Local hero and six-time winner Niall Maguire heads a capacity entry for Sunday’s Monaghan Rally that includes a 30k stage as part of a three-stage loop.

Cork-born driver, Donie O’Sullivan and his Kerry co-driver, Paul Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) finished the best of the Irish trio in Rally Catalunya, the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship that was won by Ford ace, Markko Martin.

Colin McRae set the fastest time on today’s opening stage but it only scratched the surface of his deficit to Swedish Rally leader Marcus Gronholm.