Event victory in the Cork "20" International Rally for Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus) and a record equalling fifth Irish Tarmac Championship success were delivered in tandem today.

At the end of today's six stages of the Dick Bailey Wexford Rally, Dubliner, Michael Barrable, in his Ford Focus WRC leads the Subaru of last year's winner, P.J. McGrath by one minute.

Dungannon's Kris Meeke and Killarney's Paul Nagle (Peugeot 207 S2000) have moved into a two point lead in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge series after today's victory in the Sata Rally Azores.

A record-equalling fifth Irish Tarmac Championship title is one of Eugene Donnelly's goals this season.

On home ground, Niall Maguire and Paul McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) took a comfortable victory in the Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.