MEIRION Evans concedes missing last season’s Corrib Oil Galway International Rally could make his job of winning it for a second time in the space of three years all the more difficult.
Evans chalked up a first ever Galway success back in 2023 to take his international win count in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship alongside fellow Welshman Jonathan Jackson to two; five months prior to that, he broke his duck on the roads around the Newry-based Ulster Rally.
At the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 – which Evans has since swapped for a technically more superior Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Yaris Rally2 – he kept a composed head on an event that is traditionally played out in the wind and rain to finish with a near 13 second advantage.
Evans was made to work hard for the top step of the podium over the course of the 15 special stages, which delivered quickest times by several drivers – and a handful of different leaders.
“I think some of the stages are similar to last year, so that will go against us a bit, but I think we should be okay,” said Evans, who watched the 2024 instalment from the sidelines after choosing to focus his time and target his resources at the Probite British Rally Championship.
“Everyone knows the conditions in Galway normally throw enough variables into the mix that makes it anything but straightforward when it comes to picking a winner. It will be nice to be back as I missed last year and it would be nice to win it again – but it is never an easy task.”
On February 1 and 2, Evans and fellow former winner Moffett will renew their rivalries with Declan Boyle – another Rally2 exponent who has enjoyed success on the Galway Motor Club showpiece.
However, the Donegal man is going to need everything to fall into place if he is to end his wait for a first triumph since 2014 due accidents and car troubles making it something of a bogey event for him.
Among those aiming for a first win in the ‘Dual County’ is Co Derry’s Callum Devine. He came up agonisingly short in the defence of his Irish Tarmac Championship title last year to Keith Cronin, but is fancied to start 2025 strongly in his Michelin shod Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Interest will also centre around Kevin Eves who, for 2025, is swapping his Toyota Corolla for the Ford Fiesta Rally2 he steered to third place, first time out, at December’s Turkey Run Rally.
Comprising nine speed tests on the Saturday in the Headford and Tuam areas, and six on the Sunday close to Monive, the forty seventh running of the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally is being led by new Clerk of the Course, Joe Donoghue. In all, crews will tackle 134.375-miles.
The oldest international rally on the Irish motorsport calendar having first run in 1971, Galway is the first of seven rounds that teams, drivers, and co-drivers who register for the new-look Irish Tarmac Rally Championship will contest in 2025, and one of five, two-day meetings.