RORY KENNEDY BELIEVES THERE will be ‘no room for error’ with a top-class entry for tomorrow’s An Grianan Hotel Donegal Harvest Stages Rally.
Letterkenny man Kennedy, who called the pace notes for Garry Jennings’ win in the Joule Donegal International Rally back in June, is aiding the Donegal Motor Club in their running of tomorrow’s event, based in Burt.
Declan and Brian Boyle are back to defend the Harvest Rally title they won last year with the Lettermacaward cousins in the Fiesta WRC this time having won 2014 in the S12B Subaru.
136 entries are listed for the event – a record entry – and Kennedy predicts a tough battle at the front of the field.
“There is no room for error, particularly at the business end of it,” Kennedy told Donegal Sport Hub.
“There are a lot of drivers capable of winning it. There is no margin for error. You have to be on the ball and do your stuff.
“You only have to look at the entry list to see the interest. There’s a huge Donegal interest in it and this is always a very successful rally. Sparks will be flying tomorrow.”
The Irish Tarmac Champion, Donagh Kelly, has pulled out of the event. Kelly won the Cork 20 International Rally last weekend and has opted not to take part in the Harvest, but a fine entry list will be flagged off tomorrow morning.
The Boyles are the number 1 seeds, with Peadar Hurson from Warrenpoint seeded at two.
The Harvest is always a rally relished by the locals. Two local drivers, namely Burt’s PJ McDermott and Muff’s Joe McGonigle, will be aiming for big things tomorrow.
McDermott and Niall Burns are in the Subaru WRC with McGonigle – who was fifth last weekend in Cork – joined again by Ciaran Geaney in the Skoda S2000.
Aidan Wray, Trevor Bustard and Pat Kirk head the Group N entry while the Escorts of Gary McPhillips, Wesley Patterson and Brian Brogan are just a sprinkling of the interest for that battle.
Three stages – Newton Hill, Mouldy Hill and Grianan – will be run three times with service at the old Fruit of the Loom factory in Buncrana.
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/rory-kennedy-previews-2015-an-grianan-hotel-donegal-harvest-stages-rally
