Barrett gears up for Mayo rally defence

Already shaping up to be a good contest between the Subaru S11 quartet of Dunlop regulars Kevin Barrett and Niall Maguire and newcomers, Thomas Fitzmaurice and Brian O’Mahony, the Dunlop National Rally Championship continues on Sunday with the Claremorris based McWilliam Park Hotel/Fleet Transport Magazine Mayo Rally.

The nine stages around Kiltimagh and Balla will be keenly contested and while Fitzmaurice and O’Mahony had the upper hand in Abbeyleix, the situation should be more fluid in Mayo.

Barrett is the top seed as he won last year’s rally when he finished 51 seconds ahead of Maguire. The stages are in the same location and that will give them a slight advantage.