Garry Jennings believes this weekend’s Donegal Rally is one of the most competitive of recent times. The Kesh driver is seeded at number seven for the Letterkenny based event that rolls into action on Friday morning, but Jennings reckons any one of a rapid top ten could be first over the ramp on Sunday evening.

Josh Moffett is the top seed and is looking to retain the title he won last June, but he will be chased hard by a stellar line up that includes two time Donegal winners Sam Moffett and Jennings, as well as Matt Edwards, a three time winner of the British Rally Championship.

Callum Devine has won a trio of Irish Tarmac Championship rallies and was leading the event going into a dramatic final day last year, while Meirion Evans won the first round of the Irish Tarmac Championship in Galway earlier this year.

“I think it is one of the best top tens there has been in a long time,” acknowledged Jennings. “It’s hard to see past Callum Devine and the Moffetts, and Matt Edwards will be up there as well, but anyone in the top ten could win the rally. It’s just about staying out of trouble. I wouldn’t bet against anyone in the top ten.”

Jennings had always stated that the Donegal International is his favourite rally, but he has not made the podium in Donegal since 2017 and the last of his two victories came back in 2015.

In 2022 he finished sixth overall in an outdated and under powered Ford Fiesta, but this year he has upgraded to a Fiesta Rally2 and already has a rally win under his belt, claiming the honours on the Tour of the Sperrins last month. While he knows that Donegal will present a much tougher challenge, Jennings is hoping he can be in podium contention at the end of Ireland’s only three day event.

“The ones ahead of me are ahead of me for a reason, but it is three long days and hopefully we should be there or thereabouts,” he said.

“It’s about losing the least amount of time over the three days. M Sport have sent us over new dampers that Adrian Formeaux used on the Jim Clark Rally, and a different engine map as well which might produce a little more power. I don’t think it will make a big difference but any wee change at all could be significant, and hopefully it will help.”

Donegal has become Ireland’s most high profile rally thanks in part to classic stages including Knockalla and Atlantic Drive, which will run again this year, but the Friday has a new look to it.

Organisers have opted for stages around Ballyshannon and Donegal Town, with three stages being run twice on the first day and a service area on the outskirts of Donegal Town. It is a change that has been welcomed by Jennings.

“I think the new stages are very good, and I’m looking forward to them,” he revealed. “They are very challenging and it is going to be good for Fermanagh people, because they can go and watch the rally on their doorstep this year. Instead of having to travel two hours, its only 20 minutes down the road now.”