A huge entry has been received for the 2012 Safety Direct Galway International Rally which takes place this weekend with the event being granted an increase of 50% bonus points towards the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.

There were 170 applicants for the 141 available places and the number one seed is double rally champion Tim McNulty from Meath, with Sligo co-driver Paul Kiely, in a Subaru World Rally Car.

McNulty is no stranger to Galway, having taken victories in both the International Rally and the Galway Summer Rally last year. The rally also sees the return of 2010 winner Gareth MacHale from Dublin, co driven by Brian Murphy, in his Focus WRC.

The number three seed is another Tarmac rally champion, Derek McGarrity from Antrim in another Focus WRC. However, the car and driver combination that is attracting most interest is the number four seed of Eugene Donnelly from Maghera.

A five times champion, Donnelly will drive the latest MINI John Cooper Works WRC. The car is the one that was driven by Spaniard Dani Sordo in the 2011 World Rally Championship. The car is entered by Colm Quinn Car Sales of Athlone. Darragh O’Riordan from Cork makes up the top five seeds. O’Riordan drives a Subaru WRC and was the winner of the Cork 20 Rally last October.

The battle for the Group N (production) cars will also be intense, with Enniskillen’s Gary Jennings, Munster Joinery team driver Alan Ring, Airtricity’s Donagh Kelly and Sam Moffett from Monaghan all driving Mitsubishi Evos. The top modified entrants are Daniel McKenna and Gary McPhillips, two of Ireland’s best clubman drivers, in Escort Mk 2s.

There are over 40 local drivers entered, including Tom Flaherty at 15 and Oranmore’s Richard Burke in a Subaru at 18. Pat Kelly, with his son Jonathan co driving, in another Subaru, is at number 25.

Safety Direct, in addition to sponsoring the event, will also enter two Honda Civics, for Loughrea’s Neil Pierce and Enda O Leary at 32 and Galway’s Alan Fair and Shane Reidy at 52. A number of Galway drivers, now resident in Australia, have returned to take part in the event, including James Brett from Clarinbridge with Loughrea’s Michelle Crowley co-driving in a Honda Civic. The local crews are competing for the coveted Brian Thornton Memorial Trophy.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.