Finland rally gives Eamonn Kelly valuable snow time ahead of WRC

Eamonn Kelly was fifth in his class at the Auto Sorsa Riihimäki-ralli in Finland at the weekend.

The Frosses rally driver, with Conor Mohan on the notes in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, were back on the snow as preparation for the new FIA Junior WRC season.

Kelly will take to the stages at Rally Sweden in mid-February.

Kelly and Mohan had some difficulty, yet they came through the nine stages to see the finish line.

Mitchell McLaughlin wins time trial in Spain

Drumkeen cyclist Mitchell McLaughlin, riding with the VeloRevolution Cycling Team, won at the Vinalopó Interclubs Tournament held in Benferri.

The demanding stages proved tricky, but Kelly said he was ‘buzzing for a crack at some high speed snow action’.

Kelly made some changes to the car by the fifth stage, although they hit trouble with a misted windscreen.

An overshoot on SS6, Punkka, cost the pair, but they were excellent on SS7, Kesijärvi. A snow bank was visited on the final stage, costing the Kelly-Mohan combination a few minutes.

Kelly said the event was a ‘great experience’ and ‘great testing’ for Sweden.