Five rounds into his maiden WRC season, Mayo man Killian Duffy heads the WRC-2 co-driver standings by 15 points after wins in Argentina and Mexico and, most recently, a podium at Rally Italy.
But with the competition likely to intensify in the second half of the season, which features the most popular European-based rallies and the arrival of the first R5 specification cars, Duffy was happy to have made his lead in the standings more comfortable, following his second place in Sardinia. “This is our first time in WRC-2, and our plan at the start of the year was top five, now we’re leading the championship just past the halfway point, it’s like a dream,” Duffy said.
On their first appearance in Sardinia, Duffy and Qatari driver Abdulaaziz Al-Kuwari, were up against 15 other WRC-2 entries. Ex Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica won the event. "It's a good result after a tough rally," said Al-Kuwari. “We have expanded our championship lead and we expect to be back in Australia."
McLaughlin comes fourth in Donegal
Former National Champion, Claremorris man, Paul McLaughlin navigated Seamus Leonard to a well-deserved fourth place overall in their Subaru Impreza in last weekend’s Donegal International Rally
Other local club members who did not fare as well included David Doherty from Ballinlough, his rally ended on Saturday when the engine in the Evo 6 he was navigating for Gavin Harris gave way on the famous Knockalla stage. Alan Moran from Foxford had fellow club member Jared Gill on the notes, their event did not get the chance to get into full swing as their Opel Kadett broke a driveshaft three km into stage one.
