Motorsport: Punchestown Rally Masters

Just a second covered the Subaru World Rally Cars of Kenny McKinstry and Andrew Nesbitt after the first run of the Punchestown Rally Masters.

McKinstry covered the 2.4-mile stage in a time of three minutes and seven seconds with Nesbitt, the reigning Tarmac Champion, a second adrift.

Frank Meagher, in a Ford Focus, lies in third place, six seconds adrift of Nesbitt while Austin McHale lost some valuable seconds towards the end of the stage, nevertheless.

He lies in fourth place.

Maurice Gass (Subaru WRC) is fifth and the top six is completed by Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) and Ollie O'Donovan (Subaru Legacy), who share sixth.

Eight place is also shared between the Subaru's of Daniel Doherty, Paul Harris and Irish rally legend, Billy Coleman.

Coleman is driving a Metro 6R4, a car similar to the one he drove to International success in Donegal in 1986.

Next on the leaderboard is Tim McNulty.

A crowd of some 10,00 spectators turned up at the Kildare venue to see the action.

Competitors will have two more runs over the stage with an exciting battle expected to the finish.

Meanwhile, in the British Formula 3 Scholarship Championship at Croft, Michael Keohane has qualified third behind Robbie Kerr and Matthew Gilmore.