Motorsport: McGurk set the pace in Carrick on Suir

Robbie McGurk, from Omagh, driving a Group N Subaru, has set a cracking pace on the Willie Loughman Forest Rally.

Based in Carrick Suir, the event, the second round of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship, has a quality entry with McGurk, surprising the more powerful cars with his pace. Co-driven by Rory Kennedy, they took an early three second lead and by the first service halt, were pegged back to a single second by the Escort WRC of Dominic McNeill.

However, on the repeat of the stages around Slievenamon, McGurk outpaced his rivals and after SS 6, he has a 13 second advantage over McNeill.

Brian Murphy (Subaru WRC) and Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Celica) tie for third - 13 seconds behind McNeill. Eamonn Boland (Subaru WRC) a further 22 seconds adrift completes the top five.

Kevin O’Kane (Subaru) holds sixth with John McCarthy (Escort WRC) a second behind.

The top ten is completed by Pete Willoughby (Mitsubishi), Brian McCloskey (Escort Cosworth) and Paul Barrett (Escort). Garry Jennings, in a Peugeot 106, is just two seconds outside the top ten.

Last night’s Skibbereen 100 Isles Navigation Trial was won by Ger Gowan/Diarmuid O’Donovan (Nissan). Novices, Diarmuid French/Jason O’Mahony (Toyota) and Experts, Ger O’Connell/Adrian Deasy (Toyota) were second and third respectively.