Countdown begins for Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally 2024
The Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally is just three weeks away, but entries have already topped the 200 mark (inclusive of all categories)and its shaping up to be an extremely competitive event. Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes (Citroen C3) have won the rally for the past two yearsbut will face one of their stiffest assignments this year with challenges coming from multiple sources. Keith Cronin, Matt Edwards, WilliamCreighton, Gary Kiernan & Ryan Loughran are all Fiesta mounted while reigning Tarmac Champions Callum Devine & Noel O’Sullivan willbring their trusty VW Polo to the fray. There is plenty of local interest at the top end too including David Guest, Cal McCarthy, JasonMcSweeney, and Owen Murphy.
William Creighton will be a potential dark horse with his undoubted talent and experience of the West Cork roads over the past number ofyears in the Rally3 Fiesta. William said “The main aim for the weekend is to get kilometres in the Rally 2 Fiesta on tarmac as we buildtowards the WRC2 in Croatia. I’ve competed on the West Cork in Rally 3 & Rally 4 cars and have always enjoyed the event and theatmosphere on St. Patrick’s weekend. To have the opportunity from the Motorsport Ireland Academy to compete on one of the best rallies inIreland in a top car, the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally 2, is something I’m really looking forward to. There is a great buzz surrounding the ITRCthis year and the competition is tough. I’ve been lucky to rally at WRC level over the past few seasons – as a result I haven’t been able tocompete as much in Ireland, so I’m really looking forward to rallying at home with friends on St. Patrick’s weekend”.
Modified entries to date include Frank Kelly will be looking to build on his fine result in Galway but will face a stiff challenge from the likesof John Dalton, Kevin Eves, Jonathan Pringle, Gary McPhillips, Colin Byrne, and John Bonner who are just some of the drivers jostling fortop honours. The Historic section is well supported with last years winner Duncan Williams, Neil Williams, Gwyndaf Evans, Ray Breen, JohnO’Donnell & Wayne Evans amongst the entry. The extremely competitive Rally 4 Class sees entries from Keelan Grogan, Ryan McHugh,Ioan Lloyd, Casey Jay Coleman & Kalum Graffin. Local entries include Jerry O’Mahony who will be looking to compete on his 39th WestCork Rally, a remarkable record, as well as Eoghan Calnan, Steve Roberts, Gerard O’Connell and last years Junior winner DarraghO’Donovan.
Prospective entrants are reminded that entries close on Friday 1st March and to be on the published seeded list you will
need to have your entry in by that date. The rally runs as a three day event for the first time this year (15th -17th March) You can login to thewww.corkmotorclub.com website for more information.
