THIRD FOR McHALE IN GALWAY'S FINAL TARMAC ROUND

Posted: November 11, 2002 10:02 AM

With Newbridge's Brian Murphy co-driving, McHale led the field away, the six times Galway winner showing renewed form, his Toyota Finance-supported Corolla WRC having undergone improved suspension set-up. However, conditions throughout the revised Saturday event were challenging and treacherous with the final four stages of the long one-day rally due to be run in darkness.

After the first stage early on Saturday morning, Peadar Hurson had the early advantage, McHale taking second fastest time six seconds behind. However on the second stage, the Corolla developed a water injection problem.

The third stage was cancelled but by the fourth stage, Eugene Donnelly had taken McHale for second, and although the five times Tarmac Champion's water injection problem was fixed, he was now disturbed to find his intercom was cutting out intermittently in the fifth stage. However, he had a better time on stage six, just 5s down on the flying Donnelly who had demoted Hurson for the lead when the latter slid off the road.

On stage seven, Horse Leap, Donnelly's Subaru stopped the clock on 6.59s with McHale just five seconds behind, and on the following run Austin was third fastest, a second behind Hurson and 10s behind Donnelly. As they started the ninth stage, conditions had not improved whatsoever and the drivers were faced with poor visibility in the twilight zone, as well as mist and rain, which had descended over the moorland area.

If at all possible, the situation worsened as they finished the 10th stage and the organising Galway Motor Club decided to cancel stages 11 and 12 due to the difficulties in the dark with heavy rain and thickening fog. Donnelly was declared the winner from Hurson, with McHale pleased with his third place in a time of 1hr 9m 02s at the end of a tough day on the road.

McHale commented: "We had a slight response problem in the morning with the water injection system and dropped a bit of time but the conditions were atrocious throughout. There was torrential rain all day and a lot of standing water on the stages, some of it several inches deep. Three stages were cancelled due to the conditions, but I'm very happy with the result and the car is fine.

"The car's gone back to be prepared for the Rally GB and the team is going to the UK on Wednesday. It's a World Championship event and I'm looking forward to doing it as the Corolla is still homologated, and this could be the last time I attempt it", concluded Austin.