1 Ciaran Walsh/Aidan Gannon Honda Civic 54:53.5
2 John Kelly/Christopher O'Mahony Peugeot 106 GTi 55:03.2
3 Darren Young/Kenneth Quirke Honda Civic 57:49.9
4 Justin Ryan/Andy Walsh Honda Civic Vtec 1:04:10.8

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 15 Final Stage
1ST (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.09.47.6
2nd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 2.14.03.7
3rd (4) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 2.15.06.5
4th (11) Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Clio) 2.19.24.5
5th (9) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 2.20.21.1
6th (10) Ross Forde/Robbie Ward (Lancer N) 2.23.42.5
NATIONAL
1st (8) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 2.20.23.9
2nd (21) Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Sunbeam) 2.24.48.0
3rd (20) Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary (Civic) 2.28.24.3
4th (25) Jonathan Folan/Ger Myers (Impreza) 2.32.36.0
5th (34) Alan Fair/Jarlath Conneely (Civic) 2.32.47.0
6th (47) Patrick & Gerard Divilly (Corolla) 2.36.28.0

Tim McNulty & Paul Kiely in their Impreza WRC have scored a very impressive win here on this Safety Direct Galway International Rally. Tim & Paul overcame some atrociously wet roads on their way to victory. They now lead the Tarmac Championship. McNulty had all sorts of bad luck last season when he led many of the Tarmac rounds but success eluded him. His last Tarmac series victory was the 2009 Killarney Rally of the Lakes. Perhaps today-s win will signal the start of a successful run. Tim said at the finish. “This win has been a lot time coming. I have led the rally several times and I’m delighted now to get my hands on the trophy”. For 43 year old Tim this is his first Galway win while for co-driver Paul Kiely this is his 4th Galway Int. victory. Kevin Barrett & Sean Mullally drove a very controlled rally in their Impreza WRC to take 2nd place. Alan Ring & Adrian Deasy were 3rd in their GpN Lancer and bonus points will mean they are 2nd in the Tarmac series.

Tommy Doyle & Liam Moynihan overcame severe de-misting problems as well as power steering failure to take 4th o/a and best in class 3. Sam Moffett had last minute worries about the transfer gear box on his Lancer but kept it all together to finish 5th with Ross Forde rounding off the top 6 in his similar Lancer. David Quigley & Des Sherlock in the All Weather Covers Civic finished 8th and won Cl.1. Tom White took 7th in his Lancer.

Ed Murphy/John McCarthy in their Mk1 Escort were able to ease back through the final stages to win the Historic Rally by 3m from Seamus Burke/Martin Brady. Seamus had some starter motor problems with his car over the final stages. James Power/Declan Kelly who were also in an Escort, but with a Pinto engine, finished 3rd while Alan Courtney/Paul Soutar overcame severe de-misting problems to take 4t in their Porsche 928

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 12
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.46.27.8
2nd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.50.08.6
3rd (4) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 1.50.50.2
4th (11) Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Clio) 1.54.13.5
5th (9) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 1.54.37.3
6th (10) Ross Forde/Robbie Ward (Lancer N) 1.58.28.0
NATIONAL
1st (8) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 1.54.48.0
2nd (21) Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Sunbeam) 1.58.49.6
3rd (18) Eamonn Dervan/Keith Gardiner (Escort)# 2.00.56.5
4th (20) Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary (Civic) 2.02.01.1
5th (34) Alan Fair/Jarlath Conneely (Civic) 2.05.40.5
6th (25) Jonathan Folan/Ger Myers (Impreza) 2.05.46.6

With just 3 stages to go Tim McNulty’s 3m40s lead over Kevin Barrett would indicate that Tim is on course for victory. Of course in rallying anything can happen and Tim said here at service. “It is very difficult to keep the concentration but we have been taking it nice and steady, no dramas. The last 2 stages were a bit drier.” Kevin Barrett told us. “I’m happy enough, everything is going well. The winter tyres worked very well though the opening stage today but as the flooding subsided we didn’t have the same advantage”. Alan Ring said he had a very big moment on a flood in stage 12, otherwise he is concentrating on keeping a good pace and also a bit of pressure on Kevin Barrett.

