Guest hopes to show grit on the gravel and snare another big win in Boggeragh
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West Cork driver David Guest is unlikely to forget his victory in the inaugural Boggeragh Rallysprint in 2021. It was and still remains a maiden rally win for the former Irish Tarmac Group N rally champion.
Sunday's fourth edition of this seasonal event near Nad and sponsored by IC Motor Factors that has gained in popularity in a short time frame, pits him against defending champion Waterford's Andrew Purcell and Cashel's Pat O'Connell.
Guest, onboard a Ford Fiesta R5, didn't have an easy passage to victory three years ago and can expect a similar task in an event that has 70-plus crews lining up for the four timed runs over the 5.6 kilometre gravel stage. Having since acquired the ex-Callum Devine Ford Fiesta Rally2, Guest knows small margins can have consequences in this event.
That first victory three years ago was clinched on the final run that saw him overturn a seven second deficit to win by 2.8s. Co-driven by Millstreet born Liam Moynihan, who was also aboard in 2021, Guest explains his first gravel outing in the Rally2 car.
"I had the gravel kit for the car and sure I thought why not (compete)?" he said. "I am actually thinking of doing some gravel events in the coming season. Andrew (Purcell) who has a new car will be hard to beat and Pat O'Connell is very experienced on gravel events."
For Purcell it's a switch from the VW Polo GTi R5 he used last year which makes way for a more potent Ford Fiesta Rally2 previously owned by Armin Schwarz: "I haven't even driven the car and Saturday's event will be my first time out in it. Look, there's no pressure, no stress and the timing of event suits me."
Purcell revealed that he is planning to contest the opening round of the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship in Donegal in February and will see how that goes before making a decision on contesting the series itself.
O'Connell is very adept at rallysprint events and while his Fiesta is the older R5 model, his experience could be a telling factor. Others in the top frame are Cavan's Paul McCann (Ford Fiesta R5) and Wexford's James Boland (Ford Fiesta Rally2). The Mitsubishi quartet of John Carroll, Alan Shinnors, Matt Shinnors and Mike O'Connor and the Subaru of Mark Murphy round out the top ten.
In the two-wheel drive category, Ulster drivers Cian Caldwell (Peugeot 208 Rally4) and Jack Harris (Ford Fiesta Rally4) along with Kilkenny's Jack Brennan (Peugeot 208 Rally4) are the leading quartet.
In the J1000 category, the promising Donegal teenager Oisin McShane (VW UP) has Cavan's Danny Brady (VW UP) and Kilkenny's David Travers (Peugeot 107) as his main opposition. The first timed run is scheduled to get underway at 10.00am.
Meanwhile, reigning Triton Showers National rally champion Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5) is amongst a near capacity entry for Friday's Carlow Rallysprint at Mondello Park. One interesting entry is that of Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty, who is listed to drive a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Wicklow's Daniel Barry along with Kilkenny's Enda O'Brien and Kildare's Frank Barrett
(all in VW Polo GTi R5's), Carlow's David Condell (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Waterford's Keith Power (Ford Fiesta R5) are the principal four-wheel drive contenders. There will be a minimum of three and a maximum of five timed runs over the course that is a mix of tarmac and loose surface consisting of some 6.5 kilometres.