A difficult day for both organisers and competitors of the safety First Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Irish Tarmac Championship where Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru) lead at the overnight halt.

Setting fastest times on the first three stages, Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan, in an Escort WRC, have opened up a substantial lead in the Sean Conlon Memorial Forest Rally in Mitchelstown.