The Joule sponsored Donegal International Rally took place last weekend in Letterkenny. The three day event received a maximum capacity entry in all categories of over 150 cars, there was a total of twenty special stages based around the foothills of Donegal, which included the famous classic stages such as Knockalla, Atlantic Drive and Fanad Head. Killarney & District Motor Club competitors were there in force and didn’t disappoint.

Rob Duggan was an absolute sensation, finishing 3rd R5 car & 4th Overall, Rob has gained the respect of the whole Rallying community on this island. Having proven his pace and ability in the past driving both front & rear wheel drive, the step up to a four wheel drive R5 monster was sure going to be interesting.  Duggan and navigator Ger Conway took on the best of the best over the 3 day event and didn’t disappoint, following a brief test on Thursday in this unknown Ford Fiesta R5 machine, there was complete astonishment at the end of the first stage Friday when Duggan merged as the Fastest R5 car overall. As the weekend progressed Rob set a number of Fastest R5 times, along with 2 Fastest overall stages times” absolutely incredible”. The ever changing weather conditions were the biggest challenge for the crew as the lack of knowledge of the car and set up changes to be made in order to achieve the maximum handling of the car were unknown. The crew fought hard and were as high as 3rd overall and 2nd R5 car at one stage. They were stuck in the middle of a monumental R5 battle between brothers Sam & Josh Moffett from county Monaghan with mere seconds in it all way to the finish.
This for sure was one of Rob’s best results to date, huge credit must go to Ger on the notes also, there is no doubt that they had the”Drive of the Rally”.

In the National section it was Killarney & District Motor Club that were out the front also, Noel O’Sullivan from Muckross was co-driving for top Donegal driver Kevin Gallagher in his unusual Darrian T90. The crew were involved in a huge battle all weekend for the lead of the National section. They finished runners up to Kildare’s Ian Barrett in a similar Darrian. KDMC’s Barry Meade was as expected front runner in the national section but a puncture dropped him well down the order on Friday, The crew then set out on a huge recovery drive and setting some blistering times along the way to climb back up to 9^th Overall. In the extremely competitive Junior section KDMC’s Derry Long and Declan Casey had a brilliant drive. They competed in a Honda Civic and finished a very strong 6th overall and 3rd in class, this result now puts Derry into second place in the Junior Section of the Irish Tarmac Championship. This was the crews first visit to Donegal, achieving such a fantastic result and securing valuable championship points makes this result all that more credible.

Congratulations & Well Done to all