2023 Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Stages Rally

The 2023 Killarney Towers Hotel Historic Stages Rally took place on Saturday 2nd December 2023 and attracted a capacity entry.  The rally, first held in 1996 is the only event in Ireland dedicated specifically to Historic Rallying.  All rally cars entering the Historic Category have to present their cars “in period” to be eligible i.e. the cars must run as they did back when they were new.  No modern technology (other than additional safety precautions) are allowed.  

The 2023 event saw the return of the defending champion Johnny Greer with Kristy Riddick in their Appendix K Ford Sierra Cosworth.   Second on the road was event sponsor and top local Alan Ring navigated by Adrian Deasy in the Subaru Legacy RS.  Alan and Adrian were hoping to do one better on their second place finish in 2022.  Seeded number 3 was the Ford Escort of Neil Williams and Anthony O’Sullivan in the Ford Escort Mk2 followed by Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy in the BMW M3.

Running tandem with the Historics is the now iconic Modified Category. Modern modifications are permitted in these cars which allows entrants to push to the edges of technology and pace.  This section of the event attracts a plethora of Irelands top Modified rally crews year on year.  2023 was no exception with several former winners taking to the start line.   Top seeds were 2022 winners Kevin Eves and Chris Melly from Donegal in their Toyota Corolla AE86 followed by 2021 winners and top locals Rob Duggan and Ger Conway in their Ford Escort MK2.  Third on the road was 2018 winner Declan Gallagher navigated by Gavin Doherty in his Toyota Starlet with Killarney locals Conor Murphy and Sean Collins forth.

With road works on the iconic Molls Gap Clerk of the Course Anthony O’Connor chose four stages to the west of Killarney town.  These stages took in roads that were new and old to the rally.  To add some extra spice the final stage was to be ran in the dark.

The morning started cold but a surprise rainfall just before Stage one caught most crews out on the wrong tyres.  However, this wasn’t the case for the experienced BMW crew of Donagh Kelly and Rory Kennedy who maximised wet tyres on the front of their car to lead by 10 seconds after Stage 3.  In second were top seeds Johnny Greer / Kristy Riddick with Ray Breen and Damien Morrissey third in their Legacy.  Unfortunately, top local seed Alan Ring fell victim to mechanical woes after Stage one. 

On the repeat second loop Donagh and Rory again wrestled their BMW M3 through maintaining the lead back into service.  However, their lead was cut down to a mere 5 seconds.  In third place was Cork’s Denis Moynihan and Martin O’Brien in their Ford Escort Mk 1.  Despite not competing in his Escort in a number of years, the 2017 overall winner was showing he had lost none of his pace.  

With weather conditions drying out Jonathan Greer and Kristy Riddick grasped the lead from the BMW on Stage 7 thereby going into the final stage with an advantage of just 0.8 seconds.  This showdown in the dark was a sight to behold with the Sierra pair nipping the rally at the end by just 3.7 seconds from the BMW.   Third place was taken by Michael McDaid and Declan Casey in their Ford Escort Mk2 with Denis Moynihan and Martin O’Brien forth.  

In the Modified section the top seeds were left scratching their heads when Conor Murphy and Sean Collins arrived into first service with an 8 second lead.  This lead was maintained through Stages 4 and 5.  However, disaster struck the crew on Stage 6 when they clipped a rock which forced instant retirement.  This handed the lead to Rob Duggan and Ger Conway who just about managed to maintain it through the second last stage with Kevin Eves and Chris Melly hot on their heels.  Similar to the Historic section the two top entered the final stage with less than a second between them.  Rob and Ger managed to take fastest time in the darkness winning the event by 3.4 seconds from Kevin Eves and Chris Melly in their Toyota Corolla with Declan Gallagher and Gavin Doherty third in the Toyota Starlet

And so the book was closed on the 2023 event.  However, plans are already being put in place for 2024 which promises to be just as good.