McFall and McShea take championship lead after Galway wins

Admin
10 minutes ago
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McFall claims Class 2 victory after close battles

Ben McFall and Mark McGeehan grabbed the Class 2 victory after a masterful drive on what proved to be a challenging Galway Summer Rally.

It was Jack Byrne who set the early pace in the 16-car class on Galway’s opening stage, holding a 1.6-second advantage over Danny Brady. Oran England and McFall were both within 4.4 seconds of the lead as the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Series (MIJRS) picked up even more momentum.

England moved into a 2.1-second lead over Brady on stage two after Byrne slipped to seventh in the ultra-competitive class while Cork Forest Rally winner Jack Harris climbed to third with the second-fastest time on the test.

Unfortunately for Harris, his rally hopes ended on the next Fohenagh test when a mechanical failure sent his Ford Fiesta Rally4 into a chicane. The retirement cost the Donegal driver vital points with just two rounds remaining.

England retained the lead on stage three but lost time to both Brady and McFall after losing his front bumper when he collided with a ditch. It could have been much worse for the Peugeot 208 Rally4 driver as his quick reactions under braking ensured he avoided the chicane bales.

Brady was now just 1.4 seconds behind, with McFall only another 2.5 seconds further back.

Robert Cronin dropped out of contention on stage three before returning under super-rally regulations for the final loop.

A second fastest-time of the day for McFall on stage five propelled him into the Class 2 lead, 0.4 seconds clear of England and co-driver Darragh Mullen.

He maintained his stage-winning streak over the remaining two tests to claim a 6.2-second victory that puts him four points clear at the top of the MIJRS Class 2 standings. It was also a day to remember for his co-driver McGeehan, tasting success on his 100th rally start.

England and Brady continued to battle for second with the former securing the runner-up spot by 4.6 seconds.

Fourth went to Ross Ryan and James Deane, who showed strong pace after recording their first Rally4 stage win on Galway’s fourth test, Lurgan Little. Ryan cut the gap to Brady from 12.1 seconds after stage three to 5.7 seconds by the end of the day and will be pleased with his development aboard the Ford Fiesta Rally4.

Early leader Byrne rounded out the top five, securing crucial points that put him second in the MIJRS standings.

Galway Summer Rally MIJRS Class 2 top five:

1 McFall/McGeehan (Ford Fiesta Rally4) 42:22.9s

2 England/Mullen (Peugeot 208 Rally4) +6.2

3 Brady/Sheridan (208 Rally4) +10.8

4 Ryan/Deane (Fiesta Rally4) +16.5

5 Byrne/Hayes (208 Rally4) +43.8

MIJRS Class 2 standings after round 6/8:

1 McFall - 94

2 Byrne - 90

3 Ryan - 89

4 England - 89

5 Harris - 83

McShea's dramatic recovery secures Class 2A victory

James McShea and Liam Callaghan claimed the Class 2A victory on the Galway Summer Rally after a perfect recovery drive from an early overshoot. It was the duo’s maiden tarmac win and came in a strong 17-car field.

Stage one was red-flagged for the Class 2A contenders. Despite losing five seconds to his MIJRS rival, Oisin McShane, on the next Rayhill test, McShea was happy with his time - knowing that an overshoot mid-stage cost him around 15 seconds.

McShea’s pace was evident on stage three, Fogenagh, as the 16-year-old claimed a 14-second win over Cork Forest Rally winner McShane.

The stage was set for another classic McShea-McShane ding-dong battle but unfortunately an off for the latter on stage four would force McShane out of the rally.

Fastest times on the remaining four stages ensured McShea claimed a dominant one-minute, 38.7-second victory - his finest drive on asphalt to-date.

“We managed to set some strong times against the Rally4s,” remarked McShea, “including being just nine seconds off the quickest Rally4 on one stage."

“We were also quickest in Class 2A on every stage apart from stage two, so overall I am really happy and feel much more confident now on asphalt.”

David Travers and Michael Ward were McShea’s nearest challengers and steadily built a 28-second advantage over third-placed Tommy Furlong and Patrick O’Sullivan.