Boyles triumph again in Galway Summer Rally

DEFENDING Dunlop National Rally champions Declan Boyle/Brian Boyle (Subaru WRC) took a start to finish victory in the Ballinasloe based Carlton Shearwater Hotel Galway Summer Rally, round six of the Dunlop series to maintain their back to back title aspirations at the weekend.

At the end of the nine stage event they were 57.6 seconds in front of the Subaru WRC of Welsh ace Hugh Hunter and his co-driver Andy Marchbank. Clonmel’s Roy White (MG ZR) and his Cork co-driver James O’Brien were third followed by Welsh driver Steve Wood (Subaru WRC) and his Limerick co-driver Keith Moriarty.

All four drivers along with Tyrone’s Paddy McVeigh (Subaru WRC), who failed to finish in Ballinasloe, remain in the title hunt for the Vard Memorial Trophy, the two remaining rounds are the Clare Rally and the Donegal Harvest Rally.

The Group N category was won by Monaghan’s Josh Moffett/John Rowan, while Kerry’s PJ O’Dowd/John Young (Talbot Sunbeam) took the laurels in the Historic section.

Meanwhile, Neil Pierce and co-driver Enda O’Leary (Honda Civic) won the Ger Conway Trophy for the highest placed Galway crew, they finished 13th overall and first in Class 11F.  “Everything went according to plan. I have been a long time waiting to win this award, this is what I wanted,” commented Neil at the finish.

On the opening stage near Aughrim, Boyle set the pace and led Hunter by 4.8 seconds with Roy White (MG ZR) best of the rest in third – 10.2 seconds further behind.  Derek McGarrity retired his Mini WRC due to oil pump failure less than half way through the stage.

Completing the three stage loop with a string of fastest times, Boyle arrived at the Ballinasloe service park with a lead of 28.3 seconds over Hunter, who lost time at the start of S.S. 2 when he had problems with the launch control.  Indeed, the episode seemed to fluster the Welshman and he admitted he took time to regain his composure.

Even though he was stymied by a loss of power that was related to a turbo issue, Wood slotted into third some 24 seconds further behind but just a fraction of a second ahead of the MG ZR of Roy White, who was untroubled.

Josh Moffett in fifth held control of the Group N category – he was some 45 seconds in front of Stephen McCann with Shane Maguire 12 seconds further behind.

Extended report in this week’s Connacht Tribune