Cronin — a former winner of the Ulster Rally in 2017 when it was based out of Londonderry — currently tops the standings with Devine once the dropped score rule has been applied on 61 points, with three-time British Rally Champion Edwards another five points off the summit with two rounds left. A third win of the campaign to add to the perfect scores he recorded at the opening two fixtures — February’s Galway International and March’s West Cork Rally — would put Cronin in the box seat for a first Irish title since 2016. “A win in Ulster would be ideal — we could then see what was required at the last round in Cork and work our targets around that,” said Cronin, who is the No.
3 seed with Mikie Galvin for the Northern Ireland Motor Club competition, which they are tackling in a Ford Fiesta Rally2. “Obviously, if we won both the Ulster and Cork ‘20’ it would put it beyond all doubt, but there are some other combinations that would work for us as well, depending on where the others finish.” Cronin — who arrives in Newry fresh from competing on the Grampian Forest Rally last weekend — added: “Even though it was on gravel, hopefully the seat time will be a help because there is no substitute for it in my opinion — it is far more valuable in that regard than a day spent testing.
” Reigning Irish Tarmac Champion Callum Devine is keen to kick on in his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 following a winning debut in the new supermini. The decision to switch from his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 to the Fabia was rewarded with back-to-back Donegal successes — an outcome that bolstered the defence of his Tarmac title. Devine, from Park in Co Londonderry, has finished third and a second on his last two visits and would love to go one better to boost his title hopes.
“It would definitely leave us in a good position heading towards the final round in Cork if we do, but no doubt Keith and Matt will be thinking the same,” he said, “It will be a big battle at the front. “It will definitely be a strong pace this year, much like all the other rallies have been in the Irish Tarmac Championship so far this year. “Hopefully the weather is better — more settled — this time, because in previous years it has definitely added another challenge for the drivers.
” With the title run-in hotting up, current FIA World Rally Championship driver Adrien Fourmuax has announced that he intends to keep a watching brief from his home 600 miles away in France. Twelve months ago, he made his competitive debut at the closed-road meeting and overcame biblical levels of wind and rain on the opening Friday leg to lay the foundations for an all-important victory. It paved the way for him and Alex Coria to clinch the British title a month later at the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire.
“I have been remembering the Ulster Rally from last year, which I won with Alex,” said Fourmaux. “It was a really great rally, and one that had terrible conditions on the first day. “I also remember some beautiful stages and a lot of fans who I am sure will be returning again this year.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be there this time — but I will be following the rally closely.” Comprising 10 stages totalling 83 competitive miles, the 47th Ulster Rally gets underway on Saturday at 8.54am and concludes with an 8.
71-mile blast over ‘Babylon Hill 2’ to determine the overall winners. 1 Callum Devine / Noel O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 2 Matt Edwards / David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 3 Keith Cronin / Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 4 Josh Moffett / Andy Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2); 5 Eddie Doherty / Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia Rally2); 6 David Kelly / Dean O’Sullivan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5); 7 John MacCrone / Kirsty Riddick (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 8 James Ford Neil / Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2).; 9 Andrew Purcell / Liam Brennan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5); 10 Cal McCarthy / Eric Calnan (Citroen C3 Rally2).
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