Defending Joule Donegal International Rally champion Manus Kelly has confirmed some big news ahead of the defence of his title next month.
The Glenswilly man had been set to tackle Donegal’s 20 special stages in the company of a new co-driver, Gareth Doherty but, in a dramatic u-turn, Milford’s Donall Barrett is now set to return to partner Kelly for the June 16-18 event.
Barrett called the notes for the gripping victory last year, when the pair won Donegal by just 0.5 seconds.
Barrett, who is Dublin based, announced his retirement from motorsport in the aftermath of that high-octane win last June and at the Donegal Sports Star Awards in January reaffirmed that stance.
While Doherty sat with Kelly for the Harvest Stages Rally, Barrett is now poised to make his return to the cockpit, rekindling their winning partnership from 2016.
Kelly and Barrett went to Fanad Head, the 20th and final stage of the event, with 9.3 seconds to make up on Keith Cronin, who led the field after the penultimate stage, Atlantic Drive – but they did just that and when they rolled off Fanad Head, at Portsalon and the finish line, they were in the lead for the first time.
Kelly and Barrett will be back in the Melvyn Evans Motorsport-hired Impreza.
The likes of Donagh Kelly, Declan Boyle, Garry Jennings, Sam Moffatt, Joe McGonigle and Robert Barrable have all confirmed their entries for Donegal and will be looking to take the crown from Kelly.
Frosses man Kelly will have Conor Foley on the notes as he seeks a first Donegal win.
Lettermacaward’s Boyle will be partnered by his cousin, Declan with whom he has previous won around Donegal’s tarmac, while Kesh native Jennings will again have Letterkenny man Rory Kennedy riding shotgun and they’re gunning for a third victory.
