ITRC: Rally of the Lakes summary

Round 3 - Pirelli Irish Tarmac Rally Championship

Derek McGarrity has won the Ordnance Survey Ireland Rally of the Lakes after a faultless drive which saw him lead the Killarney classic from start to finish. It was the reigning Tarmac Rally Champion's first victory on the event and the dominant performance puts the Glemgormley driver top of the Pirelli Championship points table.

With McGarrity's Subaru clear up front the main battle of the rally was for the runners up spot. Originally a three way fight, Eugene Donnelly's retirement after Stage 12 left the Ford Focus duo of Donie O'Sullivan and Austin McHale to go head to head. Local hero O'Sullivan looked to have the upper hand, but on the penultimate stage he and co-driver Paul Nagle crashed out of the event. With the pressure lifted McHale cruised through the final stage to take second place, 2mins 4secs adrift of McGarrity.

Wexford's Eamonn Boland completed the podium after a strong debut outing in the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC2.

One of the drives of the 2 day international rally was that of Meath driver Tim McNulty. Following a puncture on the opening stage, which dropped him to last place, the Subaru driver stormed through the field setting three fastest stage times on his way to an impressive fifth overall.

In Group N, Kerry's Alan Ring drove a superb rally to take top honours and seventh place overall ahead of Group N rivals James Foley and Aaron McHale.

<pre> Final Rally Result after Stage 19 of 19 (Shanera) 1. Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman Subaru Impreza 2:25:55 2. Austin McHale/Brian Murphy Ford Focus WRC 2:27:59 3. Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey Mitsubishi WRC 2:29:01 4. JJ Fleming/Robbie Ward Subaru Impreza 2:33:14 5. Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor Subaru Impreza 2:34:48 6. John O'Sullivan/Pat Cashman Ford Escort WRC 2:37:20 7. Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors Subaru Impreza 2:37:47 8. James Foley/Lisa Roe Mitsubishi Evo 2:38:20 9. Aaron McHale/Gerard McMonagle Mitsubishi Evo 2:38:41 10. Ollie O'Donovan/Sean Mullaley Subaru Impreza 2:39:18

Major Retirements Donie O'Sullivan Ford Focus Stage 18 (Accident) Pete Doughty/Allan Whittaker Ford Escort WRC Stage 17 Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan Toyota Celica Stage 16 (Puncture) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy Toyota Corolla Stage 14 (Fuel Problem) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely Toyota Corolla Stage 12 (Blown Turbo)

Final Group N Results 1. Alan Ring/Greg Shinnors Subaru Impreza 2h 37min 47sec 2. James Foley/Lisa Roe Mitsubishi EVO 2:38.20 3. Aaron McHale/Gerard McGongle Mitsubishi EVO 2:38.41

Stage Winners SS19 (Shanera) Tim McNulty 8m 34sec SS18 (Caragh Lake) Tim McNulty 6m 01sec SS17 (Beallaghbeama) Austin McHale 9m 29sec SS16 (Molls Gap) Donie O'Sullivan 8m 17sec SS15 (Shanera) Tim McNulty 8min 30sec SS14 (Carragh Lake) Derek McGarrity 5m 56sec SS13 (Beallaghbeama) Austin McHale 9m 21sec SS12 (Molls Gap) Derek McGarrity 8m 12sec SS11 (Lough Guittane) Eugene Donnelly 3m 45sec SS10 (Fuhiny) Eugene Donnelly 8m 32sec SS9 (Lough Allua) Eugene Donnelly 9m 12sec SS8 (Fuhiry) Derek McGarrity 8m 40sec SS7 (Lough Allua) Derek McGarrity 9m 18sec SS6 (Healy Pass) Derek McGarrity 5m 44sec SS5 (Ardgroom) Derek McGarrity 7m 13sec SS4 (Cods Head) Derek McGarrity 8m 53sec SS3 (Healy Pass) Derek McGarrity 5m 41sec SS2 (Killmackillogue) Eugene Donnelly 5m 21sec SS1 (Molls Gap) Derek McGarrity 8m 24sec

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