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| MacHale claims Galway Rally |
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08-Feb-10 @ 11:32 AM |
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Gareth MacHale created history when he emulated his father Austin's success in winning the Safety Direct Galway International Rally, the first round of the Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC), writes RTÉ's John Kenny.
MacHale, driving a Ford Focus, had 1:43 to spare over the impressive teenager Craig Breen, who brought home the Ford Fiesta 2000 in second place on its debut on the ITRC.
Breen, the current Motorsport Ireland Young Rally Driver of the Year, took the runners up spot ahead of the Focus of Aaron MacHale, Gareth's brother, who took the third step on the victory podium.
Gareth had inherited the lead early on Saturday morning, when Keith Cronin, the British Rally Champion, who had lead after stage one, went off on Stage two.
His Mitsubishi ended up in a ditch as he avoided spectators, who, bizarrely, were standing in a slip road.
Cronin, who had locked his brakes, had no option but to take evasive action, and crashed out.
Having taken the lead, McHale then swapped places with McNulty for most of Saturday, before McNulty clipped a rock and lost time with a puncture, handing the lead to the young Dubliner.
Breen managed to get ahead of McNulty, and indeed posted some fastest stage times, a fine achievement by the Fiesta up against the more powerful world rally cars.
McNulty's rally ended on stage 13, when the gearbox of his Impreza failed, handing third place to Fisher, who had a real battle to secure third ahead of the Focus of Aaron MacHale.
Up ahead, Gareth MacHale went on to win, his third ever IRTC victory.
Kevin Barrett and Alan Ring completed the top six, while Dubliner Robert Barrable won the Citroen C2 R2 category.
News item by RTE.ie |
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