Derek McGarrity and James McKee have emerged victorious from the second round of this year's Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the UTV Drive Circuit of Ireland Rally!
 
The cross-border event saw the stars of Irish rallying descend on Newry and Dundalk, but it was McGarrity who emerged triumphant at the finish.
 
Sealing the win was by no means an easy task. In fact, it was only during the event's second and final leg that McGarrity assumed the advantage at the head of the field.
 
At the start of the Ulster Automobile Club rally, Tim McNulty and Paul Kiely grabbed the lead but their challenge was thwarted by a puncture on stage five. That dropped the crew back to fifth overall, and handed the number one position to production category contenders, Alastair Fisher and Marshall Clarke.
 
With the rain falling, Fisher extended his lead from eight seconds to 31 seconds from McGarrity over the following three stages. However, the day's final 18-mile night test told a different story, as McGarrity reduced the leader's advantage to 13 seconds.
 
It was the boost that McGarrity needed and when day two dawned bright and dry, it was only a matter of time before the powerful World Rally Car crew overhauled young gun Fisher.
 
McGarrity moved in front after stage 12, helped along when Fisher lost approximately 30 seconds with a puncture. That dropped him into Gareth MacHale's grasp, and one stage later, Fisher was third.
 
Tim McNulty was also back in the mix at that point. He was in very determined form going into the final loop of stages, but on stage 13, his Impreza WRC landed into a field.
 
Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy were fastest over stages 13 and 14 but it was too little, too late. McGarrity's advantage was secure and he went on to reclaim the 'Circuit' crown which he last won in 2005.
 
Galway winners, Gareth MacHale and Brian Murphy, recovered from their day one misfire to take second ahead of Alastair Fisher and Marshall Clarke.
 
Championship Manager, Don Wilmont, said: "Congratulations to Derek McGarrity and James McKee on winning round two of the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. They are very worthy winners but credit must also go to championship leader, Gareth MacHale, for an impressive comeback drive, and of course Alastair Fisher, who impressed everybody by leading the event on Saturday in a Group N car."
 
Aaron MacHale and Eugene O'Donnell's fine fourth place finish was enough to consolidate their third position in Championship points table.
 
The event also hosted round two of the Citroën Racing Trophy series. For the second event in succession, Marty McCormack and Dai Roberts lost out on victory during the final day. They had a substantial lead in the category, and held eighth overall, but took a wheel off their Citroën C2 R2 Max on stage 13.
 
McCormack lost almost four minutes as a result, handing the category win to Mark Donnelly and Paddy Robinson. An impressive recovery drive saw McCormack take second, just six seconds adrift, while Adrian McElhinney and Shane Buckley finished third.
 
In the Modified Challenge category, Mervyn Wedlock and Damian McCabe claimed maximum points in the M2 category, moving them to the top of the tables. They finished fourth overall in the National Rally, while Ferghal Allen finished 14th and topped class M3.
 
In the Historic category, only one championship registered crew completed the event, with William Todd and Noel Anderson claiming the spoils in their Morris Mini Cooper S.
 
Round three of the Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship takes competitors to the opposite end of the country. The Killarney Rally of the Lakes takes place over 01/02 May, and more details are available from www.irishtarmac.com and www.rallyofthelakes.com.
 
UTV Drive Circuit of Ireland Rally top 10
 
1 Derek McGarrity/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 2h15m27.2s
2 Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 2h16m00.7s
3 Alastair Fisher/Marshall Clarke (Lancer Evo 9) 2h16m16.3s
4 Aaron MacHale/Eugene O'Donnell (Focus WRC) 2h20m59.5s
5 Daragh O'Riordan/Tony McDaid (Impreza WRC) 2h21m42.4s
6 Neil McCance/Brendan Cumiskey (Lancer Evo 9) 2h25m24.2s
7 Brendan Cumiskey/Conor Foley (Lancer Evo 9) 2h26m29.5s
8 Alan Ring/Adrian Deasy (Lancer Evo 9) 2h28m02.0s
9 Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly (Lancer Evo 9) 2h28m27.7s
10 John McGlaughlin/Crawford Henderson (Lancer Evo 9) 2h30m10.6s
 
Citroën Irish Tarmac Rally Championship standings after round two
 
1 Gareth MacHale 28pts
2 Alastair Fisher 23pts
3 Aaron MacHale 18pts
4 Derek McGarrity 16pts
5 Craig Breen 15pts
6 Alan Ring 13pts