Devine and O’Sullivan Equal Record with Fifth Straight Rally of the Lakes Victory

Callum Devine and co-driver Noel O’Sullivan produced a commanding performance to secure a record-equalling fifth consecutive victory at the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes in Killarney after a fiercely contested weekend.

The Derry driver and his Killarney co-driver finished 13.2 seconds clear of Kilkenny’s Eddie Doherty and Limerick’s Tom Murphy, with both leading crews competing in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 machinery. Donegal’s David Kelly and local co-driver Shane Buckley completed the podium, just over a minute further adrift in third place.

Intense Battle Decided by Fine Margins

The contest between Devine and Doherty proved to be the defining storyline of the rally, with the lead changing hands four times during Saturday’s opening leg.

Devine initially set the pace on the iconic Moll’s Gap stage, opening up a 3.9-second advantage — the largest margin of the day — before Doherty responded to move ahead on Stage 2. The Kilkenny driver held the lead until Stage 5, when Devine reclaimed control.

Conditions added further complexity, with a late rain shower forcing difficult tyre choices. Several drivers encountered trouble, notably Josh Moffett, whose Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 spun on the opening test, costing valuable time.

Despite the challenges, Devine closed Saturday strongly, winning the final two stages to carry a slender overnight lead of 3.5 seconds.

Sunday Charge Secures Historic Fifth Win

Sunday’s stages proved decisive. Devine extended his advantage on the opening run through Moll’s Gap before Doherty responded on Ballaghbeama to briefly reduce the gap.

However, Devine’s pace proved relentless. A standout performance on the second pass of Moll’s Gap — where he recorded his best-ever time on the stage — effectively settled the contest, allowing him to pull clear and seal victory.

The triumph not only delivered a fifth successive win but also matched a long-standing record, placing Devine alongside rally legend Bertie Fisher, who achieved the same feat in 1994.

Strong Performances Across the Field

Behind the leading duo, David Kelly secured a solid third-place finish, while Josh Moffett recovered impressively from his early setback to claim fourth, narrowly edging out Matthew Boyle on the final stage.

Local driver Rob Duggan starred in the Modified category, guiding his Ford Escort to a dominant start-to-finish victory. Barry Meade and Colin Fitzgerald also impressed, taking second place in their Class 13 Escort.

In the Historic category, Donegal’s John O’Donnell and Paddy Robinson controlled proceedings from start to finish in their BMW M3. Jason McSweeney’s second-place finish proved significant, allowing him to regain the championship lead.

The Junior category saw Darragh Walsh and Gary Lombard deliver an excellent performance to claim victory in their Honda Civic.

Overall Classification (Top 10)

1. C. Devine / N. O’Sullivan (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 1:26:58.9
2. E. Doherty / T. Murphy (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +13.2s
3. D. Kelly / S. Buckley (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:13.4
4. J. Moffett / A. Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:25.7
5. M. Boyle / S. Williams (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:27.9
6. M. Boyle / D. Boyle (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:47.9
7. D. Boyle / P. Walsh (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:45.6
8. E. Kelly / C. Mohan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +2:57.8
9. K. Eves / C. Melly (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:22.6
10. K. Grogan / A. Sherlock (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +3:27.3

Category Winners

Historics:

1. J. O’Donnell / P. Robinson (BMW M3) – 1:36:54.3
2. J. McSweeney / L. Brennan (Ford Escort WRC) +40.3s
3. F. O’Meara / B. Duggan (BMW M3) +1:07.3

Juniors:

1. D. Walsh / G. Lombard (Honda Civic) – 52:10.3
2. A. Reid / C. Reid (Honda Civic) +2:02.8
3. C. Hynes / C. Fallon (Honda Civic) +3:36.8

Masters:

1. T. Fitzmaurice / F. Foley (Subaru Impreza WRC) – 49:09.6
2. S. Greaney / J. Folan (Toyota Corolla WRC) +10.2s
3. A. MacHale / B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) +1:59.3

Devine’s latest triumph not only underlines his dominance in Killarney but also cements his place among the greats of the event, with a fifth successive victory achieved through consistency, pace, and composure under pressure.