Matt Edwards is used to making history at the Ulster Rally. Just three years ago, in a tense scrap with fellow Welshman Osian Pryce, he came out on top to become the first driver to secure three British Rally Championships on the bounce.
This weekend doesn’t offer the same chance to finish the story, but Edwards can write an important chapter in his quest to become the first Welshman to win the Irish Tarmac Championship.
But he’s not the only championship contender with a shot at creating a slice of history. Leading the standings prior to Ulster, Keith Cronin. A title win in Ireland and Britain (which he’s also contesting) would make him the first driver since Jimmy McRae to wear both crowns since 1981.
Then there’s reigning champion Callum Devine, who could become the first since Eugene Donnelly in 2007 to successfully defend the Irish Tarmac Championship.
It’s an almighty battle, but from a mindset perspective for all three this weekend it’s simple: win.
“Yeah,” Edwards agrees with DirtFish. “And that worked well for me in ’21 didn’t it, I just had to go and win it and that’s what I did.”
How it stands
Cronin currently leads the standings by 1.5 points
Before dropped scores (two from seven are permitted) are considered, Cronin leads the way by a slender 1.5 points over Edwards, with Devine 10 points off the summit.
But in some respects, it’s Edwards who has the weakest hand. He has one win (Circuit of Ireland), while Cronin (Galway and West Cork) and Devine (Killarney and Donegal) have two apiece.
However, each contender will need to avoid any banana skins, because a non-finish would be catastrophic for their championship challenge.
With just the Cork 20 to follow after Ulster, the pressure is on.
What they’re saying
Edwards is cutting quite a relaxed figure – aware of the history there for the taking, but not letting that faze him.
“I want to win it, there’s no question – I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise – but I almost don’t feel it’s my last chance to,” Edwards tells DirtFish.
“I’m not thinking this is my last ever championship, so I’m not going to put too much pressure on it. And the thing is, there’s so many roads I’ve driven for the first time this year and going down them for the first time, Moll’s Gap and places like this, they’re definitely experience stages.
Edwards is in the mix despite it being his first full season in Ireland
“So to still be in the mix, I’m chuffed with that. To have the pace, consistent pace that we’ve had all year after a little shaky start, I’m happy with that. I think that’s as much as could be expected.”
Edwards could be a favorite for victory this weekend, as the technical stages that require a lot of driving have always suited him.
Cronin is arguably under the most pressure, having led the series right from the very beginning but suffering poor fortune in Killarney with a puncture and then dropping it into a wall in Donegal.
What Cronin does possess is the most relevant seat time, having competed in the BRC last weekend, albeit on gravel. And of course he is the one who leads, so has a slight buffer to fall back on if he needs it.
“Obviously if we won both rallies it would put it beyond all doubt, but there are some other combinations that would work for us as well, depending on where the others finish,” Cronin said.
“A win in Ulster would be ideal, we could then see what was required in Cork and work our targets around that.
“Even though it was on a different surface, hopefully the seat time from last weekend will be a help on Saturday too,” he added. “There is no substitute for it, it’s far more valuable in that regard than a day spent testing.”
Devine has switched to a Škoda and made a winning start in Donegal
Of the three, Devine can least afford a mistake with two scores to drop already. But the former ERC driver is the form man with two wins from the past two events, despite switching from a VW Polo to a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in Donegal.
He has never won Ulster though, while Cronin and Edwards have both won it twice.
“It will be great if we could get a win on the Ulster Rally this time around. We have managed a third and a second on our last two visits, so hopefully we can go one better,” Devine said.
“It would leave us in a good position heading towards the final round in Cork if we do, but no doubt Keith and Matt will be thinking the same. It will be a big battle at the front.
“It will definitely be a strong pace this year, much like all the other rallies have been in the Irish Tarmac Championship so far this year. Hopefully the weather is better – more settled – this time, because in previous years it has definitely added another challenge for the drivers.”
This one is going down to the wire, and you won’t want to miss it.
