McGarrity holding off Nesbitt challenge

Entering the final two stages of the Enniskillen-based Buy & Sell Circuit of Ireland Rally, Derek McGarrity and co-driver, Chris Patterson lead challengers, Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien by 57.6 seconds.

McGarrity looks to have survived the onslaught from Nesbitt, who narrowed the deficit to 35 seconds on Stage 20 of the 23-stage event.

Then on Stage 21, Nesbitt’s Subaru had a power steering pump problem and he dropped considerable time as McGarrity blasted his way through the stage.

In the race for third, Eamonn Boland leads but the similar Subaru WRC of Austin MacHale, which suffered a damaged steering on Stage 19, is only some 12 seconds behind.

Maurice Gass completes a Subaru World Rally Car top five.

Meanwhile, in the quest for Group N honours, Roy White continues to lead from Sean Gallagher, also in a Mitsubishi, they are sixth and seventh in general classification.

1. McGarrity 2h. 10m. 44s.

2. Nesbitt 2h. 11m. 41.6s.

3. Boland 2h. 13m. 21s.

4. MacHale 2h. 13m. 33.2s.

5. Gass 2h. 14m. 42.8s.

6. White 2h. 19m. 34.4s.

7. Gallagher 2h. 20m. 01.3s.