THE NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship kicks off a new season this weekend with the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally.

It’s the first of the seven-event series that will then journey to Clonakilty (Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally), Dungannon (Circuit of Ireland), Killarney (Asses Ireland Rally of the Lakes), Letterkenny (Donegal International Rally), Ballymena (Ulster Rally) before the series concludes with the rally stages in the Macroom area for the Cork '20' Rally.

Reigning ITRC champion Callum Devine from Derry is the top seed in Galway aboard his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, a car that seems to be the popular choice with many of the top ten starters. Indeed, there are no fewer than six examples of the Czech marque in the Galway top ten.

Clonakilty's David Guest and his Bandon co-driver Stephen Quin are the top local crew in their Clonakilty Engineering liveried Ford Fiesta Rally2. Galway always seems to attract a strong West Cork contingent of spectators keen to look at some of the new cars and who are likely to set the pace in advance of the West Cork Rally.

A year ago, Storm Éowyn forced the postponement of the Galway event. Now, the club is ready to go again with nine stages on Saturday in the vicinity of Headford and six on Sunday near Athenry. Throughout the two days, the service park is at the Galway Airport complex.

The last Galway International Rally (2024) was won by Ballylickey's Keith Cronin, who seems set to continue his sojourn from the sport.

Galway is one of the few events within the Irish Tarmac series that Devine has yet to win and his task this time around is again far from easy. It should be fascinating to see how he and his title rivals will fare. Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty steps up a gear in his state-of-the-art Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 and how the reigning National rally champion will perform will be watched with interest.

Perhaps the dark horse in the line-up is Donegal's Eamonn Kelly, who will debut a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. It will be fascinating to see if another Donegal driver, Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), can continue the fine form that led him to end last season with three victories. Tyrone's Cathan McCourt is another to steer a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 – his pace is never in question, but he needs to be patient.

Yet another new car debutant is Monaghan's Josh Moffett, who has only recently acquired a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2; it's hard to believe that the West Cork Rally in 2023 was his last victory in a round of the ITRC.

Seeded at 16, David Guest is looking forward to the season opener.

‘Firstly, I have registered for the championship. I always enjoy Galway,’ Guest said.

‘We (with co-driver Stephen Quin) did the recce (reconnaissance) on Saturday last and the stages are very good  – they are mucky, challenging but that is what you expect. The stages are nice and compact and the terrain is similar on both days.’

On their last outing, Guest/Quin finished sixth overall on the Fastnet Rally last October.

‘I have no testing or preparation done and there's nothing I can do about it. Quite simply, I don't have the time. I have no idea of what type of pace we will be at – I'm just happy to be going to Galway. If we can get around and finish in the top ten that would be brilliant,’ Guest added.

Another local crew is that of Kilcrohane's Jer O'Donovan and his Rosscarbery co-driver Alistair Wyllie aboard their usual Ford Fiesta R5 that has received a new wrap.,

‘We are planning to do the championship,’ O'Donovan said.

‘Last year we intended to do just that but things got a bit pear-shaped. Over the last couple of months, my brothers Steve and Timmy have changed the whole set-up of the car and we are really happy with the changes, it has transformed the performance of the car.’

Elsewhere, Clonakilty's Kevin Kelleher and Enniskeane's Sean Hayde compete in a Mk. 2 Ford Escort with Macroom's Barry O'Brien and Rossmore's Declan Buttimer amongst the Class 11F entries in their Honda Civic.

West Cork co-drivers competing include Lisavaird's Michael White, who calls the notes for Donegal's Corey Eves (Toyota Corolla), and Bandon's Daniel Seaman partners Fermoy's David Herbert (Peugeot 208 Rally4).

Meanwhile, Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney has switched to the Historic category where he will drive a Ford Escort WRC, Blackpool's Liam Brennan will continue to call the pacenotes.

Saturday's first stage begins at 8.40am and Sunday's opening stage (SS10) starts at 9:57am.

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Cork crews secured the top three places in the Inchigeelagh-based Cork ‘1000 Shakes’ Navigation Trial that counted as rounds of the Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Trial and the Munster Navigation Trial Championship.

For the second year in succession, the Mallow crew of Derek Butler/Aaron O'Regan (Subaru Impreza) fared best on the 120-mile event and finished with 14 penalties.  Mogeely's James Fitzgerald and his Ballincollig navigator Ken Carmody went on to take second overall on a total of 33 penalties, while the Ovens/Berrings crew of Owen Murphy/Patrick O'Sullivan finished third with 48 penalties.

Elsewhere, Keith Whelton/Cian Minihane (Toyota Avensis) won the Beginners category from Conor and Matthew O'Neill (Suzuki Swift) with Bantry's Seamus McHugh and Mike Crean (Subaru Impreza) third.

Both championships will resume with the Skibbereen ‘100 Isles’ Navigation Trial on Saturday, February 7th, and will be based out of the Skibbereen Mart Complex. Further details in next week's Southern Star.