Donnelly leads Galway Summer Rally

Dunlop National Rally Championship contender, Eugene Donnelly leads the Galway Summer Rally in his Subaru at the end of the opening loop of three stages.

There was drama on the opening stage as pre-event championship leader, Michael Barrable, crashed his Subaru out of the rally.

Harrison posted the fastest time and was 13 seconds ahead of Donnelly, who was actually off the road on two separate occasions.

Three drivers shared third place - Niall Maguire and Patrick Elliott in Subaru WRC’s and the Escort WRC of Davy Armstrong.

Harrison lost the lead on SS3 when his Subaru punctured and he dropped over two minutes.

Donnelly arrived into the first service halt at Portumna with a 31 second lead over Maguire with

Elliott claming third – six seconds in arrears.

Adrian McElvaney was fifth and local Galway driver John Spain was sixth in his Toyota Celica.

The top 10 also featured another Galway driver, JJ Fleming (Subaru WRC), along with Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth), Sean Lyons (Escort) and Anthony O’Halloran (Opel manta).

1. E. Donnelly (Subaru WRC 23m. 27s.

2. N. Maguire (Subaru WRC) 23m. 58s.

3. P. Elliott (Subaru WRC) 24m. 04s.

4. A. McElvaney (Subaru WRC) 24m. 06s.

5. J. Spain (Toyota Celica) 24m. 14s.

6. D. Armstrong (Escort WRC) 24m. 18s.