Donegal Harvest’s modified winner Eves eyes up Killarney

Killarney Historic Stages Rally is the next big event on Kevin Eves’ hit list. The Toyota Corolla driver was the modified man to beat on last Sunday’s Donegal Harvest Rally, bettering rear-wheel-drive rival Gary Kiernan by 18.2 seconds.

Speaking to Highland Radio after Donegal’s first rally in two years, Eves said:

“We’re definitely going to Killarney Historics but maybe something like Banna as well – we’ll figure it out.”

Donegal Harvest was the Pettigo man’s first rally since the Fastnet Stages Rally two years ago. The Fastnet rounded out a perfect year in the National Rally Championship for Eves in 2019, claiming honours in two-wheel-drive.

Despite some of his rivals benefitting from recent seat-time on the Cork 20 Rally two weeks earlier, it didn’t take long for Eves to stamp his authority on his local event.

Quickest on Stage 1, he then survived an unusual moment on the next test. A cushion fell out of his bucket seat, subsequently causing Eves to spin his Twincam at one of Harvest’s many slippery junctions.

It proved to be the sole blip in Eves’ day as he and Chris Melly won stage after stage to seal an imposing two-wheel-drive win in challenging conditions.

“We were definitely rusty out of the blocks,” admitted Eves. “It was like learning to read and write again.

“The car was good, the stages were good, mucky, and it was nice to have a bit of craic with the boys again.

“We were going good [at the start] but we were taking chances and I suppose as the day went on we got a bit more cosy back in the seat.

“This is as close to home as we get so it’s good after sitting at home for two years to come out and get a modified win against the calibre of boys out there.”

Photos by Roger Dawson and Mark Mc Cullagh