GARETH MACHALE BACK ON TOP IN GALWAY
Irish Tarmac champion and member of the well-known MacHale motorsport dynasty Gareth plans to be among the line-up for next February’s Galway International Rally following his victory in the recent Galway Summer Rally.
It was the 42-year-old’s first outright win since he took his Ford Focus WRC to victory on the 2010 Cork 20 Rally. Subsequently, he only competed on the Galway International in 2012, also in the Focus, and in a Ford Fiesta R5 on the 2018 Clare and Donegal national events.
Returning in a righthand-drive Ronan O’Kane Motorsport VW Polo GTi R5, MacHale has gradually played himself back into competitive action since his comeback last June.
“It went well for my fifth rally back, I’m really happy,” he said. “I didn’t think I would get a win as quick given the calibre of drivers around in both the International and national scene and being out of it for so long. But look, there is still a long way to go and a lot to do yet.”
The MacHale family has a long association with events organised by the Galway
Motor Club. “Galway’s always been a happy hunting ground for the family and it is great to get the win there. The Galway club put on great stages and Ronan O’Kane and the lads did a great job on the car,” added MacHale.
On his plans for 2023, he said: “I will go to Galway next February, I will see how sponsorship pans out and I might even do the national championship next year.”
Co-driver Brian Murphy continues to call the notes.