DONAGH KELLY RETAINED his Birr Stages Rally title this afternoon.
In the first competitive outing of the year in the WRC Focus – having competed in the Donegal Mini Stages in an Escort – the Frosses man scorched to victory.
Over the six stages in Offaly, Kelly, with Conor Foley calling the notes, was 55.3 seconds ahead of Niall Maguire and Enda Sheerry in the S12B Impreza.
Kelly had the year of his dreams in 2015 when he scooped the Championship double, in doing so becoming only the third driver – after Tim McNulty and Declan Boyle – to win both titles in a calendar year.
While he has indicated that he will take a back seat in 2016, he will still do selected events and he showed no rustiness today.
Donegal man Gary McElhinney was on baord with third placed Paddy McVeigh.
There were also good finishes for Donegal Motor Club members Trevor Mulligan – who was eighth in an Escort – and Eugene McGrath from Letterkenny was on board with ninth-placed David Condell in another Escort.
Tags:
