SUCCESS for local crews in the Fastnet Rally continues to be an important part – and indeed a highlight – of their motorsport year.

In what continues to be a changing landscape, some crews only compete in their local events given the seemingly ever-increasing costs. This year's Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally provided locals with six class wins, as opposed to just two when the event was last held in 2023.

Rossmore's Seamus O'Donovan (Honda Civic) and his Dunmanway co-driver Daniel O'Donovan were one of the successful crews, taking the spoils in Class 1. The Fastnet was O'Donovan's final rally of the year. Aside from the Imokilly Rally (class win) he also contested the West Cork Rally last March, finishing second in class.

On the Fastnet, Seamus said, ‘We didn't do anything crazy, just got around, middle-of-the-road stuff – we didn't have to push too hard. We just wanted to get a finish to secure the class in the Southern 4 (regional championship).

‘Conditions were tricky – we ran soft (Hosier) tyres all day, we had no grip on the first stage, then the others were just down to tyre pressure, we just called it wrong.

‘The last rally we did was the Imokilly Rally in July when the sun was splitting the stones, so the conditions were very different this time.’

In 2024, the pair did the West Cork, the Circuit of Munster and the Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally finishing third, second and first respectively.

‘It's easier to rally when the events are all in Cork. There's no overnight expense in comparison to when we have to travel out,’ he explained.

On his future plans, Seamus (40), a qualified panel beater who now works in the pharmaceutical industry in Carrigtwohill, said, ‘The events I would like to do are the Rally of the Lakes or the Cork '20' Rally, but we'll see, the West Cork (March 13th-15th) will be our next event now.'

Meanwhile, the Skibbereen/Leap duo of Patrick Calnan/Amy Gallwey (Honda Civic) took a start-to-finish victory in Class 3 of the Fastnet Rally.

'We were on the wrong tyres for the first loop of three stages. While it was grand and dry in Drinagh, it was wet on the stage in Dunmanway. We changed to wets (tyres) for the repeat loop,’ Patrick said.

‘We broke a driveshaft towards the end of stage six (Glanaphuca), but we were able to nurse the car back to the service park in Drinagh and get it sorted for the final two stages. It was an enjoyable rally.'

Another local class-winning crew were Skibbereen's Patrick Calnan and Leap's Amy Gallwey (Honda Civic) who won Class 3.

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The formation of the 2026 Motorsport Ireland Council and its various commissions will remain unchanged. Delegates at the Motorsport Ireland annual congress in Athlone on Saturday were told of the decision by its president Aiden Harper, who stated that they will be placing a pause on all MI Council and MI Commission appointments for 2026.

An email issued to the press – who were not allowed to attend the congress – later that afternoon said, ‘the purpose of the pause is to allow time and stability for an independent facilitator to assess all areas of our sport/organisation. This will allow Motorsport Ireland to make important decisions, in a stable environment, to future-proof the sport and inform future strategic goals. MI clubs remain unaffected during this process and may change their directors if needed, in line with usual processes.’

Congress heard that motorsport events will not be affected by the pause while the email added, ‘MI Clubs remain unaffected during this process and may change their directors if needed, in line with usual processes.’

Meanwhile, it was also stated at congress that the appointment of ‘Head of Motorsport’ is now down to three applicants with an announcement due very soon.