McGarrity wins Circuit of Ireland

Derek McGarrity and co-driver, Chris Patterson, in a Subaru WRC have won the Buy & Sell Circuit of Ireland rally in Enniskillen this afternoon.

At the conclusion of the 23 stages, they were one minute and 28 seconds ahead of the Subaru of principal challengers, Andrew Nesbitt/James O’Brien.

McGarrity gave an impressive performance in the face of a strong challenge from Nesbitt.

The decisive moment in Nesbitt’s bid was on Stage 20 when his Subaru developed a power steering problem and he had to complete the final two stages without the aid of power

steering.

Austin MacHale, one minute and 21 seconds adrift, won the battle for third as he edged out the similar Subaru WRC of Eamonn Boland by 1.4 seconds.

Maurice Gass was fifth.

The Group N category was won by Roy White, he held off a challenge from Sean Gallagher, also in a Mitsubishi.

1. D. McGarrity/C. Patterson (Subaru WRC) 2h. 23m.06.4s.

2. A. Nesbitt/J. O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 2h. 24m. 34.9s.

3. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Subaru WRC) 2h. 25m. 55.7s.

4. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 2h. 25m. 57.1s.

5. M. Gass/G. Orr (Subaru WRC) 2h. 27m. 37.7s.

6. R. White/G. Shinnors (Mitsubishi) 2h. 32m. 41.4s.

7. S. Gallagher/R. Kennedy (Mitsubishi) 2h. 33m.05.1s.

8. D. Curran/A. Donnelly (Mitsubishi) 2h. 34m. 48.4s.

9. R. Johnston/R. Bell (Mitsubishi) 2h. 36. 00.1s.

10. G. Jones/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 2h. 37m. 21.8s.