Motorsport: Galligan sets early pace in Peugeot 106
In the Banbury Rally in Oxford, Irish drivers, Gary Jennings and Rory Galligan are in contention for overall victory in the Peugeot Super 106 Cup.
Galligan is the early pacesetter. On the first stage, he was fastest from Ryan Champion, who is the only other driver apart from the Irish duo, who can win the series, Jennings, from Ballinamallard, was a few seconds off the pace.
On the second stage, Galligan opened up a 3.1 second lead over Jennings with Champion another 1.6 seconds in arrears.
Meanwhile, in the Formula Rally category after three stages, Justin Dale (Peugeot) has a 5.5-second lead over Martin Rowe (Ford). Mark Higgins and his Irish co-driver, Michael Gibson (VW Polo) are fourth - 10. 4 seconds behind the leader. Dubliner, Max McKillen is seventh.
The British Formula Renault Winter series begins at the Rockingham Speedway today. Two Irish drivers, teenager, Michael Devaney and Leinster trophy winner, John O'Hara, are amongst the capacity entry.
Qualification for today's race has concluded with Robert Bell topping the time sheets on a time of 1 minute 22.450 seconds. O'Hara was best of the Irish duo, he will start this afternoon's race on the sixth row of the grid. His best lap time in this morning's qualifying was 1 minute 24.031 seconds. Devaney, racing with the Irish owned Cliff Dempsey Racing team, is on the tenth row.
The latest round of the Hewison Autotest series takes place at Mondello Park this afternoon.
