Donagh Kelly was back in the grove when he made history by winning the 2016 West Cork Rally.

The Donegal driver, who had Conor Foley on the notes this year led from the start to record an impressive victory in his Ford Focus WRC.

Kelly, the current holder of both the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac title and the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, added to his long list of achievements by becoming the first driver ever to win the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally three years in a row.

At the finish in Clonakilty on Sunday evening, the winners had 86 seconds to spare over Keith Cronin, who has three British Rally titles to his credit. Cronin increased his lead in the Tarmac series by again scoring maximum points, as Kelly's Ford Focus is no longer eligible for this year's new regulations.

Garry Jennings finished third, following a last minute change of co-driver from Rory Kennedy to David Moynihan, with the Moffett brothers from Monaghan fighting a ferocious duel all weekend to finish just three seconds apart in fourth and fifth positions, Sam beating younger sibling Josh.

The National Rally was won by Brian Brogan and Damien McGettigan in their Ford Escort after an event long battle with Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy in a Fiesta R5+.  The Historic Rally was won by Wyn Hughes and David Davies in an Escort Mk2 while Fergus Hurley and Eric Deane won the Junior Rally also in an Escort Mk2.

Once again the event was great success with 90 of the 140 main field starters eventually classified as finishers after a very tough rally.