Higgins wins Galway Rally
Mark Higgins and co-driver, Rory Kennedy fashioned a superb comeback to take a final stage victory in the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship.
They finished 10.7 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of long time leaders Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell with Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey completing a Subaru top three.
Kevin and Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi) won Group N.
McNulty began the day with a 34.3 second lead over Higgins. Out on the day’s opening stage near Ballinasloe, the rally leader gave himself a further 5.1 seconds with a fine performance amidst the snow showers.
However, Higgins trimmed 7.2 seconds off the deficit on S.S. 10 and on Stage 11 he gained a further 13.7 seconds - that brought the margin down to 18.4 seconds with three stages remaining.
McNulty seemed relaxed at the Ballinasloe service halt and reckoned he was a little too cautious over the stages where he lost time to Higgins, who pointed to a misted windscreen that was hampering his efforts.
Eamonn Boland remained a solid third – a minute and 22 seconds behind with Eugene Donnelly moving to fourth when Aaron MacHale endured a time consuming overshoot to slip to fifth.
Kevin Kelleher, in sixth, led Group N as overnight leader in the category, Colm Murphy retired with transmission trouble at the start of Stage 10.
Higgins continued at pace and took further time from McNulty, who led by just 1.5 seconds entering the last stage.
Higgins set his fifth fastest time of the day to claim victory by 10.7 seconds as a gallant McNulty had to be content with second.
Boland broke the gear lever on the final stage, but he still took third. Aaron MacHale’s Ford Focus was fourth and Group N winner, Kevin Kelleher, an impressive fifth.
The top ten was completed by John McGlaughlin, Garry Jennings, Jonathan Greer, Roy White and Brendan Cumiskey.
Former Billy Coleman award winner, Owen Murphy (Mitsubishi) - 74th. after Stage 2, finished eleventh overall.
Today’s principal retirements were Eugene Donnelly, Colm Murphy, Niall Maguire and Kevin Barrett.
1. M. Higgins/R. Kennedy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 43m. 49.5s.
2. T. McNulty/E. O'Donnell (Subaru WRC) 1h. 44m. 00.2s.
3. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 1h. 47m. 26.8s.
4. A. MacHale/K. Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 48m. 31.1s.
5 K. Kelleher/M. Kelleher (Mitsubishi) 1h. 52m. 12.8s.
6. J. McGlaughlin/C. Henderson (Mitsubishi) 1h. 53m. 34.5s
7. G. Jennings/D. Connolly (Mitsubishi) 1h. 53m. 46.8s
8. J. Greer/J. Hart (Mitsubishi) 1h. 53m. 58.5s.
9. R. White/S. McAuley (MG S2000) 1h. 54m. 23.7s.
10. B. ComiskeyP. O’Tooole (Mitsubishi) 1h. 54m. 50.3s.
