Donnelly leads national forest championship after Cork win

Following his victory in the Windscreen Centre Cork Forest Rally, Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Celica) is the new leader of the KBB Doors National Forest Championship.

It has been a busy weekend for Donnelly, who was co-driver on the Ulster Rally which finished yesterday. On today's fifth round in the forests of Killavullen and Banteer, Donnelly led from the start, although he had difficulty in acclimatising to the forest notes after the tarmac Ulster event.

A hard charging Dermot Kelly, in his Escort WRC cut his lead to just three seconds entering the final

stages. However, engine maladies forced his retirement and Donnelly cruised to victory.

John Donnelly, driving an Escort WRC, took second place some two minutes and 28 seconds in arrears and 15 seconds ahead of the Subaru of John Drislane.

Drislane and John Donnelly capitalising from the retirements of both Dominic McNeill and Kevin O'Kane.

Former champion, Niall Driver (Mitsubishi) took fourth place and Colin Walsh (Subaru) was fifth.

John McGaffin (Subaru Legacy), James Murphy (Escort) were next while Paul Staunton headed the rear wheel drive category.

The top 10 was completed by John McCarthy (Escort WRC), who lost time early in the rally with engine problems and John Reid (Escort).

1. E. Donnelly/P. Nagle (Toyota Celica) 43M. 46S.

2. J. Donnelly/G. McCarthy (Escort WRC) 46M. 14S.

3. J. Drislane/P. Goodman (Subaru) 46M. 29S.

4. N. Driver/F. Corrigan (Mitsubishi) 46M. 34S.

5. C. Walsh/P. Barry (Subaru) 46M. 35S.

6. J. McGaffin/A. Russell (Subaru Legacy) 46M. 45S.