This weekend, Round Three of the 2010 Citroën Racing Trophy (CRT) Ireland heads to the South West for the Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Once again there is an impressive line-up of Citroën C2’s for what is also the third round of the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Twelve registered CRT crews have entered with ten C2 R2 Max specification cars, one C2 R2, and one Super 1600 making up the Citroën entries.
First seed at number 34 is championship leader Martin McCormack, who has scored two second places on the opening Galway and Circuit of Ireland rounds. The Draperstown driver led both events before succumbing to punctures on the first round, and running wide and losing a rear wheel on the Circuit of Ireland, so he is keen to make the top spot in Killarney and lift the awesome 5000€ prize for top in Group R. Marty has recently returned from the Lyon Rally in France where he finished fifth in that CRT France round, and the practice on the French tarmac should help him on Killarney’s flowing roads. Second on the road, and currently third in the Trophy is Donegal’s Adrian McElhinney. His Killarney co-driver Shane Buckley will be looking forward to his home event. Adrian put in a few fastest times on the second day of the Circuit, so will be one to watch.
Next C2 R2 Max at number 37 is Dubliner Robert Barrable. Robert is fresh from a victory on last weekend’s CRT UK Pirelli International Rally, and his Citroën is being re-prepared into tarmac specification for this weekend. The former Formula Ford racing ace led the Max’s on the early stages of the Circuit of Ireland, and his efficient driving style could suit the Killarney roads. Hot on his heels will be 19 year old Mark Donnelly. The young student was again very fast on the Pirelli Rally but a couple of small problems caused delays, and he has a slight delay in starting his Killarney recce on Thursday! “I have a wee exam on Thursday morning, but I’ll be straight down the road then to Killarney to start my recce! It’s not ideal but hopefully we can get our notes done correctly and I’m looking forward to the stages in Killarney, as they are usually very good flowing roads.”
At number 50, Donegal’s Joe McGonigle is fresh from a third place CRT finish on last weekend’s Pirelli Rally, and the former kart-racer is very much looking forward to Killarney in his distinctive green C2 R2 Max. At 51, Shane Buckley who lies fourth in the championship, has shown a fast pace on both the Galway and Circuit of Ireland events, and having contested Killarney in an ST Fiesta could be one to watch on these stages.
At number 61 Cork’s Kieran Daly was new to the series on the Circuit of Ireland, and having cured the small brake trouble he had on that event, is aiming to be further up the C2 times this weekend. Limerick’s Mark Sheehan is a newcomer this weekend to the CRT Ireland, having taken delivery of a new Citroën Racing built C2 R2 Max last week. Mark is a former Border Rally Championship, having driven a Super 1600 Clio in the past.
Another newcomer to Irish tarmac with the C2 is Molly Taylor. This rapid 21 year old Australian lady will drive her Citroën C2 R2 Max on Irish tarmac for the first time, having only contested four tarmac rallies in total in her impressive rallying career.
Molly was twice Australian Formula 1600 Champion using a Mitsubishi Mirage, before moving to England last year to contest the Suzuki Swift Cup, where she won three out of the six rounds. This year the change to the C2 R2 Max has been welcome. “It’s fantastic! It’s the most enjoyable car I have ever driven, and for the driver far more exciting than the Group N type cars I had driven before. The Citroën Racing Trophy also is the only series with such great incentives, and that gives you something more to go for on each rally.” The tarmac stages of Killarney will indeed provide a very different challenge to the Australian forests, and Molly has already illustrated her speed in the C2 on gravel, by recording a fastest and several top three C2 times on last weekend’s Pirelli International Rally. Now she is building up her speed on the tarmac surfaces. ” The Pirelli was good. It was a bit disappointing to have to Super Rally, but our target was to be on the pace of the boys and I was happy with that, but now we need to work harder on the tarmac. Back in Australia the rallies are all on gravel, so it’s the tarmac that I need more experience on. It was a bit of a last minute thing to do Killarney. I suppose we are jumping in at the deep end a bit! Our main focus this year is on the British Rally Championship and Killarney will be the ideal test for the forthcoming Jim Clark Rally. Ideally by the time we reach the Ulster Rally I would like to have my tarmac pace up to a similar level as the gravel pace.” The young Australian will be a welcome addition to the CRT crews in Killarney.
Another welcome new C2 owner is Graham Colfer who has bought Paul Manton’s C2 R2. Graham put in some respectable stage times on the opening Galway round in a hired C2 R2, whilst Mayo’s David Carney is rapidly progressing up the leader-board’s with his C2 R2 Max.
Lisburn’s Andrew Bushe who led the two-wheel drive race on the Circuit of Ireland, until a costly puncture, has re-prepared his C2 Super 1600 for the event, and although he had no time to test the machine, is hoping the roads will suit the wider track C2 better. Andrew really needs to finish inside the prize money this time for a top 15 overall finish to keep his season running, and in the class he will face very stiff opposition from another former 1600 Irish Tarmac Champion, Brian O’Mahony in his Clio Super 1600.
The Killarney Rally of the Lakes takes place over two days, starting Saturday morning and finishing on Sunday afternoon taking in classic stages such as Molls Gap and Caragh Lake.
