McNulty dominates Galway Rally

A difficult day for both organisers and competitors of the safety First Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship where Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru) lead at the overnight halt.

Sat, 02 Feb, 2008 - 18:08

At the end of day one of the Safety First Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship, Tim McNulty in a Subaru leads the Subaru of Mark Higgins by 34.3 seconds with Eamonn Boland, also in a Subaru in third place - 19.7 seconds further adrift.

Weather conditions forced the cancellation of S.S. 3, rather aptly named the 'Black Road', the 20 km stage south of Loughrea was covered with snow and ice for several kilometres and was duly deemed unsafe.

Tim McNulty in his Pierse backed Subaru took a grip on proceedings. He was fastest through the opening stage and had a good run through the second stage to lead Eamonn Boland’s Subaru by some seven seconds.

Andreas Mikkelsen slotted his Ford Focus into third - some 12 seconds further behind and just two seconds ahead of the Group N Mitsubishi of Colm Murphy, who set a sensational pace to hold fourth.

Top seed, Gareth MacHale lost over eight minutes on the first stage with steering trouble and he retired at the stage finish.

Derek McGarrity didn’t even get that far, in fact he wasn’t allowed to start as his rally documentation wasn’t complete.

Mark Higgins lost time when his Subaru punctured on Stage 1 as Eugene Donnelly struggled to come to grips with both the conditions and his new Subaru.

McNulty dominated stage 4, beat the bogey on Stage 5 but then lost time when he caught Donnelly on Stage 6.

Stephen Murphy (Subaru WRC) crashed when stones fell onto the road from a fence and he couldn't take evasive action on the narrow stage

At the final service halt in Athenry, he led an untroubled Boland by 26 seconds with Higgins, fastest on Stage 6, up into third - 23.1 seconds behind.

Aaron MacHale’s Ford Focus has moved into fourth after Mikkelsen retired with steering difficulties while

Group N exponents and Mitsubsuihi pair, Colm Murphy and Kevin Kelleher were fifth and sixth respectively with Donnelly in an unaccustomed seventh place.

On the penultimate stage, McNulty added a further 16.7 seconds to stretch his lead to 42.7 seconds.

Colm Murphy, in a Mitsubishi, leads Group N.

Overnight Top 10:

1. Tim McNulty/Eugene O'Donnell (Subaru Impreza WRC) 51m. 19.5s.

2. Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza WRC) 51m. 53.8s.

3. Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 52m. 13.5s.

4. Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) 53m. 18.3s.

5. Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Subaru Impreza WRC) 53m. 40.0s.

6. Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 53m. 42.5s.

7. Kevin Kelleher/Martin Kelleher (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 54m. 21.9s.

8. Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54m. 31.1s.

9. PJ McDermott/Sean Harris (Subaru Impreza WRC) 54m. 40.1s.