Driving a Ford Focus, Brendan Crealey was the top Irish driver in the Roush Manx National Rally on the Isle of Man. This afternoon, Crealey came home in fifth place almost six minutes behind the rally winner, Mark Higgins.

NOT content to rest on his laurels, Eugene Donnelly has already completed a deal that will see the 36-year-old Derry ace drive a Toyota Corolla WRC in next season’s Irish Tarmac Championship.

TOMORROW'S Edinburgh-based Jim Clark Memorial Rally unites the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac and the Pirelli British Rally Championships for the first of three occasions this season.

Having finished second in the Tour of Sperrins Rally yesterday, Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Celica) went one better today by winning the Moonraker Forest Rally, the fourth round of the KBB Doors National Forest Rally Championship.