Local competitors Garry Jennings and Brian Hoy will both be hoping to feature towards the top of the leaderboard this weekend when the Modern Tyres Ulster International Rally gets under way on Saturday.

The event is the final round of the British Rally Championship and has attracted a high-quality field packed with the UK’s best drivers, but Brian Hoy, navigating for Callum Devine, will be hoping the pair can continue their rally-winning form.

The duo completed a hat-trick of wins with their recent victory on the Tour of the Sperrins Rally, but the Ulster Rally will provide their stiffest challenge of the year, with BRC title contenders Matt Edwards and Osian Pryce joining Sam and Josh Moffett, and four-time BRC Champion Keith Cronin, in an entry list packed with quality drivers and the latest R5 cars.

Hoy and Devine will start at number three, with Kesh’s Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy seeded at number seven.

Jennings is at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta R5, and although his older car does not match the specification of the cars starting in front of him, he is hoping the weather conditions can play into his hands.

“It’s good to see all the British Championship boys over,” he said.

“They have been testing away all week, so I don’t know how I’ll get on, but I think if it stays wet and dirty, it will leave it tricky for them.

“They all go hard in the dry, but I’m not sure about them in wet. If it was slippery, it would definitely suit me better.”

Starting to feel at home

2021 is Garry’s first season in the R5 car, having made the switch from his faithful Subaru, but he admits he is now starting to feel at home in his new seat.

“We have done the Sperrins and the Harvest Rallies, so this will be the third tarmac rally in it, and I am getting used to it,” he said.

“It’s different on the tarmac but we are getting there.

“I think the night stages are going to be a tester on Saturday.

“Our older-version car doesn’t have the newer lights, and I enquired about that, but the new lights don’t fit the old car so we can’t use them.

“I am looking forward to doing a rally closer to home. It’s great to see it opening up again, and it’s nice not to have to get on a boat!”

The rally, based in Newry, will see competitors contest nine special stages covering 93 competitive miles.

The first stage starts on Saturday morning, with the final stage due to take place in the dark at 4.50pm on Saturday evening.