There is always a lot of interest in the Killarney Historic Stages Rally. With names like Brookes, Meeke, McCartney, Boyd and Collins taking to the famous Killarney stages, this years event taking place on the 1st and 2nd of December is set to be a cracker!

The cars will be lead away on Saturday afternoon from the Start Ramp in Killarney Town Centre by the Ex-Works M3 BMW Course Car driven by Denis Cronin. He will be followed by the 2005 Winner and Number 1 seed Ray Cunningham in his popular Mini Cooper S. Ray who will be navigated by Richard Hyland has always been competitive in Killarney, finishing just 1 second off first place last year! Lining up behind Cunningham on the start ramp in his Porsche 911 is the 2 time Post-Historic winner and this years Southern 4 Historic Champion, local man Todd Falvey. Todd will have his regular co-driver Dan Barry in the hot seat. In the number 3 spot is the Escort RS2000 of Gareth Lloyd, another previous winner in the event.

The rally is full of well known competitors and this year fans of all ages will get a rare opportunity to see one of the sports finest in competition. Twice British Rally Champion Russell Brookes is running at number 9 in one of his original cars, the Ex-Works 'Andrews Heat for Hire' Talbot Sunbeam Lotus which Russell used on the RAC rally in '81. As if one rally legend wasn't enough Dessie McCartney is lining up at number 14 in a Porsche 911 along with Derek Boyd at number 18 also in a Porsche, both McCartney from Co. Down and Boyd from Belfast have both had great careers in rallying and are guaranteed to bring great entertainment.

The top entrants in this year's Modified class are all well known names. Leading the pack out is this years Rally of the Lakes winner Kris Meeke. Kris is no stranger to a powerful rear wheel drive car and will be up against some of the countries finest in Conor Curley's MkII Escort. The next Modified on the start ramp will be the Ford of Phil Collins. Putting pressure on him will be the 'Feckin Irish Whiskey' Escort of Wesley Patterson.

The rally maintains a similar schedule to previous years with 4 stages on Saturday, 2 of which are night stages. Early Sunday morning the competitors will line up to tackle Molls Gap, the first of the days 9 stages, with the winning Historic crew due to return to the Finish Ramp at Randles Garage shortly before 4.30pm. The 2007 Killarney Historic Stages Rally is proudly supported by Great Stuff Caterers, Randles Hotels, EPS Bison, McAuliffe Development and the Christmas in Killarney Festival.

2007 Great Stuff Caterers Killarney Historic Stages Rally - Schedule

Saturday 1st December

Start Ramp: Market Cross, Killarney 13:10
SS1: Shanera
SS2: Rockfield
Service
SS3: Shanera
SS4: Rockfield
Parc Fermé (In): Killarney Racecourse 18:41
Sunday 2nd December

Parc Fermé (Out): Killarney Racecourse 07:45
SS5: Molls Gap
SS6: Killmakillogue
SS7: Healy Pass
Service: Adrigole-Castletownbere Road
SS8: Cods Head
SS9: Ardgroom
SS10: Healy Pass
Service: Adrigole-Castletownbere Road
SS11: Cod's Head
SS12: Ardgroom
SS13: Killmakillogue
Finish Ramp: Randles Garage, Muckross Road 16:21
Prizegiving: The Shelbourne Suite, Dromhall Hotel 21:00