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The list of entrants for this year’s Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes has been revealed and a host of familiar faces have confirmed their attendance at the legendary Killarney event.

Heading the international entry list is last year’s winner, Sam Moffett from Monaghan. Moffett will start in the top slot alongside local co-driver Noel O’Sullivan. Declan Boyle, a former leader of the Rally of the Lakes, will start in second and Irish Tarmac Championship leader Josh Moffett, who recently had back-to-back wins on both the West Cork and Easter Stages Rallies, is up next in his Ford Fiesta. Manus Kelly and Derek McGarrity will follow in their Subarus.

Rob Duggan (co-driver Tara Duggan) is the top-seeded Kerry driver (15), while Kevin O’Donoghue, Charlie Hickey and Tadhg O’Sullivan all appear in the top 30.

There are 101 crews in total in the main field with a further 27 taking part in the juniors section. Interestingly, there are seven fathers and sons or daughters participating in this year’s Rally of the Lakes: Kevin and Colin O’Donoghue, Charlie and Johnny Hickey, Joe and Brian Connolly, Ken and Keith Lyons, Noel O’Sullivan Senior and Junior, Kieran and Cormac Phelan, Denis and Ryan O’Brien and Philip McKibbin and his daughter Lynn.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, Clerk of Course Dermot Healy confirmed that the Rally of the Lakes will be availing of Liebherr’s brand new 477-space car park at Lackabane in Fossa, which he says will be a “huge bonus”.

Dermot also said preparations are going well for the event. “Everything is going pretty good,” he confirmed. “Programmes will be on sale this weekend and all is good to go.”

Speaking directly to motorsport fans who are looking forward to next weekend, the COC had a clear message. “Be safe and enjoy the rally. Obey the marshals and obey the gardaí. A safe rally is my priority – for both spectators and competitors alike.”

The three-day event will begin with a ceremonial start in Killarney’s town centre at 7pm on Friday May 4 with the Rally itself beginning the following morning at the iconic Molls Gap. Next it’s the Tim Healy Pass and centralised service in Castletownbere Pier. Then it’s time to head out on the famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the Healy Pass and into service for a break. Cods Head and Ardgroom are repeated and it’s a blast through the Kilmakilloge Harbour Stage to finish off the day.

Sunday Morning starts with Molls Gap once again, followed by the mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass, then into service at Liebherr. This loop of Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama Pass is repeated with the inclusion of a new version of the fast flowing Shanera Stage called Brook Hill. It’s into service once again before heading out to the Spectator-friendly loop of Rossanean, Brook Hill and Rossanean again as the final stage. The crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Head Quarters, The Gleneagle Hotel, at 5.30pm for celebrations and champagne.