Kelly has good expertise of driving Rally2 automobiles earlier than, together with twice in WRC2 two years in the past.
He heads into the Junior WRC finale with a 40-point deficit and 68 factors nonetheless on supply.
Vatanen’s help
Kelly can depend certainly one of rallying’s greatest legends for help, with 1981 world champion Ari Vatanen a great household good friend.
“I assume it appeared actually unusual seeing Ari cheering on this random Irish junior driver,” Kelly laughed. “Like of all individuals, why the hell would he be cheering me on?”
“However Ari rings me after most WRC occasions and he takes nice curiosity in all the pieces I do and he’ll spend time with me on the telephone and ask me questions. He’s clearly executed all these rallies himself earlier than. I do know they’ve been very totally different, however he nonetheless understands what it’s like.
“So he takes nice curiosity, as he does with a lot of individuals – that’s why he’s so preferred throughout the motorsport trade. Even his son Max was an awesome assist to me too. He gained the Juniors right here in 2016 and he talked me by means of a few of the levels on Zoom calls and went by means of them and what I might have improved on from final yr.
“In order that they have been unbelievable and to have them there throughout the weekend and out spectating with my dad… Effectively, truthfully, it was onerous to overlook them on the sidelines!”