Tommy Doyle is looking fairly secure in 4th now and his Clio windscreen isn’t quite as misted up now that the rain has stopped. Tommy has the services of Edwin Abring from Holland this weekend keeping an eye on the Clio’s suspension. Edwin has also supplied the ECU for the car. Sam Moffett in 5th place reported. “A ball of smoke from under the bonnet”. This was after stage 12 and he reckons the differential pump may have sprung a leak. Ross Forde rounds off the top 6 and said “The car is just perfect now”.

In the National Rally Tom Flaherty has preserved his lead over this morning’s stages and says now it is a matter of coasting through to the finish. 2nd placed Geoffrey Dolan had the gear stick break in his Sunbeam and had to jury rig a screwdriver to get the gears.

In the History Rally Ed Murphy holds a strong lead from Seamus Burke with James Power 3rd. All 3 are in Escorts. Vincente Frontinan retired his Historic Mini when he came around a corner to find that a bale had been pulled out. He swerved around it but clipped a tree. It was disappointing for Vincente who travelled from the USA to do the rally. Kieran Walsh in his Civic led the Juniors after 2 stages this morning. John Kelly (Peugeot) was 2nd.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 9 End Day 1
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 1.22.12.3
2nd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 1.25.36.4
3rd (4) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 1.26.09.1
4th (11) Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Clio) 1.28.43.2
5th (9) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 1.28.49.8
6th (10) Ross Forde/Robbie Ward (Lancer N) 1.32.38.8
NATIONAL
1st (8) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 1.28.31.3
2nd (12) Pat Kelly/Dean Raferty (Impreza) 1.30.01.9
3rd (21) Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Sunbeam) 1.32.20.9
4th (18) Eamonn Dervan/Keith Gardiner (Escort)# 1.33.49.6
5th (20) Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary (Civic) 1.34.39.5
6th (34) Alan Fair/Jarlath Conneely (Civic) 1.37.38.4

Tim McNulty & Paul Kiely brought their Subaru in to Parc Ferme at Oranmore with a massive overnight lead of 3m.24s on Kevin Barrett & Sean Mullally also in a Impreza WRC. Alan Ring & Adrian Deasy are 3rd, just 32s behind Kevin Barrett. McNulty commented. “That 3rd loop of stages was even wetter again, a lot of floods and we had a bit of aquaplaning. For tomorrow I will try and consolidate the lead, keep the momentum and the concentration going”. Kevin Barrett said. “I was concentrating on just getting the car to the finish over the last couple of stages. I was trying a new type of Pirelli winter tyre to counteract the flooded roads. It worked well but I have never used them before and it took a while to get the confidence in them”. Alan Ring said. “The mechanics changed the differential in the Lancer and all is well. I am trying to narrow the gap a little to Kevin and keep the pressure on”.
? Tommy Doyle in 4th place has had power steering problems with his Clio and is still tortured with the misting up screen. Sam Moffett’s Lancer has had a split exhaust for the last few stages and he had to run with the anti lag off but still set very good times. Ross Forde’s Lancer received a new ECU that stopped the engine racing but also reduced the power. Ross was fortunate to stay in 6th having lost 4m in stage 9 when the Lancer suffered a puncture. David Quigley & Des Sherlock in the All Weather Covers Civic set consistently good times throughout the afternoon to come into 7th while Tom White dropped quite a few seconds with a couple of spins which rather detracted from some good times. Liam Egan got 3 clean stages towards the day’s end and has closed to within 19s of Martin Donnelly who also made the trip from the USA for this Galway Rally.

In the National Rally Tom Flaherty has driven brilliantly through the floods in his Mk2 Escort to hold a 1m.30s advantage over Pat Kelly’s Subaru. Geoffrey Dolan reported a river running down the road in stage 9 but kept his Sunbeam on course to hold 3rd place. In the Historic rally Ed Murphy has had a superb run in his Mk1 Escort to hold a 3m30s lead over Seamus Burke with James Power 3rd also in an Escort. James Sutherland had been up to 2nd but his Porsche skidded into a field at a junction. Frank Cunningham retired his Escort following a electrical problem. More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 3 Taiquin
1st (1) Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 27.35.6
2nd (2) Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally (Impreza WRC) 28.57.9
3rd (4) Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer N) 29.17.4
4th (11) Tommy Doyle/Liam Moynihan (Clio) 29.46.1
5th (10) Ross Forde/Robbie Ward (Lancer N) 30.00.9
6th (9) Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer N) 30.01.5
NATIONAL
1st (8) Tom Flatherty/Patrick Curley (Escort 29.24.3
2nd (19) Richard Whelan/Sarah Whelan (Civic) 30.20.8
3rd (12) Pat Kelly/Dean Raferty (Impreza) 30.24.9
4th (21) Geoffrey Dolan/Conor Murphy (Sunbeam) 31.00.8
5th (20) Neil Pierce/Enda O'Leary (Civic) 32.01.6

