Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett are set to compete in the 2018 Rally of the Lakes this weekend.
Kelly and Barrett, who have won the Donegal International Rally in each of the last two years, are on the run-in now to go for a three-in-a-row across the home tarmac next month.
The WRC Impreza will be back on Irish soil this weekend for the two-day Rally of the Lakes.
Kelly has competed in the event just once before – back in 2009 in his MK2 Escort days.
As revealed by Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub last month, petrol forecourt retailer Applegreen will be on board as the new sponsors for Kelly and Barrett this year, following the agreement of a significant deal.
Kelly and Barrett have hand-picked their events since stepping into the Melvyn Evans-prepped Impreza, but the Glenswilly-Milford duo – who were recently honoured by Donegal County Council with a civic reception – are set to return to action this weekend.
Competitors will tackle some 240km of stage miles in the Rally of the Lakes, including classic stages at Molls Gap, Helay Pass, Ardghroom and Kilmackillogue.
Declan Boyle has entered too and is the second seed, hoping for his luck to change in the WRC Fiesta.
Sam Moffett, Josh Moffett and Desi Henry are among the other big names on the list, while Donegal’s Paddy Robinson will call the notes for former two-time Irish Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity.
There is no shortage of Donegal competitors.
Kevin Eves and Chris Melly are in action, as are Brian Brogan and Damien McGettigan, who will aim to be among the leading national competitors.
John O’Donnell and John Bonner will also be vying for leaderboard positions and the McGettigans, Kyle and Dale, have showed up well of late, too.
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