Pictures: Eamonn Keogh
With two wins achieved so far this year, in the Galway International and West Cork rallies, plus a second place finish recorded on the Circuit of Ireland, Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin head to their native south west next weekend for the Assess Ireland International Rally of the Lakes as leaders of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The Killarney-based event marks the halfway point of the Tarmac series and while the Cork driver and his Killarney co-driver currently have the advantage at the head of the standings in the Ford Fiesta Rally 2, Cronin is not becoming complacent about the threat presented by their championship rivals.
The winners of the Rally of the Lakes for the past two years and reigning Tarmac champions, Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan, are top seeds in their Volkswagen Polo GTi R5.
They will be followed over the start ramp in Killarney town centre on Friday evening by Cronin and Galvin, while Matt Edwards and David Moynihan will line up at number three also in a Ford Fiesta Rally 2.
“Callum goes well on the Lakes as it seems to suit him. Noel, his co-driver, is a Killarney native and they’ll want the win after their couple of retirements in West Cork and on the Circuit of Ireland,” said Cronin.
The Rally of the Lakes opens with the iconic Moll’s Gap stage on the Saturday morning and two loops of The Healy Pass, Cod’s Head and Ardgroom follow during the course of the day.
The final stage of the day is Kilmackillogue before the crews head back to Killarney for the overnight halt.
Sunday’s action is in the Rathmore and Gneeveguilla areas, east of Killarney and it features six stages in all, consisting of two loops of Gortnagane, Meentoges and Ballintourig, with one service in the middle of the day at the Liebherr factory in Fossa.
Rally of the Lakes Top Ten Seeds
1: Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan, Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
2: Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin, Ford Fiesta Rally 2
3: Matt Edwards/David Moynihan, Ford Fiesta Rally 2
4: Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns, Citroen C3 Rally 2
5: Cathan McCourt/Brian Hoy, Ford Fiesta Rally 2
6: Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh, Citroen C3 Rally 2
7: David Kelly/Dean O’Sullivan, Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
8: Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy, Skoda Fabia Evo Rally 2
9: Garry Jennings/Ger Conway, Ford Fiesta Rally 2
10: Michael Boyle/Dermot McCafferty, Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
Rally of the Lakes 2024 Timetable
Friday, May 3
Ceremonial Start: Main Street, Killarney – 18:45
Saturday, May 4
Parc Fermé Out: Lewis Road Car Park, Killarney – 07:50
Stage 1: Moll’s Gap – 08:23
Stage 2: Healy Pass – 09:29
Service In: Castletownbere – 10:07
Service Out: 10:32
Stage 3: Cod’s Head – 10:57
Stage 4: Ardgroom – 11:36
Stage 5: Healy Pass – 12:24
Service In: Castletownbere – 13:03
Service Out: 13:58
Stage 6: Cod’s Head – 14:23
Stage 7: Ardgroom – 15:02
Stage 8: Kilmakilloge – 15:50
Parc Fermé: Lewis Road Car Park, Killarney – 17:17
Sunday, May 5
Parc Fermé Out: Lewis Road Car Park, Killarney – 09:00
Service In: Liebherr Car Park, Fossa – 09:05
Service Out: 09:50
Stage 9: Gortnagane – 10:20
Stage 10: Meentoges – 11:09
Stage 11: Ballintourig – 11:46
Service In: Liebherr Car Park, Fossa – 12:35
Service Out: 13:50
Stage 12: Gortnagane – 14:20
Stage 13: Meentogues – 15:09
Stage 14: Ballintourig – 15:46
Finish Ramp: Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney – 16:27
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