MacHale keeping focus for Cork 20

ALTHOUGH Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) leads the Citroen Irish Tarmac Championship and is the best placed of four drivers to win the title, he is also the driver under most pressure ahead of this weekend’s final round, the Cork ‘20’ International Rally.

The Dubliner, who won in Cork last year, requires a top three championship finish to secure his inaugural Tarmac title but insists he will not play the percentage game. “I want to win the rally, to be fastest on the stages. In that way, you are more alert. There is pressure on us (himself and co-driver, Brian Murphy), the championship is ours to lose.”

The trio in his championship slipstream include his own brother, Aaron, Alastair Fisher and Craig Breen. With the event featuring classic tests such as Mullaghanish, Mushera, Kilnamartyra, Fuhiry and Lough Allua, MacHale added: “These are great stages and I am really looking forward to them.”