Daniel McKenna got his career as the Pirelli Star Driver for 2014 off to the perfect start with a clear victory in the two-wheel-drive section of last weekend’s Circuit of Ireland Rally, round four of the FIA European Rally Championship.
Irishman McKenna, 26, had only driven his Citroen DS3 R3T – complete with its striking Pirelli livery – on asphalt for the first time on the Monday before the Belfast-based event. But he belied his lack of experience by setting the pace in the ERC 2WD Championship section on nine stages and claiming sixth overall.
McKenna was using Pirelli’s new 17-inch World Rally Championship-specification RK5 and RK7 tyres for the first time and praised their durability and performance.
“The tyres were brilliant, no problems at all,” said McKenna. “The car set-up from DGM was perfect and my co-driver, Arthur Kierans, did a great job. Everything hooked up nicely in the car on the first stage and we could carry on from there. I never thought I’d produce the pace I did but there was actually more speed to come and hopefully we can be strong contenders for the British championship now.”
There was more Pirelli success on the Circuit of Ireland with French driver Robert Consani (Peugeot 207 S2000) finishing a season-best fourth overall, one place ahead of Lancashire’s Neil Simpson in his ex-factory Skoda Fabia S2000. Meanwhile, Irishman Josh Moffett won the ERC Production Car Cup category in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Unfortunately, Pirelli-backed British champion Jukka Korhonen crashed out of the event while battling McKenna for the ERC 2WD category lead.
McKenna’s BRC campaign as the Pirelli Star Driver begins on the Pirelli Carlisle RB Foundation Rally from May 3-4.
©2014 Pirelli UK Media Office | London