Over the opening 3 stages of this Safety Direct Galway Rally Subaru crew Tim McNulty & Paul Kiely have built up a substantial lead over the similar Impreza pairing of Kevin Barrett & Sean Mullally. Derek McGarrity & Diarmuid Falvey were 3rd in their Lancer Evo 10 but their car has stopped out on the course. The cause is reported to be a combination of puncture and gearbox maladies. When Tim McNulty arrived in to service he told us. “We set a nice steady pace. I might up it a bit on the 2nd loop. There is a lot of flooding. You have got to be on your wits”. Kevin Barrett told us. “I have been taking it steady, the conditions are very tricky there is so much water”. Alan Ring in 3rd place is also being pretty conservative but has had a good run so far.

Tommy Doyle has been setting good times in his little Clio although when he came into service his windscreen was misted up. He told us. “The screen is no big problem, it only happens when you hit a flood”. He went on to say that what was a problem was the car skidding about on the fast straights as he had picked an intermediate front tyre and the Clio was sitting up on top of the standing water. Ross Forde is having a torrid time with his Lancer and described it as “almost impossible to drive” as the accelerator mechanism seems to have a mind of its own. He also said. “I’m having to hang on tight!” Sam Moffett is very close to Forde’s times and he has changed the differential setting on his lancer to gravel specification and reckons the car is easier to drive that way. William Mavitty is struggling with understeer in his Lancer and the car also hit a chicane bale in SS3.
Tom Flatherty continued to lead the National section in impressive style, the Mk2 Escort man said. “Just tipping along”. Jason McSweeney was blocked for a while in stage 2 by Peter Howley’s crashed Starlet and then Jason’s Civic hit a bale in stage 3.
Richard Whelan skidded sideways into some posts which stopped the car going into a field and he continues to lie 2nd in the Nationals. Eddie McCormack crashed his Mk2 Escort out of the rally in SS2. Liam Egan was another driver blocked in stage 2 by a crashed car and then his Impreza hit a bale in stage 3.
More news later: BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

Marshals meeting points SATURDAY
SS 1/4/7 : Dolans Service Station in Ballinasloe at 6.30am
SS 2/5/8: Glynns centra, Carnmore at 7am
SS 3/6/9 : Londis, Tuam Road Galway City at 7.30am
SUNDAY
SS 10/13: Londis, Tuam Road Galway City at 7am
SS 11/14: Monaghons, Headford at 7.45am
SS 12/ 15: Caherlistrane at 8am
If you are planning to Marshal, please contact The Chief Marshal Gerry O Brien on (086) 2766267 AFTER 7pm PLEASE.
Please give your details to Gerry by THURSDAY NIGHT. THANKS.

1 Alan Gibbons Co.Roscommon Noel Mulvihill Co.Roscommon Honda Civic J2
2 Darren Young Co.Kerry TBA Honda Civic J2
3 Justin Ryan Co.Galway Andy Walsh Co.Mayo Honda Civic Vtec J2
6 Ciarán Walsh Co.Mayo TBA Honda Civic J2
7 John Kelly Co.Kilkenny Christopher O'Mahony Co.Kilkenny Peugeot 106 GTi J2

The dates have been announced for next year’s Safety Direct Galway International Rally as Friday, 4th February through to Sunday, 6th February 2011.

The weekend-long event, which is in its fortieth year, will commence on the Friday from their previous base at Oran Precast in Oranmore and hold their ceremonial finish on Sunday at the base also. The administrative headquarters will once again be situated at the Clayton Hotel, Ballybrit.

Speaking at the announcement, Gary Leonard, Clerk of the Course commented,
“We are really looking forward to next year’s event as some of the top international drivers have expressed interest in partaking. As this is the event’s 40th year, we will be marking the special occasion with activities throughout the weekend”.

The Galway International Rally has a proud, successful history; including being the first ever round of the Irish Tarmac Championship in 1978. Today the rally is still the traditional season opener, drawing top competitors and huge crowds of spectators to Galway every year for the February festivities. For more information on the 2011 Safety Direct Galway International Rally, log onto event website