Former National rally champion Peadar Hurson (Subaru WRC) took a start to finish victory in the 4x4 Exporter Galway Summer Rally, the penultimate round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.
The Warrenpoint driver and his Monaghan co-driver, Damien Connolly, finished the nine-stage event with a winning margin of one minute and 9.1 seconds.
Monaghan’s Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC) took second spot with Donegal’s Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Toyota Starlet) a fraction of a second behind in third.
Outgoing champion Declan Boyle had a short-lived rally, he slid his Ford Fiesta WRC off the road on the opening stage and the impact damaged the right wheel and suspension.
Hurson, who won the national championship in 1992, was impressive from the start and led Alan Ring (Subaru WRC) by 14.6 seconds on the opening stage.
By the completion of the first loop Hurson had carved out a lead of 32.5 seconds with Niall Maguire slotting his Subaru WRC into second followed by Subaru of Steve Wood, who was only 1.8 seconds further behind.
As Hurson continued to punch in fastest stage times Maguire’s second place came under threat from the Toyota Starlet of Declan Gallagher, who actually held the spot after the completion of the sixth stage – 51.8 seconds behind Hurson and 2.8 ahead of Maguire.
Wood spun his Subaru on the fourth stage and slipped to sixth as Ring slotted into fourth spot.
Continuing to dominate, Hurson moved 51.8 seconds ahead by the end of the second loop where Gallagher moved into second.
Hurson went on to secure a fine victory with Maguire second and Gallagher edged out Ring for third after the latter spun on the penultimate stage.
Exporter Galway Summer Rally result
1. P. Hurson/D. Connolly (Subaru WRC) 1h. 04m. 45.2s
2. N. Maguire/E. Sherry (Subaru WRC) 1h. 05m. 54.3s
3. D. Gallagher/R. Moore (Toyota Starlet) 1h. 05m. 55.2s
4. A. Ring/A. Deasy (Subaru WRC) 1h. 05m. 57.4s
5. R. White/J. O'Brien (MG ZR) 1h. 06m. 05.4s
6. E. O'Callaghan/G. Clancy (Ford Escort) 1h. 06m. 21.3s
7. S. Wood/K. Moriarty (Subaru WRC) 1h. 06m. 26.0s
8. D. McKenna/K. Glynn (Ford Fiesta R5) 1h. 06m. 28.7s
9. J. Pringle/M. Byrne (Ford Escort) 1h. 06m. 48.6s
10. C. Armstrong/J. Fulton (Ford Escort) 1h. 07m. 00.2s
Triton Showers National Rally Championship – Provisional positions after Round 7
1. D Kelly 132pts (Champion)
2. N Maguire 107pts
3. R. White 83pts
4. A. Ring 82pts
