Sport

McHale eyes win in Scotland to stay on top

MOTORSPORT: Austin McHale is aiming for maximum points in the Scottish Rally (round three of the British Rally Championship) …

Brian Foley
Fri Jun 10 2005 - 01:00

MOTORSPORT: Austin McHale is aiming for maximum points in the Scottish Rally (round three of the British Rally Championship) in which he was second last year.

With a win and a second-place finish in the first two rounds, the Irish driver leads Sebastian Ling by four points in the championship. His son Gareth McHale is just three points behind Ling in third.

Rory Galligan is seventh on 15 points. Brian Murphy (36 points) and Paul Nagle (30) lead the co-drivers championship with Greg Shinnors (16) sixth. Galligan and David Higgins lead the Manufacturer's Championship for Mitsubishi.

Ireland, on 94 points, lead the Nations Cup from Scotland (90), Wales (87) and England (21). Brian O'Mahony (Cork) is second in the Super 1600 Cup.

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The 60th Scottish Rally is supported for the ninth successive year by Dumfries and Galloway Council. Rally headquarters is the Dumfries Ice Bowl, and the event will run over forest stages in the region, starting at 7.30 this evening. Service is at Baldon near Wigtown. Mark Higgins, winner of round two, McHale and Paul Bird are the three top seeds, all in Ford Focus WRC's. Ling is seeded number seven between works Mitsubishi drivers David Higgins and Rory Galligan. Gareth McHale starts number 11 in his Toyota Corolla WRC.

James Coleman, Liam Wall and Willie Whitty in Ford Escorts head the 131 strong entry in Sunday's Tipperary Stage Rally near Cashel. The leading trio in tomorrow's Mourne Rally run out of Newry are Kevin Lynch, Glenn Allen and David Armstrong. With eight wins out of eight starts, Wexford's Michael B Roche drives his turbocharged Delta in the weekend's Clare Hillclimbs at the Scalp, Carron, as clear leader of the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship.

Charlie Donnelly (Naas) has been nominated Dunlop Young Driver of The Month for May. He leads the UK Formula Ford Championship at the half-way mark, on the podium after 10 races including four wins. Paddy Hogan races in Formula Renault at Zandvoort in Holland this weekend.

The Ulster Automobile Club has cancelled the 50th Ulster TT Anniversary which was to take place on June 18th. Sadly, the last great road race held in Northern Ireland is being allowed to slip into history without a farewell fanfare 50 years after such all-time greats as Fangio, Moss, Hawthorn and von Trips competed on the Co Antrim circuit which continues to attract huge crowds to the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle races.

The Phoenix Park road races scheduled for August 13th/14th will not be held, but will be replaced by a sprint meeting over a triangular course in the Park. Without major sponsorship, a revival of the glory days of road racing in the Phoenix Park is now looking less likely than ever, and Ireland is poised to lose a unique and free sporting attraction in the capital.

WEEKEND FIXTURES Today - Navigation Trials Open Forum, Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone, 8pm.

Saturday - Clare MC, Scalp Hillclimb, Carron, Co Clare, 11.30am; Garda Síochána MC, 4x4 Sporting trial, Bohernabreena, Co Dublin, 12pm; Skibbereen & District CC, Autotest, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co.Cork, 2pm.

Sunday - Tipperary LC & MCC, Stage rally, starts Cashel, Co Tipperary, 10am; Clare MC, Scalp Hillclimb, Carron, Co Clare, 11.30am; Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Rd, Co Cavan, 11am; GSMC, 4x4 Sporting Trial, Bohernabreena, Co Dublin, 12pm; Cork MC, Autocross, Grancore, Clonakilty, Co.Cork, 12pm; Skibbereen & District CC, Autotest, Kilbrogan, Bandon, Co Cork, 2pm.