Mark Higgins - co-driven by Belfast´s Michael Gibson (Ford Focus WRC) - have won the Newcastle based Pirelli International Rally, the opening round of the Pirelli sponsored British Rally Championship.

In the Pirelli International Rally in Gateshead near Newcastle, and with six stages completed, Finland´sTapio Laukkanen - in a Group N Subaru Impreza - holds a 27 second advantage over the Ford Focus of British driver, Mark Higgins and his Northern Ireland co-driver, Michael Gibson.

In the Banbury Rally in Oxford, Irish drivers, Gary Jennings and Rory Galligan are in contention for overall victory in the Peugeot Super 106 Cup.

Tipperary's Roy White (Mitsubishi) lies fifth in the Group N Showroom category led by Xavier Bouche, prior to the 10th and final stage of the first leg of the Condroz Rally in Belgium.

David Sterckx, the driver that stands between Tipperary's, Roy White and a Group N Belgian Championship victory has retired from the Condroz Rally.

Aiming to win the Group N category of the Belgian Rally Championship, Tipperary driver, Roy White, co-driven by Northern Ireland's, Michael Patterson lies third in the category after three of today's ten stages of the Condroz Rally.

Fermanagh's, Gary Jennings and his Cork co-driver, James O 'Brien are the early leaders of the Peugeot Super 106 category in the Rally of Kent.