Trio set for epic title battle

THE triple title challenge for the Dunlop National Rally Championship involving Kerry’s Thomas Fitzmaurice, Monaghan’s Niall Maguire and Cork’s Brian O’Mahony enters a key phase on Sunday at the Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally.

The nine-stage Clonmel-based event is round six of the eight round series that has all three drivers in similar S11 Subaru WRC’s. In one of the closest fought campaigns in recent years, any of the trio can take the Vard Memorial Trophy were they to win the remaining three rounds.

Fitzmaurice, with two wins to his credit — Abbeyleix and the Circuit of Kerry — has garnered 72 points; Maguire, a winner in Mayo, has 68 points with O’Mahony, the victor in Carlow, on 56 points. The series is based on the best six scores from eight events.