McNulty faces stiff opposition

Irish Tarmac Rally champion Tim McNulty welcomes the challenge of Sunday’s Safety Direct Galway International Rally, the opening round of the series.

The Meath driver took his maiden title last year with victories in Galway, Donegal, Ulster and sealed it with second place on the Cork 20. In Galway, he had a runaway victory, finishing over four minutes ahead of the opposition. However, this time round, the calibre of opposition has certainly been rocketed up a few gears by the presence of three former Irish Tarmac champions. Gareth MacHale, who won the 2010 series, former five-time champion Eugene Donnelly and Derek McGarrity, a double champion, makes the rally a much better proposition for competitors and fans.

With fears of a small entry, the organisers reduced the event to a one-day rally, which brought a reduction in organising costs and entry fee. The response from competitors took the Galway Motor Club by surprise and the number of entries exceeded expectations. One other major factor was the offer of 50% bonus points for the ITC competitors. Any competitor contemplating the series just couldn’t afford to skip the Galway International. The Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) are also offering 50% bonus points for the Cork 20, rescheduled for October 6-7. Success in both rallies will yield 48 points, yet, the winner of the Donegal International Rally (a three-day event) will only receive 16 points.