Claudy man Callum Devine claims first Donegal International Rally victory

Callum Devine has won the Donegal International Rally for the first time.

The Claudy man was in contention all weekend and by the end of the final stage, SS20 at Fanad Head, on Sunday, he was 55.5 ahead of nearest challenger Matt Edwards while Rathmullan's

The 29-year-old Devine was on the pace all weekend with Noel O'Sullivan on the pace notes in the VW Polo GTI R5.

Devine concluded the rally with a superb run over Fanad and was the quickest driver by almost six seconds.

“It's good, it's great,” an emotional Devine said. “We pushed hard. We were really worried about the rain. It was tricky. It's emotional after last year and this has been a dream of mine.”

Devine trailed Josh Moffett, the defending champion, by 4.9 seconds on Friday night, but gained the initiative over Garrygort, Carnhill and Knockalla on Saturday.

Devine had 15 seconds to spare at one stage on day two, but an overshoot on Carnhill allowed Moffett close the margin to 4.7 seconds as the rain clouds descended on Saturday evening

Disaster struck Moffett on SS17, the first loop of Fanad, on Sunday when the Monaghan man crashed out, handing a firm advantage to Devine, a popular driver in these parts who is a son of former Donegal Rally competitor Seamus Devine.

Moffett's exit ensured that a new name would be added to the winners' list of this famous event, the only three-day rally that remains on the Irish Tarmac Championship's calendar.

The silversmith etched the name of Devine to join a who's who of rallying greats who have come first over the ramp at the Mount Errigal Hotel. The win also takes Devine to the top of the Irish Tarmac Championship leaderboard.

The win for the 2017 Billy Coleman Award recipient – who won the 2019 Donegal Harvest Stages Rally – makes up for the disappointment of 12 months ago when he led until SS15.

Edwards, the three-time British Rally champion, overcame a frustrating start to the rally, a broken diff leading to some difficulty across the opening loops.

Over Knockalla on Saturday, Edwards, who had David Moynihan navigating, was back in the groove again.

Edwards had said at the end of day two: “There was a lot of self-doubt last night. Its been a good day and I have proved to myself that I am still capable.”

Sam Moffett had been ahead of Edwards for a period, but he struggled in High Glen's torrential rain and Edwards capitalised to inch ahead.

Edwards was fastest on SS18 again to extend his own margin to Sam Moffett, but by then Devine was playing it cool with the finish now in his sights and grasp. Devine was 49.7 seconds in front as he took to the start line at Fanad for the 20th and final stage.

Sam Moffett concluded in third with Meirion Evans fourth and Robert Barrable fifth.

Former winners Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy endured some gear trouble on Sunday, but the Kesh-Letterkenny pair finished in sixth overall while Ryan Loughran – who had Donegal man Gareth Doherty on the notes – concluded in seventh.

Donegal navigators Niall Burns and Paddy Robinson also finished inside the top ten, alongside their drivers Jonathan Greer and Desi Henry.

Kevin Gallagher retained the National Rally title in excellent fashion.

Gallagher and Ryan Moore in the lightweight Darrian T90 GTR were much to swift for the rest of the chasing pack in the national battle.

Pettigo's Kevin Eves had been second in that battle of the two-wheel drive machines, but mechanical issues saw him exit on High Glen, bringing Damien Tourish from Cloghan into second spot.