Local drivers Garry Jennings and Alastair Fisher are both hoping for success on this weekend Galway International Rally as the opening round of the Clonakilty Black Pudding Irish Tarmac Championship gets underway.
Over 100 cars will roll off the start ramp on Saturday morning, headed by number one seed Jennings. Victory in the West of Ireland has so far eluded the Kesh driver and former Irish Tarmac Champion, but he is hoping he can end his run of misfortune on the rally to take victory in 2016. Two years ago the Subaru driver was locked in a battle with Declan Boyle but his chances of victory slipped away when he briefly slid off the road and had to settle for second. In 2015 it was a similar story, with an accident ending his challenge on the first day when he held third overall. This time around he is aiming to avoid trouble. 
“I’m just going to try to keep out of trouble this time and hopefully I will be alright,” said Garry. “When I was in a Group N car I was third one year and I always seemed to win group N down there but it is proving difficult to win it overall. The only two mistakes I have made in two years I have made in Galway, with hitting the flood and then last year hitting a stone wall.”
The Saturday start will be the first time Garry has competed since his car was destroyed by fire on the last stage of the Ulster Rally in September. A lot of time was spent getting the car back into shape for the new season, with the final touches still be put to the Subaru in the week leading up to the event. “We only got the work finished on Sunday,” revealed Garry. “I got to drive it on Monday and we had a few teething problems but I think we have them all sorted now. We haven’t done any big mileage but we will know after the first stage. The car feels alright and everything seems to be working.”
Garry’s main competition for the outright win will most likely come from the World Rally Cars of Declan Boyle, Tim McNulty and Derek McGarrity, but the R5 cars including Alastair Fisher will be looking to push their more powerful rivals as hard as they can. New championship regulations this year mean the two are not in direct competition, with the WRC competitors not qualifying for points in the Irish Tarmac Championship. That opens the door for the likes of Alastair Fisher to challenge for the championship title for the first time.
The Trillick driver is seeded at number 10 in his Fiesta R5 but the competition is expected to be fierce. Former British Champion Keith Cronin is behind the wheel of a Citroen, and the likes of Sam Moffatt, Josh Moffatt and Stephen Wright will all be harbouring hopes of an R5 victory.
In the two wheel drive category Chris Armstrong will be hoping to be among the front runners, while William Mavitty is set to return to the Group N action in his Mitsubishi Evo.