Boyle bids to keep title dream alive

Although not exactly threadbare, Declan Boyle’s title aspirations in the Dunlop National Rally Championship hinge on securing maximum points from all three remaining rounds.

The first of those is the Shearwater Carlton Galway Summer Rally in Ballinasloe on Sunday, where the Donegal driver is one of a quintet that can win the Vard Memorial Trophy.

Based on the best six scores from eight events, Boyle and last year’s event winner, Hugh Hunter (Subaru WRC), who is the top seed, cannot afford to drop points. Boyle has won two of the five rounds to date and can, provided he scores maximum points in the remaining three rounds, finish on the 100 points that could be enough to claim the series.