 So it's time to talk more Donegal International Rally and I'm delighted to say I'm joined by last year's two wheel drive category winner, Kevin Geller. Kevin, good to see you. Good to talk to you. You're in the office and I'm sure you have a very busy office this week given that you're working with so many competitors for the rally this weekend. I were just getting the last few bits wrapped up on that so now we're going on alright we're kind of ahead of ourselves kind of a bit more than usual so it's not too bad on the work side so the car is nearly ready as well so all good. How many crews are you involved with? I would say around 40 engines maybe 40, 45 engines out on it so now a good few. Quite a good few in there so there's a lot of work for you. And how do you manage that over the rally weekend then Kevin do you still be involved with each of those crews and does your workmen be out dealing with them? They do be either a couple of the lads there they'll be there but generally with the engines out of it you know apart from maybe a sensor or something simple you don't have a whole lot to do. Generally they either go right or they don't sometimes so that's sort of it. Yeah and do you be keeping tabs on what's happening elsewhere with the boys engines or when it comes rally weekend that you be fully focused on what yourself and Ryan Merz do? I know look you'd always be watching to a certain extent you know as soon as every rally but you can keep the thing going as well like so now you do be watching or help out where you can like. Well listen you have to defend your two wheel drive title it's a very prestigious title. There has been some very famous names have won it over the years Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Merz were on it for the first time last year. What's it like and in the Dunne Gaul now this time because it's a bit different because you won it last year Kevin and you always had that dream of getting over the line and winning the two wheel drive category. But it's a different dynamic this time around because you're going on as a champion. I will suppose it brings me a wee bit of pressure because I suppose you're starting at the front and everybody's chasing you but then look I suppose the same time we've been there and done that now and we kind of know what we'll have to do. So look I think I think we if we get our game plan right we'll hopefully come out on top some evening. Yeah you know the men that's going to be around you very very well the likes of Kevin Eve's Gary Kiernan's in there. I think a championship leader from Kilkenny Eddie Doherty is coming to do Dunne Gaul. I'm thinking here off the top of my head Damian Tourist Declan Geller all these men very much capable of one in this category Kevin. Oh they are definitely and all those lads that you named have all got our engines in too so you're racing them like so. No look it could go anybody's way like it's hard to tell there at the minute too what the weather is going to do like it's giving mixed forecasts and stuff so we just have to wait until the time comes and see. Have you tweaked your Darian much since last year? It's the same car isn't it Kevin? It is the same car. There'll be a few small changes it's probably maybe in the setup but to leave it better and it would have a bit more power but no other than that it's pretty much the same car. And what sort of conditions is going to favour for the Darian this weekend? I'm looking actually at the one to hear now in the studio in Highland and it's the first bit of rain that we've had for two weeks but they're suggesting there could be quite a bit of it over the weekend. Does it have to be dry for the Darian to be performing at 100% or you like it on the wet day? No I don't mind the wet. I don't mind the wet like we've done I suppose we've done two rallies this year in the Midlands and Circuit of Kerry but the Midlands it actually came a downpour for the last loop of stages and we're actually able to get a good step ahead of everybody in the wet. So look it depends on the stages and whatnot but no I'll be happy enough in the rain to be honest. And obviously the more open stages the more open on the road and done it go on the more free-flowing it'll suit the Darian over the rest of the competitors like the Escort and the Starlet will it? Maybe a bit. The Friday stages mightn't be brilliant Darian stages but they're not bad stages to be fair it's just I suppose the car is a lot wider and you know than say the Escort or that so it doesn't suit it from that point of view but other than that no it should be good stages as well. And obviously you'll be down in your home patch on Saturday I suppose one of the targets is to make sure you get that far first of all before you can lay down a big marker. Yeah and all look you have to be there at the end look and we've had a couple of years where we didn't finish and you know it's definitely you need to be there at the finish wherever you are. Yeah because obviously it's a long event Kevin and as you know in motorsport anything can happen over and one day never mind trying to cover three days at rally. It is a look you need a lot of luck on your side too when you know an event that length and when you're pushing hard all the time it takes very little to make a small mistake or something to go wrong with the car like so you can I need a bit of luck on your side as well. So just finally then Kevin what's it going to take for yourself and Ryan to be back on on the top of the podium again and be the top two wheel drive winners this year. Well look I think we'll sort of try and push as hard as we can on the Friday but I think then calling the Saturday and Sunday stages would be like I suppose everybody's more familiar with them but I think they'll suit us better anyway we went well on them last year so I can't see any reason why it will be any different this year. Are you still as hungry as what you were this time last year to one another on a go? Definitely look I've kind of been putting in a good enough effort there to get everything right and ready because I was thinking about doing calving and a few of them events and I didn't want to then because if you hit the car or reprep it you just never get it totally perfect again if you know what I mean until you do an event or two so I just said prep for it only go all and that's what we're aiming for all year. Okay well we can't wait to see how the battle unfolds with yourself and the Darren and then Mark Twoson and the Starlet and those other two wheel drive cars because it's going to be fascinating but the very best luck to you and indeed to Ryan as well Kevin thanks for joining us we'll talk to you over the weekend. Here's thanks Ocean.