Second rules controversy at Galway rally
For the second year in succession the implementation of rally rules caused a stir.
Having led the rally out on the stages on Saturday, Donegal cousins Declan and Brian Boyle (Subaru WRC) were penalised late on Saturday evening and lost the lead and the opportunity of back-to-back wins in the west of Ireland. The incident occurred at the start of the fourth stage prior to which Boyle led eventual winner Donagh Kelly by 8.9 seconds. Boyle arrived at the stage arrival control (for S.S. 4) on time and as with previous stages, went to the stage start albeit well in advance of his actual due start time. When Boyle arrived at the start control the stage was running late according to his time card. Boyle turned off the engine as he detected a smell of fuel — it transpired that an injector had come loose. As his co-driver and cousin Brian attended to the issue, a rally official filled in his time card. In the meantime, five cars passed Boyle, who was then in a queue situation. Ironically, when Boyle completed the stage he beat the bogey time. Later the rally organisers imposed a five-minute penalty. This was subsequently reduced to three when it was discovered that the organisers actually held Boyle for two minutes after the preceding car traversed the stage in order that the Donegal driver would not catch the car in front. The three-minute penalty saw him start the final leg in fifth place. The penalty that should have been applied is Article 9.1.7. of Appendix 29 — “Delay at checking in or leaving any timed point, when instructed to do so by an Official” this carries a one minute penalty, yet, Boyle was penalised three.
