CRONIN AND GALVIN HOLD OVERNIGHT CIRCUIT LEAD 

CRONIN AND GALVIN HOLD OVERNIGHT CIRCUIT LEAD 

By PRPR

Photo by Chris McLean

The first two stages of this year’s Circuit of Ireland have been completed, and it the reigning NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Champions, Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin, who lead overnight in their Citroën C3, by almost ten seconds from Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan in a Skoda Fabia RS, who are having their first outing of the season.  Today’s action consisted of two runs over the Ivy Hill stage near Aughnacloy, where the crews had to contend with sodden conditions.  On the first, Cronin and Galvin went fastest, by a surprising 9.2 seconds, from Devine and O’Sullivan, with James Ford and Neil Shanks next up in another Citroën, just a further tenth behind in third.  

The second run saw Cronin and Galvin fastest again, but only by a tenth, with Devine and O’Sullivan again their closest challengers, and the overall margin stands at 9.8 seconds going into Day 2.  Matt Edwards and David Moynihan moved into third overall in their Hyundai i20N, and they lie 15.9 seconds off the lead.

Three loops of three stages south of Dungannon await the crews tomorrow, with the action due to get underway just before 9am. 

Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin are supported by M Group of Companies, Shane Casey Electrical Services, Michelin Tyres, Cronin’s Centra (Ballylickey, Union Hall, Leap, Millstreet and Dundrum), Cronin’s HomeValue Hardware, Daybreak Westlink, Cremin Coaches, Keohane Seafoods, Citroën Racing, and Race and Rally Motorsport.  Their Citroën C3 Rally 2 is prepared and run by Tom Gahan Motorsport.

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