McHALE TAKES SIXTH IN COMPETITIVE KILLARNEY

Posted: May 7, 2002 5:45 PM

The three times Killarney winner had a relatively trouble free event, setting times within the top six for most of the gruelling two-day rally. He started his account on Saturday morning on the classic Moll's Gap stage with fifth fastest time and admitted to being somewhat cautious at the start until he was confident the Michelin-shod Corolla was performing well.

On the ninth and final stage on Saturday, McHale was delayed with a spin but despite this the former five times Tarmac Champion continued to adjust to the left-hand drive set-up on the Corolla. He remained in sixth place behind Derek McGarrity, Eamon Boland, Liam O'Callaghan, Andrew Nesbitt and Daniel Doherty.

McHale and Murphy were fourth fastest on Sunday's opening stage, Moll's Gap, and when Derek McGarrity lost time with a puncture on the 11th stage, Austin was elevated to fifth place. He took a strong third quickest time on the 15th stage but a stage later, McGarrity had retaken fifth.

McHale continued the last three stages with fifth and sixth fastest times to finish sixth overall in a time of 2h 40m 37s behind winner Nesbitt, Boland, O'Callaghan, Doherty and McGarrity.

"It was a tough and very competitive rally", said Austin, "but we were close on times with the leaders despite lack of experience sitting on the left-hand side. We softened the suspension slightly during the day which helped, and I was happier with the car, both with the handling and the left-hand drive position."

McHale has two British Championship gravel-surfaced events in the UK, the Rally of Wales on May 18/19 and the Scottish Rally on June 8/9 before the Toyota Ireland Corolla is altered back to tarmac settings once again for the home-based Donegal International Rally on June 22/23.