Fastnet Rally brings curtain down on National Championship

Fastnet Rally top seeds Declan Boyle and Patrick Walsh by Kevin  Kelleher

The Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship draws to a close this weekend with the Skibbereen and District Motor Club’s West Lodge Hotel Fastnet Rally based in Bantry. The traditional October Bank Holiday weekend event features eight special stages on classic West Cork roads.

While the overall championship title is already secured by Kilkenny’s Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy from Limerick, there is still plenty to play for in the final round. With outgoing champions Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty not competing, a new name will appear at the top of the Fastnet Rally results sheet on Sunday evening.

Former national champion Declan Boyle, co-driven by Patrick Walsh, heads the 153-car entry in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. He is followed by his son Michael Boyle and Dermot McCafferty, also in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Both Boyles remain in strong contention for the runner-up spots in the National Rally Championship standings depending on Sunday’s outcome. The rally also marks the final round of the Top Part West Coast Championship, where the Boyle family could make history with Declan, Michael and another son, Matthew, all in contention for the regional series. Matthew, seeded fourth alongside Gary Byrne, will compete in a new Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The Boyle family could finish first, second and third in this popular regional championship.

Fresh from his podium finish on the recent Cork ’20’ International Rally, Tyrone’s Ryan Loughran is seeded third in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, while Jason Dickson and Galway co-driver Martin Brady line up at five in a similar car after a season of steady improvement.

Local interest is high with four West Cork crews inside the top ten, all driving Rally2 machinery. Daniel Cronin and Padraig O’Donovan start sixth in a Citroën C3 Rally2, Cal McCarthy and Eric Calnan follow at seven in a similar car, David Guest and Stephen Quin are eighth in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, while Jason McSweeney and John McGrath round out the group in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

The two-wheel-drive championship is also set for a thrilling conclusion in Bantry. Barry Morris and Dylan Doonan start at ten in a Darrian T90 GTR, with Doonan, a Skibbereen and District Motor Club member, chasing the national 2WD crown on home ground.

Chris Armstrong and Darren Curran and Johno Doogan and Paul Lennon, both Ford Escort-mounted, are also expected to feature strongly.

Brian Brady and Jack Brunton remain mathematically in the mix for the 2WD title after a standout performance on the Clare Stages Rally in September, where they took major scalps in their front-wheel-drive Honda Civic.

There is a welcome return to  National Rally Championship action for John Warren and Ruthann O’Connor in their Ford Fiesta Rally2.

Meanwhile, Junior European Rally Championship event winners Craig Rahill and Conor Smith make a rare home appearance as part of the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy. All eyes will be on what Rahill brings to Bantry, whether it is his regular Peugeot 208 Rally4 or the Lancia Ypsilon used in his European outings. If it is the latter, it will mark the car’s Irish tarmac debut.

Rahill’s Academy teammate Keelan Grogan, co-driven by Ayrton Sherlock, will debut a Renault Clio Rally4, the first time this new car has appeared in Irish national rallying.

Further down the list, Denis Hickey and Eoin O’Leary are strong Class 14 contenders in their Ford Escort Mk2. Completing the top 20 are Patrick McHugh and Pauric O’Donnell in a Darrian T90 GTR, Barry McLaughlin and Barry McBride in a Ford Escort Mk1, and Cian Caldwell and Paul McPhillips in a Peugeot 208 Rally4. Caldwell, along with Oran England and Darragh Mullen in another 208, will fight for Class 2 honours and valuable Billy Coleman Award attention.

The Fastnet Rally runs over eight stages on Sunday, with rally headquarters and service in Bantry. First car is due to leave parc ferme just after 8am on Sunday morning with the finish ramp celebrations set for just before 4pm at the West Lodge Hotel.