Subaru Imprezas dominated Group N on the Galway Summer Rally, with drivers Willie Fannin, Ian Barrett and Alan Ring on top form in their Prodrive built machines. After some closely fought stages the trio occupied all three positions on the podium with Fannin taking his first class win of the season. Ian Barrett took second, continuing his solid form following victory on the previous round in Sligo; the Subaru podium was completed by Alan Ring who brought his N12b Impreza home in third place.

This year’s rally proved to be as popular as ever with the maximum 150 cars entered for the event.

Ian Barrett set the early pace, full of confidence following his Sligo win, Barrett was quickest through the first three stages, before Fannin set a really quick time to take five seconds out of Barrett’s lead on stage four. Fannin continued to set the pace among the Group N crews through stages five and six, moving him into a lead he retained until the end of the rally. Sean Lyons brought his Impreza home in fifth position to record his best finish of the season to date.

The result moves Ian Barrett up to third in the driver’s championship and Willie Fannin up to fourth.

Away from Group N, the event brought more success for Subaru drivers with Tim McNulty taking overall victory in his S11 Impreza World Rally Car, ahead of Eamonn Boland who was taking part in his first event in his S12 Impreza World Rally Car.

The Irish National Rally Championship now moves on to round nine, for the Clare Stages on 16/09/07.