His father Austin MacHale is a five-time Irish Tarmac Rally Championship champion.

Gareth's younger brother Aaron is also a rally driver.

MacHale competed in an eight-round programme in the 2006 World Rally Championship season in a privately entered Ford Focus WRC.

He finished sixth on Rally Mexico, scoring three world championship points.

In 2010 he followed in his father's footsteps by winning the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship for the first time.