McShea gutted by early Sanremo exit

Niall McShea has described his disappointment after retiring on the road section heading to the opening stage of Rallye Sanremo earlier today.

McShea, starting his second event in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season in a PROTON Satria Neo Super 2000, was three kilometres from service in Sanremo when his car ground to a halt with an engine failure.

“There was no warning and it was all over in 35 minutes,” said McShea. “It’s so disappointing because the team is working so hard and deserve so much more because they put so much effort into it. It’s gutting to be out but this is a tough sport and it can be cruel at times. You have good days and bad but this was one of the bad ones.”

McShea suspected that the engine fault was terminal. His team-mate, Gilles Panizzi, is currently 22nd in the sister Satria Neo.