McGarrity comfortable at halfway stage

Midway through today’s second leg of the Buy & Sell Circuit of Ireland Rally, Derek McGarrity and co-driver, Chris Patterson have a comfortable lead from Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien.

On the first two stages this morning, overnight leader, Derek McGarrity, in a Subaru WRC, extended his leading margin as his rivals encountered trouble.

Eugene Donnelly, who held second overnight, incurred a 30 second penalty when he was two minutes late at the first control when his Subaru failed to start.

Out on the stages, Austin MacHale burst a brake pipe in his Subaru while defending champion, Andrew Nesbitt also lost time with a blown turbo on special stage nine.

On the opening stage today, Nesbitt was quickly up to second from fifth his overnight. The MacHale and Nesbitt problems elevated Eamonn Boland into second.

At the first service, the top six were: McGarrity, Boland +57 seconds; Nesbitt +1m. 12s; Donnelly +1m.

15s; MacHale +1m. 27s and Gass +2m. 02s.

Out on the repeat of the two stages, McGarrity was the dominant force and after ten stages, he is in total command – one minute and 15.4 seconds ahead of Nesbitt with Boland a further 16.3 seconds in arrears.

Roy White continues to lead Group N with Sean Gallagher, also in a Mitsubishi, moving into second

place.

1. McGarrity 1h. 10m. 18.4s.

2. Nesbitt 1h. 11m. 33.8s.

3. Boland 1h. 11m. 50.1s.

4. MacHale 1h. 12m. 17.1s.

5. Gass 1h. 13m. 05.4s.

6. McNulty 1h. 13m. 28s.

7. White 1h. 15m. 10.7s.

8. Gallagher 1h. 15m. 48.9s.