Keohane on podium in Thruxton

Cork driver, Michael Keohane, made a dramatic return to the British Formula 3 championship at Thruxton today to claim second place behind race winner, Heikki Kovalainen.

Irish drivers Adam Carroll and Stephen Colbert were second and third respectively in the Scholarship Class.

Keohane qualified in sixth but moved into fourth very quickly.

The race was red flagged after an incident involving Shinya Hosokawa and when racing resumed, Keohane made another flying start and moved into second.

Championship leader, Robbie Kerr was fourth and with James Courtney crashing out, Kerr could clinch the title in today’s second race.

Eamonn Boland has strengthened his position at the front of the Dick Bailey Rally in Wexford and after half of today’s eight stages, he is two minutes and 21 seconds ahead of the Escort Cosworth of Steve Hendy.

Bob Fowden, in his Mitsubishi, leads Group N and holds third overall.

The Welshman is followed by the Darrian of Tim Ball, who has moved up several places to fourth.

John Price (Metro), David James (Escort) and Aaron McHale (Mitsubishi) are next.

1 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey Subaru WRC S7 1H:08M:37S

2 Steve Hendy/Aled Davies Escort Cosworth 1H:10M:54S

3 Bob Fowden/Jerry Hynes Mitsubishi Lancer 1H:11M:17S

4 Tim Ball/Rob Watson Darrian T90 1H:13M:09S

5 John Price/Caroline Price Metro 6R4 1H:13M:16S

6 David James/Jim Crowe Ford Escort BDX 1H:13M:35S

7 Aaron McHale/Elva Roe Mitsubishi Lancer 1H:14M:00S