Loughran and Tourish locked in national battle as Barrett gives up the lead

DEFENDING NATIONAL Rally champions Ian Barrett and Paul McGee lost over two minutes on Knockalla and there is now a new national leader.

On SS13, the second loop of the famous Knockalla stage, the Darrian of Barrett – the CEO of the rally’s title sponsor Joule – and Milford-based sergeant McGee was pulled in.

Barrett came off the stage, but signalled trouble as they came off the classic tarmac of Knockalla just outside Rathmullan.

Barrett had been quickest on four of the previous 12 stages and were just under 20 seconds in front when they encountered trouble.

Cloghan’s Damian Tourish was quickest of the modified men on Knockalla and there was another blistering time from Mark Alcorn and John O’Donnell, who are up into fifth in the national.

Ryan Loughran noted that he was cautious on Knockalla, but he now leads the national rally by 4.5 seconds from Tourish, who says he is giving it ‘everything’.

’The Milkman’, Declan Gallagher, isn’t happy with the set-up of the Starlet since the last service, while Damien Gallagher and Mac Walsh are up into fourth.