MacHale leads International Rally of Wales

Irish drivers occupy three of the top four places at the end of the first leg of the International Rally of Wales, the opening round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship.

Tonight, Austin MacHale and co-driver, Brian Murphy in their Sanyo backed Ford Focus have a lead of some six minutes with the inaugural Billy Coleman award winner, Rory Galligan and co-driver, Greg Shinnors holding second spot and leading the Production category.

All the drama happened on today’s fifth and final stage, there, Mark Higgins, who led since the start and was holding a substantial lead of almost two minutes, stopped in the stage, his Ford Focus reportedly grinding to a halt with transmission difficulties.

Soon after, Matthew Wilson (Ford Focus), who was second overall for most of the day, also went out, the young Briton crashed and along with his co-driver was taken to hospital by the medical services.

Galligan inherited second even though he had no sixth gear for most of the day, his team mate, David Higgins also in a Mitsubishi, also had problems.

Jon Ingram in a Ford Focus is third with Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle holding fourth.

Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1h. 05m.50.1s.

Rory Galligan/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Lancer N) 1. 12m. 04.0s.

Jon Ingram/Shaun O'Gorman (Focus WRC) 1h. 13m. 07.4s.

4. Gareth MacHale/Paul Nagle (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 13m. 13.8s.