MacHale extends Donegal International Rally lead

Although they dropped time on today's opening stage, Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) have extended their advantage through the second leg of the Letterkenny based Topaz Donegal International Rally, that consisted of eight stages.

Sat, 20 Jun, 2009 - 20:07

Overnight, MacHale/Murphy lead Eamonn Boland/Mickey Joe Morrissey (Subaru WRC) by a margin of 40.8 seconds.

Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Skoda Fabia) are 16.9 seconds further behind in third followed by Tim McNulty/David Moynihan (Subaru WRC).

Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Mitsubishi) lead the Group N showroom category whilst Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon (Ford Escort) lead the National class.

MacHale gambled on tyre choice for this morning's opening two stages, selecting a hard slick that would be of greater benefit on the second test, Fanad Head.

Although he lost over ten seconds to Boland on Stage 7 and saw his lead cut to 9.4 seconds, the cancellation of the stage at Fanad Head meant the gamble didn't pay dividends.

However, on the repeat of the two stages, he gained a few seconds and led Boland by 15.9 seconds.

Boland was coming under pressure from Donnelly, who was fastest on Fanad and was only four tenths of a second behind Boland.

McNulty was fourth followed by Devine. Aaron MacHale retired his Ford Focus on the opening stage with mechanical trouble.

Seamus Leonard (Mitsubishi) took the lead in the Group N category as Garry Jennings, the overnight leader lost almost twenty minutes with driveshaft woes, he retired at the stage finish.

Alastair Fisher (Mitsubishi) also retired with clutch trouble leaving Shaun Gallagher as Leonard's main rival.

On the first pair of afternoon stages, MacHale extended his lead to 26.9 seconds. By Stage 12, Boland was back in second - one second ahead of Donnelly, who had transmission problems. He was also fortunate to a high speed slide.

McNulty in fourth struggled with suspension woes.

On the repeat of the stages, MacHale and McNulty traded fastest times with Donnelly finishing the day's final stage with gearbox woes.

The rally concludes with six stages tomorrow.

1. G. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 33m. 09.0s.

2. E. Boland/M.J. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 1h. 33m. 49.8.

3. E. Donnelly/P. Toner (Skoda Fabia WRC) 1h. 34m. 06.7s.

4. T. McNulty/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 34m. 22.0s.

5. S. Devine/R. McDaid (Subaru WRC) 1h. 37m. 29.1s.

6 P.J. McDermott/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 1h. 39m. 13.7s.

7.D. Doherty/M. Doherty (Subaru WRC) 1h. 39m. 35.7s.

8. S. Leonard/J. McCafferty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 39m. 53.8s.

9. S. Gallagher/C. McGinty (Mitsubishi) 1h. 40m. 22.0s.