Eugene Donnelly’s defence of his Irish Tarmac Champions crown has begun well and at the end of the first leg of the Galway International Rally his Toyota Corolla WRC is 26.5 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Tim NcNulty with Eamonn Boland (Ford Focus) 39.8 seconds behind in third.

Mid-way through the opening leg of the Galway International Rally, defending champion, Eugene Donnelly in his Toyota Corolla WRC leads the Subaru WRC of Tim NcNulty by 2.6 seconds with Eamonn Boland in a Ford Focus a further 32.5 seconds adrift in third.

It was a day of high drama on the second leg of the Shell Donegal International Rally where Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) hold a one minute and 10.9 second advantage over the Subaru WRC of Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) who regained second at the expense of Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan.

Setting the pace on the opening stage, Andrew Nesbitt in his ADL backed Subaru led throughout the opening leg of the Shell Donegal International Rally.

WITH three different leaders after each of the opening three rounds, the Dunlop National Rally Championship is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.

Former World Rally champion, Colin McRae will drive his Mk. 2 Ford Escort as one of the course cars on today’s Ordnance Survey Ireland Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship.

Derek McGarrity’s third Circuit of Ireland victory was hard-earned and he was pushed all the way to the final stage where he eventually triumphed over arch-rival Andrew Nesbitt by 18.2 seconds.

Derek McGarrity takes a 9.5 second lead over Eugene Donnelly into tomorrow’s third and final leg of the Meteor Electrical Circuit of Ireland Rally.

Back in competitive action following an eight-month absence, Armagh’s Andrew Nesbitt has lost none of his pace.

Five times Irish Tarmac champion Austin MacHale and co-driver, Brian Murphy, have a 4.1 second lead in their Ford Focus WRC after the completion of six stages of the Galway International Rally.

There was a final stage drama on the Mill Park Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally, the penultimate round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Midway through the Mill Park Hotel Donegal Harvest Rally, the penultimate round of the Dunlop National rally championship, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) have a commanding lead of a minute and 16 seconds as Niall Maguire/Paul McLaughlin (Subaru) hold the advantage in the chase for the Dunlop Championship.

Late last night, Eugene Donnelly and co-driver, Paul Kiely, in a Toyota Corolla WRC, were declared winners of the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally.

With three stages remaining in the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally, the final and deciding round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) hold a 49-second advantage over the Toyota Corolla WRC of Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC).

At the conclusion of the first leg of the Murphy Construction Cork “20” International Rally, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) have a 23 second advantage over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman with Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) a further 22 seconds in arrears.

After six stages of today’s first leg of the Murphy Construction Cork 20 International Rally, Tim NcNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) hold a 37-second advantage over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman with Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) a further 21 seconds in arrears.

London-based Limerick driver, Ollie O’Donovan and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan won the eight stage Ennis-based Clare Rally.

The opposition had no answer to Tim NcNulty in yesterday's nine stage Virginia based ALMC Rally.

Andrew Nesbitt was predicted to take the lead of the Shell Donegal International Rally during today's second leg but it didn’t happen as quickly as anticipated.

In the second day of the Shell Donegal International Rally, Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) have extended their lead to 23 seconds.

As an event, this Ordnance Survey Ireland/Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes, the third round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, had all the ingredients.

Entering the final stages of the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally, Finland’s, Tapio

Finland’s, Tapio Laukkanen, on board a Subaru WRC, leads the First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally after the conclusion of today’s nine stages.

After six stages of the Galway International Rally, the opening round of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac

Having to defend his lead for most of the race, Cork’s, Joseph Daly took the chequered flag in today’s Formula 125 race at the Irish 'O' Plate Karting Championship at Watergrasshill.

Even though he was some 20 seconds adrift after the opening stage of the Ordnance Survey/Gleneagle Hotel Rally of the Lakes, Eugene Donnelly, in his Subaru WRC has moved into the lead after eight of today’s eleven stages.

Derek McGarrity, in a Subaru WRC, is the early leader of the Buy & Sell Circuit of Ireland Rally that began in Enniskillen this morning.

MICHAEL KEOHANE and Austin McHale face their respective assignments in Donington Park and the Circuit of Kerry with a common theme – success in a British Championship.

TWO of Ireland’s young rally stars, Garry Jennings and Shaun Gallagher, are in action tomorrow in the Border Counties Rally in Scotland.

ANDREW NESBITT and NIALL MAGUIRE are still uncertain about their title defences in 2003. Nesbitt is the reigning Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac champion while Maguire is the Dunlop National Rally Champion.