Hurson takes Galway Rally by storm despite his car stalling

WARRENPOINT’S Peadar Hurson (Ford Fiesta WRC) and his Monaghan co-driver Damien Connolly took a start to finish victory in the Lady Gregory Hotel Galway Summer Rally, the penultimate round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship which was based in Gort.

They finished 31.4 seconds ahead of the Fiesta WRC of Clonmel’s Roy White and Cork co-driver James O’Brien, who took maximum points in the Triton series. Monaghan’s Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) were 38.9 seconds further behind in third.

The top Galway Motor Club crew were Tom Flaherty/Martin Flynn (Ford Escort), they finished ninth overall, third in Class 14 and won the Conroy Cup.

Other local successes included: Paul McHugh (Honda Integra) and his Mayo co-driver Jane Collins, who were third in Class 3; Shay Laheen/Gerry Walsh (Escort) were second in Class 9; David Quigley/Des Sherlock (Honda Civic) third in Class 11F; Tomas J O’Fhlanagain/Keith O’Fhlanagain (Ford Escort) finished third in Class 12. In the Historic section, locals Ray Cunningham/Jared Gill (BMW M3) and Ross Forde/Paul Horan (Ford Escort RS1800) were first and second respectively.

Hurson (Fiesta WRC) and Wright (Fiesta R5) were the only drivers to break the five minute barrier on the opening stage, Lough Cutra, with the former taking an impressive 13.7 second lead. Top seed Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC) was nine tenths of a second further behind in third and 2.3 seconds ahead of outgoing Triton champion Roy White (Fiesta WRC).

An impressive Shane Maguire (Mitsubishi) occupied fifth – 16.6 seconds ahead of his Motorsport Safety Team Group N rival David Guest, who was fortunate to have contested the test stage as his Mitsubishi developed a throttle problem that was sorted overnight.

Cork’s Daniel Cronin, who switched to the Fiesta R5 belonging to his brother Keith, was sixth. The second stage was cancelled due to organisational issues. Hurson and Wright set the best times on the third stage and Hurson arrived at the Gort service park with a lead of 21.2 seconds with Wright in second – 4.9 seconds ahead of Niall Maguire.

Leader Hurson admitted he had a major moment on the third stage when his Fiesta got out of line at high speed while Wright said that he was taking things steady. Maguire in third found it difficult to get the best out of his Subaru due to the greasy nature of part of the stages.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.