THE Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally brings the curtain down on this season's Triton Showers National Rally Championship on Sunday.

With the Vard Memorial Trophy already secured by Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5), event victory on the eight-stage event will still present a competitive encounter.

Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin is the highest seeded local driver. Although he also had that honour of the recent O'Connell Group Cork ‘20’ Rally where he was seeded at number four, he begins his home event from the number six berth in his Citroen C3 Rally2.

Donegal's Declan Boyle, whose only previous appearance on the Fastnet Rally was in 2010 when he campaigned a Ford Escort to seventh overall and a class victory, heads the entry list. Since then, he's won the national series on three occasions – 2013, 2014 and 2018 – to equal the long-standing record of Monaghan's Niall Maguire.

Another Monaghan driver Josh Moffett has the outright record of four titles to his credit – the last in the most recent Fastnet Rally two years ago.

Incidentally, Boyle also won the Tarmac series in the 2014 season. Although his form dipped in recent years as he campaigned versions of the Ford Fiesta, VW Polo GTi R5 and Citroen C3 Rally2, his switch to the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 has seen him rediscover much of that pace.

His most recent rivals are his sons Michael (27) and Matthew (21) and that has led to some great banter within the Boyle household where Michael, fresh from victories in the Cork '20' and the Wexford Rally, has the bragging rights. Of course, it's all good natured fun. Interestingly, the trio can capture the top three places in the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship series. Along with Tyrone's Ryan Loughran (Ford Fiesta Rally2) they are the top quartet.

Both Declan and Michael will drive their usual Skodas while Matthew will steer his Ford Fiesta Rally2. A previous plan for Michael and Matthew to switch cars has been shelved.

Drimoleague's Gary Lordan (Honda Civic) is one of many local competitors in this weekend's Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally where he will be co-driven by Alan O'Farrell.

Tyrone's Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2), whose best result was fourth on the Sligo Rally earlier in the season, will be making his maiden Fastnet appearance from the number five berth.

Contrast that with Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin, a Fastnet Rally winner in 2016 in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9. Since then he's led the event on a number of occasions, more recently two years ago where he led Josh Moffett entering the penultimate stage and only trailed him by 0.9 of a second after its completion before sliding off and losing vital seconds on the last stage to finish third.

To his credit, he acknowledges that 2025 has not been a great season (thus far) – third in the Wexford Rally being the highlight. However, given that he's a former Fastnet winner and his performance just two years ago, there's surprise at his seeding on this occasion. But the Ballylickey driver won't let that hinder his performance.

‘I know it is only every two years but the Fastnet is so close to home, and it's a big rally for me,’ Cronin said.

‘It hasn't been a great season, but these things happen. That's rallying. You can't let the head drop, you just have to get on with it. Over the years I have done parts of the stages but for the most part the rally is relatively new.

‘Michael Boyle is showing great pace and one would hope we can be competitive with him and indeed Declan – they are match-fit after the Cork '20'.

‘We will get the first loop of stages under the belt and hopefully the pace won't be too bad.’

The remainder of the top ten is dominated by local drivers with Clonakilty drivers Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Ford Fiesta Rally2), while Tyrone's Barry Morris (Darrian T90 GTR) will be guided around the West Cork terrain by Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan.

Expressing his view, Cal McCarthy said: ‘We will challenge ourselves for another top-five finish, that is probably a bit steep, but on the Cork ‘20’ our pace wasn't that far away from those ahead of us.

‘I don't have any great knowledge or indeed preference for any of the stages. Actually, I think I go better when I'm not familiar with them. Finishing as the highest West Cork driver is a target, but we'll see.’

A blown turbo on the first stage of the Cork '20' wasn't what David Guest expected, as he looked forward to the Fastnet.

‘I just want to enjoy it and see how it goes,’ he said.

‘Cal (McCarthy) is on a good pace and Daniel should be too, so maybe we will have a battle with Jason (McSweeney). I know I'm not at the pace I had a few years ago, but that is down to seat-time, and with work it is difficult to be competing on a regular basis. Look, if I had more regular outings, things could change.’

Not since his second overall (in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9) on the 2017 event has Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney enjoyed such a strong result. This time around in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, a second top-ten finish is well within his capabilities.

‘I haven't been out in a while so from that respect, I would be happy to finish in the midst of where I'm starting from and that's being realistic,’ McSweeney said.

Meanwhile Morris/Doonan are in a battle with Cavan's Chris Armstrong (Ford Escort) for the top two-wheel drive exponents in the Triton series with the latter holding a seven-point advantage. But Morris/Doonan have a fighting chance of success and are also in contention for the Class 14 award in the Triton series. In terms of the class itself, Clonakilty's Kevin Kelleher (Fiord Escort) spearheads the local challenge.

Clonakilty's Kevin Kelleher (Ford Escort) leads the local challenge in Class 14 with Macroom's William Lynch on the pacenotes.

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It's been eight years since Dunmanway's Conor McCarthy last finished the Fastnet Rally – with a fine fifth-place in a Mitsubishi Lancer E9.

With just a single outing (West Cork Rally) so far this year, he will steer an RLA-hired Ford Fiesta Rally2. Having held tenth overall during the Saturday of the Clonakilty event, he should make rapid improvement on his seeded position of #36 behind Kilcrohane's Jer O'Donovan in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Ballylickey's Robert Cronin (Opel Corsa Rally4) will be hoping that an injury in the final event of the Ginetta GT Championship won't restrain his performance.

Kerry's Alan Ring (Subaru Impreza) and Newcestown's Adrian Deasy are the top seeds in the Historic category that also includes Donegal's Donagh Kelly/Rory Kennedy (BMW M3).

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There are some fascinating local battles throughout the entry. In Class 11F, and fresh from a great performance in the Tarmac series, Clonakilty's Eamonn McCarthy (Honda Civic) will be the barometer for the likes of Macroom's Barry O'Brien in a similar car.

In Class 11R (rear-wheel drive) Schull's Fergus Hurley (Ford Escort), Lyre's Tim O'Donovan (Toyota Corolla) and Rosscarbery's Brian O'Mahony (Ford Escort) should have a good dice. In Class 9, Drimoleague's Gary Lordan (Honda Civic) has none other than his father Martin (Ford Escort) as opposition.

Equally, in Class 12, the Ford Escort quartet of Lisavaird's Cathal McCarthy (who has the experienced Ardfield co-driver Anthony O'Sullivan at his side), Dunmanway's Gerard O'Connell, Drimoleague's Rory Hennessey and Rosscarbery's Jerry O'Mahony all vying for West Cork bragging rights.