Martin Walsh
MOTORSPORT

WEST Cork rally driver Keith Cronin is on the brink of securing his third British Rally Championship title in four seasons
Cronin, from Ballylickey, which is outside Bantry, competes in the final round of the BRC — the International Rally of Yorkshire — tomorrow needing to just finish in the top eight.
Driving the Michael O’Brien Plant Hire liveried Citroen DS3 R3, his nearest rival is four points in arrears. Only Jimmy McRae, Roger Clark and Mark Higgins have previously won three or more British titles, making Cronin’s achievement all the more notable.
“In the situation we’re in, we can’t go flat out, it is one where we can’t make any mistakes, we have to hold our concentration,” he said. “It is important to get the balance right.”

Back in 2009, he became the first Irish driver to win the BRC since  Billy Coleman in 1974.
Cronin retained the crown the following year and is poised to grab the title back over the weekend.
The rally begins tomorrow evening with one stage and there are five stages on Saturday.
 See P44 for more. 
Meanwhile, up until last evening, the leading entries received for next week’s Orchard Motorsport Cork 20 International Rally were: 
Midleton’s, Darragh O’Riordan (Subaru WRC), Fermanagh’s, Garry Jennings (Subaru WRC); Ballylickey’s, Denis Cronin (Subaru WRC); Donegal duo, Declan Boyle and Donagh Kelly (Subaru WRC’s); Monaghan’s, Sam Moffett (Mitsubishi); Clonmel’s, Roy White (MG S2000); Tyrone’s, Frank Kelly (Escort) and Ovens driver, Owen Murphy (Mitsubishi).