The Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland heads into its penultimate round this weekend with the inaugural championship finely poised, as the Donegal Harvest Rally prepares to play a potentially pivotal role in the fight for the title.
After a dramatic Wexford Stages Rally produced two different winners and reshaped the championship standings, just three crews remain in contention at Donegal, with Oran England returning to action after missing the previous round.
England and Darragh Mullen had looked almost untouchable through the opening rounds, winning every event they contested before England’s absence from Wexford allowed the chasing pack to close the gap.
Now back in a Peugeot 208 Rally4, England has the opportunity to re-establish his advantage, and potentially put himself within touching distance of the inaugural Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland crown.
A victory in Donegal, combined with Danny Brady finishing third or lower, would leave England needing only to start the final round of the season to secure the championship title.
Brady, however, will have other ideas.
Fresh from claiming his maiden Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland victory on opening day in Wexford, Brady knows another win is essential to keep his title hopes alive. Victory in Wexford demonstrated that the Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver has the pace to challenge at the front, but with England back in the field, the pressure will be on once again.
Robert Cronin and Paddy Heffernan are similarly positioned. After taking the Sunday victory at Wexford, the Opel Corsa Rally4 crew remains within reach of the championship lead, but another win is now crucial if Cronin is to carry his title challenge through to the final round.
John O’Rourke and Jack Byrne complete the five-car Stellantis Rally Cup Ireland entry for Donegal, with both crews looking to capitalise on any mistakes ahead of them and end the season with their strongest possible results.
The Donegal Harvest Rally will provide no shortage of opportunity to do exactly that.
The day features three stages, each run three times, delivering more than 100 competitive kilometres of rallying, and there will be plenty of opportunity for the order to change as confidence, conditions and tyre strategy come into play.
