MANUS KELLY IS set to take part in this year’s 2016 Bayview Hotel Martin Howley Memorial Harvest Stages Rally in the Subaru S12B that he won the Donegal International Rally with.
The Glenswilly man took a memorable and dramatic win in the car at the Joule Donegal International Rally back in June and will now take part in the Killybegs-based event on Saturday, October 8.
The Impreza, hired from Melvyn Evans Motorsport in Wales, was in the hands of Kelly – pictured above by Geraldine Diver – for just the second time. He and co-driver Donall Barrett had won in their debut, the Carlow Stages Rally, in May, but they could never have foretold the drama of Donegal.
A year after they won the National Rally in Donegal in a MK2 Escort, they topped the pile.
Garry Jennings, Donagh Kelly and Declan Boyle all made their exits but, despite trailing Keith Cronin by 9.3 seconds heading to the final stage, Fanad Head, Kelly and Barrett took the win by just 0.5 seconds.
Now, Kelly will return to Donegal’s tarmacadam in that same Subaru that served him so well in June – but he’ll have a different co-driver.
Barrett confirmed in the aftermath of that glorious June weekend that he was taking a back seat from navigating.
Kelly has confirmed that Gareth Doherty will return to the co-driver’s seat again. In 2005, Doherty accompanied Kelly when they won the 1600 class at the Donegal Rally in their first ever event together and was Kelly’s regular companion before he left for the US.
The entry of Kelly comes as a huge boost to organisers of the Martin Howley Memorial Harvest Stages Rally, which now has over 120 entries confirmed. Entries don’t close until Wednesday-week, September 28th.
The event will see a finale for the three rally championships, the Triton showers National Rally Championship, the Sligo Pallets Border Championship and the Donegal Commercials DMC Rally Championship.
For many registered contenders, valuable points still have to be decided across the classes, at the conclusion of this event.
There is a call for marshals to attend the event and assist with the safe running of the stages on the day. Chief Marshal for the event is Francie Devine, who may be contacted on 0044-7851084821 or 087-6205328.
Devine said: “We are getting calls from prospective marshals, but we need more to ensure the running of the event, both on and off the stages, for example in the service area. For new marshals, there will be a training session on Sunday 25th September at 2:30pm, in the Bayview Hotel, Killybegs. Please attend this important session, and learn how marshals are the lifeblood of motorsport events such as this.”
[adrotate group=”46″]The Bayview Hotel is co-ordinating with other accommodation in Killybegs and reports brisk trade with the Rally HQ itself now booked out with a wait list. However there are places available in the town.
With such a large crowd of people expected on the week-end, accommodation for competitors and visitors attending the area, is being co-ordinated through the Bayview Hotel, Killybegs. Contact should be made to the Hotel on 074-9731950 or by email at reception@bayviewhotel.ie.
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