McRae wins Punchestown world rally experience
Colin McRae dominated the Punchestown Rally Experience and at the end of the six timed runs, he had 14 seconds to spare over Irish Tarmac champions, Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Subaru WRC).
Austin McHale/Brian Murphy (Toyota Corolla WRC) were third.
Austin’s son, Aaron driving a Mitsubishi, won the Group N category.
McRae embellished his lead at the half way mark with three fine performances on the 4km circuit.
In front of some 12,000 spectators, he showed why he’s the most successful driver in the history of the World Rally Championship.
Behind the top three, Michael Barrable was fourth from the similar Subaru WRC of Derek McGarrity.
Maurice Gass, who was up to fourth at one point, slipped back to sixth.
Robert Woodside, also in a Subaru, David Greer (Toyota), Peadar Hurson and Eugene Donnelly, in Toyota Celicas, were ninth and tenth.
Throughout the day, James Foley and Adrian McElvaney led Group N but both had to yield to the in-form Aaron McHale.
Cathal O’Reilly was best of the Ford Focus Challenge category.
In the British Formula 3 Championship race at the Rockingham Speedway, Robbie Kerr secured victory to take the championship lead.
He won from Heikki Kovalainen and Dungannon’s, Derek Hayes. Michael Keohane was fifth in the Championship class while Adam Carroll took yet another win in the Scholarship category.
Robbie Coleman notched up his third win in the Formula Ireland series.
At Mondello Park, he finished ahead of Peter Walsh and John O’Hara.
