Pressure is something Tyrone’s Kris Meeke reckons he has handled for most of his rallying career.

The Joule Donegal International Rally that begins this afternoon is the best-supported event within the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship and also the only three-day event in Irish rallying.

Further to their maiden WRC win, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) tackle this weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round five of the World Rally Championship, in confident mood. They are also expected to benefit from redefined aerodynamics on the front end and a new bumper and redesigned wings.

Antrim’s Derek McGarrity has secured his fifth Tour of Sperrins Rally win to extend his lead in the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Five-time Northern Ireland Rally champion Derek McGarrity S14 Subaru WRC heads the entry for tomorrow’s eight stage tarmac Ryan Bradley Memorial Tour of Sperrins Rally in Maghera, County Derry.

The Moffett siblings Sam and Josh in identical Ford Fiesta WRC’s are part of an intriguing line-up for Sunday’s Monaghan Rally, round three of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

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.

REIGNING Intercontinental Rally champions, Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle in their Peugeot 207 S2000 are sixth overall after the opening leg of three stages of the Sata Rallye Acores, the seventh round of the series.

CHRIS PATTERSON (41) will be the new partner for Norwegian driver Petter Solberg in the World Rally Championship. Early last month, Phil Mills, Solberg’s regular co-driver, stepped down from his role with the flamboyant Norwegian, who has 152 WRC starts including 13 wins and one world title.

AS EXPECTED, Niall Maguire, driving his S10 Subaru WRC coasted to victory in the Ennis-based Auburn Lodge Clare Rally. Leading from the start and co-driven by Enda Sherry, he finished two minutes and 14 seconds ahead of the Ford Escort of Mike Quinn/Grainne McEnery with Ed O’Callaghan/Ger Clancy, also in a Ford Escort, a further 10 seconds behind in third.

Gareth MacHale, co-driven by Brian Murphy in their Ford Focus WRC have won the Letterkenny based Topaz Donegal International Rally.

Gaining just a fraction of a second over their rivals on the opening stage, Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) went on to dominate the opening leg of six stages of the Letterkenny-based Topaz Donegal International Rally.

Newly crowned Dunlop National Rally champions, Patrick Elliott and Paul Goodman (Subaru) have won the Ardara based Donegal Harvest Rally, the final round of the national series.

Reigning Irish Tarmac champion, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely, lead the way at the end of the opening leg of the Topaz Donegal International Rally in Letterkenny.

Reigning Dunlop National Rally Champions, Aaron MacHale/Killian Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) have won the Castlebar based TF Royal Hotel & Theatre Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

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.

Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely in their Reid Transport backed S12 Subaru WRC took a facile victory in Rally Isle of Man this afternoon.