Ireland’s Austin MacHale and co-driver, Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) are beginning today’s final leg of the International Rally of Wales in third place with Northern Ireland pair Kris Meeke/Chris Patterson ((Corsa) in seventh spot and leading the Super 1600 category.

Flying Finn, Tapio Laukkanen, leads the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire where Dubliner, Austin MacHale (Subaru WRC) is fourth after the opening three stages.

Fastest on 14 of the 15 stages of the Stena Line Ulster Rally, a counting round of both Irish and

Manx born Mark Higgins and co-driver Craig Thorley have won the Manx International Rally by a comfortable margin of four minutes and 43.8 seconds.

Seven stages totalling almost 60 miles stand between Mark Higgins/Craig Thorley and victory on the Manx International Rally.