Motorsport News

Austin Machale back in a Ford Escort after 37 years for Carrick Rally Sprint

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Five-time Irish Tarmac Rally champion Austin Machale was back behind the wheel of a Ford Escort Mk2 last weekend for the first time in 37 years.

Driving the same car that Donagh Kelly drove in the Carrick on Suir Winter Rally Sprint, Machale won Class 3.

The event, which attracted over 80 entries, was a fundraiser for Our Lady’s Children Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin.

Machale’s sons, Gareth and Aaron, were also competing – double driving Aaron’s Citroen DS3 R5 – but a broken driveshaft on the penultimat­e run ended their bid.

Cashel’s Pat O’connell, in a recently acquired Mitsubishi Lancer E10, took a start-to-finish victory.

He was 11.7 seconds in front of the Lancer E9 of Waterford’s Keith Power. James Bradley (Honda Civic) was 3.9 seconds further behind in third.

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