WHAT appeared to be a cracking entry for Sunday’s Kilkenny-based Suirway Farm Machinery Raven’s Rock Rally, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, has been decimated by a series of withdrawals.

Austin MacHale has lost his battle to become the British Rally Champion by just 8.7 seconds.

Finland’s, Tapio Laukkanen, on board a Subaru WRC, leads the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally after the conclusion of today’s nine stages.