Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Eamonn Kelly and Monaghan’s navigator Conor Mohan got their second season of the Junior World Rally Championship off to a perfect start by taking third place in Rally Sweden.
The result matched their Acropolis Rally Greece performance last September and sets them-up for round two in Croatia in April. An event they won in 2023.
One of a record 19 entrants, Kelly and Mohan found themselves in a battle with the eventual winner, local ace Mille Johansson and FIA Rally Star program member Romet Jürgenson. As the Donegal/Monaghan pairing completed the podium in the category for identical Ford Fiesta Rally3s run equipped with Pirelli tyres.
“It was really good to be on the podium in Sweden this year” said Kelly. “It is a fantastic start for our championship to finish third [amongst 19 drivers] is something we can be really happy with”.
Kelly and Mohan won the junior element of Rally Croatia last season. The focus for the months ahead is preparation for the first tarmac rally of the season.
“I would like to go there this year and show some speed” added Kelly. “I want to go there and try and be much, much faster and closer to the top position in the table. That is going to be the main focus over the next two months”.
