LETTERKENNY RALLY DRIVER Marty Gallagher says the experience of competing at the Rallye Waldviertel in Austria will stand to him.
Gallagher, with regular companion Dean O’Sullivan from Convoy calling the notes, finished in 27th position overall.
In the Campsie Karting-backed Peugeot 208, the duo finished second in the European Rally Trophy Juniors and second in the European Rally Trophy 3.
The event was the final round of the European Rally Trophy and was part-gravel, part-tarmac.
“It was definitely the toughest rally we’ve done to date anyway,” Gallagher told Donegal Sport Hub.
“The stages and conditions are nothing like home so it took a while to get used to that. Overall it was very challenging.
“First of all, the language barrier right up to the differences in their gravel and ours – each stage was completely different, from a fast grippy stage to a slow and slippy one.
“We could only see about 50 metres in front due to really thick fog, which made it near impossible in the night stages.”
The event completed a good year for Gallagher and O’Sullivan. Earlier in 2016, they scored two class wins – in Class 2 – in the British Championship, at the Circuit of Ireland and at Rally Isle of Man.
The pair were 18th overall in Rally Isle of Man, while they were second in their class in both the British and Irish Championships.
They were also 15th in the Joule Donegal International Rally.
Now, they’re eyeing up a return in 2017.
Gallagher said: “There’s nothing set in stone yet, but depending on the budget, we are hoping to compete in both the Irish Tarmac Championship and the British Rally Championship.”
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