

 Aidan Wray (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and Touzel completed the top six. Devine quickest on SS10 was ninth overall, a double puncture on the same stage led to Desi Henry (Ford Fiesta Rally2) calling it a day at the service park.

On the penultimate stage Kelly eked out a fraction of a second to lead Moffett by 4.9s, the latter's brave effort on the final stage almost paid dividends but Kelly was not to be denied and won by half a second in the closest ever finish to the event. 

There was a delay at the finish as Moffett lodged a query as he maintained that when he slowed at the location of Devine's excursion to check on the crew's welfare, it cost him a few seconds. 

The organisers agreed and with Kelly countering, he did similarly; all parties, having viewed footage, came to an amicable agreement and Kelly was declared the winner. 

Doherty in third was followed by the Hyundai of Sam Moffett, who took top points in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship; Aidan Wray (Skoda Fabia) and the Fiesta Rally2 of Jersey driver Sam Touzel. 

Callum Devine (with eight stage wins) finished eighth. Dungannon's Barry Morris (Darian T90 GTR+) and his West Cork co-driver Dylan Doonan, who were ninth, won the Modified category and Waterford's Ray Breen and Galway's Martin Brady won the Historics.

McKinney Competitions Circuit of Ireland (Round 3 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Dungannon: 1. D. Kelly/S. Buckley (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 55m. 43.8s; 2. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+0.5s; 3. E. Doherty/T. Murphy(Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+59.7s; 4. S. Moffett/P. O'Callaghan (Hyundai i20 N Rally2)+2m. 11.7s; 5. A. Wray/P. McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+3m. 50.6s; 6. S. Touzel/M. Freeman (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+4m. 15.7s; 7. J. Greer/N. Burns (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+4m. 41.0s; 8. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+5m. 27.2s; 9. B. Morris/D. Doonan (Darrian T90 GTR+)+7m. 09.5s; 10. A. McLaughlin/D. Curran (Volkswagen Polo GTi R5)+10m. 00.6s.

Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (Provisional standings after Round 3): 1. J. Moffett 52pts; 2. C. Devine 48pts; 3. D. Kelly 44pts; 4. E. Doherty 43pts; 5. S. Touzel 25pts; 6. D. Boyle 17pts.