Galway Rally: What to expect from Irish Tarmac opener
Ireland’s first rally week of 2024 has arrived – and there is nowhere we would rather be than the Galway International Rally.
Yes, it will be cold. Yes, we will likely get drenched. But this is how to start the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
Donegal’s Portsalon sun in June seems a distant thought but it won’t be long coming around and if Galway’s jam-packed entry list is anything to go by, there will be plenty of Irish Tarmac drama to unfold before then.
New contenders, returning champions, and familiar foes make up the finely poised pack for the notoriously difficult two-day rally.
Over 30 Rally2 cars are set to start with reigning Irish Tarmac champions Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan opening the road as top seeds.
One setback is the omission of last year’s rally winners Meirion Evans and Jonathan Jackson from the 47th edition of the Galway International Rally.
Devine, who inherits the number one seed, is yet to win in Galway and will have second seed and 2022 victor Josh Moffett breathing down his neck.
“We know what to expect a bit more compared to last year,” Devine told Rally Insight. “It was our first time in Galway with the Polo last year so now we have a better idea of set-up and things like that.
“I would like to have a good result in Galway this time so we get the year off to a good start.
“We want to get the things that we have struggled with in Galway ironed out and hopefully be in the mix for the win.
“I feel quite relaxed this time around and I’m looking forward to getting going again.”
Two-time champion Moffett is set to start his season in a Citroen C3 Rally2, his first year away from Hyundai machinery since 2019.
Galway marks round one of the Citroen Racing C3 Rally2 Trophy. Jonathan Greer, Desi Henry, and Declan Boyle are some of the eight contenders fighting for the 9500-euro prize up for grabs this weekend.
“It is a great incentive for people to do the Irish Tarmac Championship in a Citroen,” said Greer when asked about the initiative. “Fair play to Raymond Moore for being able to put it together.
“We had a prize fund back in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy days and also in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge – they always attracted a lot of cars and made a very competitive series. I can’t think of anything like this recently so it is great to see.
“It will be exciting to have a battle with everyone in the rally as well as a private battle between the C3s – I am really looking forward to it.”
Two Ford Fiesta Rally2s, however, will have Irish rally fans keenly leaning over Connacht’s stone walls on this weekend’s stages.
2016 Irish Tarmac and four-time British Champion Keith Cronin returns to Galway for the first time in eight years. Seeded third, there are few more talented than Cronin and one can be confident he will waste no time in getting up to speed.
Seeded sixth, Wales’ Matt Edwards makes his first-ever Irish Tarmac bid after two years fighting for Donegal International honours. The three-time British Champion’s entry adds extra intrigue to what is a fascinating top ten.
Eddie Doherty is another name to look out for in Galway’s international field. The 2023 Modified Irish Tarmac Champion has swapped his Ford Escort Mk2 for a Skoda Fabia ahead of this season.
Gary Kiernan has also swapped rear-wheel-drive for four-wheel-drive and is seeded 22nd in his Rally2 Fiesta.
While Doherty and Kiernan will be a loss for the modified field, the two-wheel-drive cars will still be at their entertaining best in Galway. Mark Alcorn, Frank Kelly, and Kevin Eves are some of the modified stars taking on round one. Conor Murphy put himself in the mix of modified’s best last year and will be one to watch in Galway.
The grueling two-day event demands a balance of speed, bravery, and caution as the high-powered modified cars slide their way through the stone wall-lined stages.
ITRC’s Rally4 battle will continue at its best this season with early Galway entries from Keelan Grogan, Casey Jay Coleman, Aoife Raftery, and Motorsport Ireland’s Young Driver of 2023 – Jack Brennan.
A high-quality field of Historic cars will warm the Galway ditches too. Tom Clark holds the top spot in the drivers’ standings after Killarney’s opener last December. Seeded 59, Clark is making only his second visit to Galway this week.
Reigning champions Duncan Williams and Guy Weaver are the top seeds on the Galway entry list – lining up 57th on the road in their Ford Escort RS1800.
Last year’s Galway Historic winner, Meirion Evans, will be eyeing up another victory as Ray Breen and Ross Forde add further interest in a Subaru Legacy and Ford Escort respectively.
Armagh’s Trevor Wilson will debut his BMW M3 in Galway as he ups his championship efforts following three round-wins last year.
ITRC’s Historic Championship leading co-driver Declan Casey will navigate Hugh McQuaid after picking up maximum points with Michael McDaid in Killarney.
Thanks to our rally preview partner, Onthepacenote, for the first stage preview of 2024.
Saturday
Kilcoona (12.3 km) – SS1/3/6
Galway gets off to a fast start with the 12.3 kilometres of Kilcoona. Crews will complete the test three times on Saturday.
Kilcoona demands commitment from its first corners before the fast and flowing test travels through some narrow, slippery sections… It is Galway after all!
Caherlistrane (15.7 km) – SS2/5/8
Longer than stage one, Caherlistrane shares many of the same characteristics as it winds its way through the Galway countryside.
Caution should be taken to a few challenging crests at the start of the 15.7-kilometre test.
Aptly named, cars will take a square left through Caherlistrane village at the stage’s halfway mark.
Kilbeg (12.7 km) – SS4/7
Coming into the itinerary for Saturday afternoon, Kilbeg is going to be a cracker. A brilliant stage that has it all – a mix of terrain, fast sections, and twisty parts too.
Sunday
Belleville (16.8 km) – SS9/11/13
Talk about a wake-up call on Sunday morning – these rapid routes are extremely committed and will have engines screaming.
The longest stage of the 2024 Galway International Rally gets narrow in areas too which will be equally tricky.
Colmanstown (14.3 km) – SS10/12/14
Galway Motor Club may well have saved the best to last with the 14.3-kilometre Colmanstown test.
Crews will be smiling at the end of this one with the finale featuring flat-out sections, narrow roads, and sprints across bogland.
Colmanstown has a nice mix of terrain and will provide a fitting end to the rally with plenty of time on offer in the all-important decider.
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Photos by D Harrigan Images
