MOTORSPORT: O’Connell tackles adversity to grab first title

Dungiven rally driver Gerard O’Connell took his first every Millers Oils NI Hillclimb title at the weekend after the championship’s most exciting end in man years.

O’Connell grabbed glory following his showdown with Richard McGimpsey, despite have mechanical problems early at the practice session.

He broke a driveshaft in first practice and there was no spare available. The broken shaft was taken away to a local engineering firm for a weld repair but there was no great hope that it could withstand the power of the Radical.

Gerard went to the start line for the second timed run and not only did the shaft repair hold up but he set an amazing time which put him in the runner up spot, behind leader Chris Houston with his main rival Richard McGimpsey down in third.

It was all to play for going into the final run with Richard needing to jump ahead of Gerard into at least 2nd place to still retain a hope of taking the Championship.

The drama increased when O'Connell's repaired driveshaft broke again and he had to wait and watch as Richard set off to try and better O'Connell's previous time.

But it was not to be for McGimpsey as he had a spin at one of Knockagh's tight hairpins and his title chance was gone in a split second. Chris Houston took the overall win and a new Hill Record with O'Connell second and McGimpsey third.