Gronholm wins Galway International Rally

Marcus Gronholm’s participation in the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Global Group Irish Tarmac Championship, was to gain experience of the Irish roads ahead of next November’s Rally Ireland.

There’s no doubt he gained am experience he’s unlikely to forget, as for all but two of the 15 special stages Irish tarmac champion Eugene Donnelly gave him a tough battle.

The Derry driver set out today with a lead of 5.4 seconds, a margin that was reduced to 2.7 seconds after the opening stage.

Donnelly’s response was quick and effective. Two stages later, he was 8.8 seconds ahead of the former double world champion.

Gareth MacHale, out for the first time in his 2006-specification left-hand-drive Ford Focus WRC was a solid third. Eamonn Boland faced a challenge from British Rally champion Mark Higgins (Subaru WRC).

The M-Sport team made adjustments to the ride height of Gronholm’s Ford Focus and it had a telling effect. On stage 14 he slashed Donnelly’s advantage to 1.1 seconds.

Meanwhile, the launch control of Donnelly’s Subaru seemed to give trouble and it cost him a few seconds. He also lost third gear.

A fine drive ended on the penultimate stage when he crashed out and Gronholm was able to canter home ahead of MacHale and Higgins, who took third from Boland. Kevin Lynch (Ford Focus) and Stephen Murphy (Subaru WRC) completed the top six.

The remaining top-10 places went to Patrick Elliott (Subaru) and the Ford Focus WRCs of Michael Barrable, Austin MacHale and Ray Breen.

James Foley in a Mitsubishi won Group N from Kevin O’Donoghue and Kevin Kelleher, also in Mitsubishis.

Roy White and Garry Jennings, second and third overnight, both retired today, which promoted Kelleher into second. However, a blown turbo cost him time and he had to be content with third.

Brian Brogan, driving a Ford Escort, won the National category.

1. Marcus Gronholm (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 57m. 14.4s.

2. Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 00m. 06.4s.

3. Mark Higgins (Subaru WRC) 2h. 00m. 56.5s.

4. Eamonn Boland (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 01m. 09.6s.

5. Kevin Lynch (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 02m. 26.4s.

6. Stephen Murphy (Subaru WRC) 2h. 02m. 37.8s.

7. Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC) 2h. 03m. 25.3s.

8. M. Barrable (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 03m. 43.5s.

9. A. MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 03m. 58.9s.

10. Ray Breen (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 05m. 08.1s.