After six stages of the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac
Championship, reigning Irish Tarmac Champion, Derek McGarrity has an 11.6 second lead over Finland’s, Tapio Laukkanen, also in a Subaru WRC with Ford Focus WRC debutant, Austin MacHale in third a further 4.6 seconds behind.
MacHale took the lead on the opening stage where McGarrity reckoned he clipped a rock.
He went into a narrow lead on the second test where Laukkanen was the fastest through the slippy stage.
MacHale fluffed the start of stage four and subsequent brake problems cost him time.
Meanwhile, McGarrity had a half spin on the fifth stage.
At the second service halt in Ballinasloe he led Laukkanen and MacHale while Eugene Donnelly on his debut outing in his Toyota Corolla WRC settled into fourth a mere 1.2 seconds behind MacHale.
Elsewhere, Eamonn Boland and Tim NcNulty, both in Subaru WRC’s, were next from the Ford Focus of Donie O’Sullivan.
In Group N, Roy White (Mitsubishi) set the pace from James Foley and Aaron MacHale, also in Mitsubishi’s.
White has a 20 second lead in the category.
Non-starters included Peadar Hurson and Michael Barrable.