8 March 2015

Motorsport Ireland Weekend Roundup

Three times National Rally champion Niall Maguire and his co-driver Enda Sherry dominated yesterday's Hotel Ballina-Kennedy Motors Mayo Stages Rally, taking the lead on the opening stage and never losing it all day.

The Monaghan pair finished just over a minute clear of nearest rivals Frank Wray and Kieran McGrath in another Impreza.

Aaron MacHale/Paul McGee took third place overall, beating Shane Maguire, the son of the outright winner, and Stephen Thornton to top place in the Group N Production class.

Dubliner Peter Grimes, already the Northern Ireland Autotest champion six times, got his title defence off to a good start with a narrow win in the opening round at Craigavon. At half distance, he lay third, ten seconds behind leader Ashley Lamont, but the Antrim driver lost time with a mistake and a pylon penalty and Grimes came through to win by 1.4 seconds.