Armagh man romps away in opening stages of rally

Day One of the Cork 20 went according to plan for Andrew Nesbitt.

Fastest on the first stage, the Armagh man and his Subaru Ireland/Cuisine de France Impreza WRC simply romped away from everybody over the opening eight stages to end the day just over a minute ahead of the 'new shape' Impreza of second man Eamonn Boland.

In the initial stages Austin McHale's Toyota Ireland Corolla WRC put up a fight, but even with the Rathcoole man on full song Nesbitt still inched away, and when the Corolla succumbed to electrical problems after Stage 4, it was left to Boland to chase the flying Nesbitt who only needs one point to make sure of the Toshiba Tarmac title for 2002.

Boland, by contrast, has to win here and in Galway next month to take the crown, with Nesbitt failing to finish both events.

Leaving such speculation aside this is beginning to look like Nesbitt's rally, but Boland still has a fight on his hands with Peadar Hurson, bidding for his first podium finish of the year - indeed his first finish of any kind - upholding Toyota honour in third place, just 26 seconds behind in his Celica.

Another Celica in the hands of Donal O'Donovan lies fourth going into the final day, ahead of the Impreza WRC of Maurice Gass.

Completing the top 6 and leading Group N is Bob Fowden. The Welshman who always goes well in Cork, used his Mitsubishi Evo 5 to very good effect on the stages around Macroom, pulling out a 50 second advantage over Gp N points leader Trevor Cathers identical machine.

Cathers though, has a battle of his own to win...for seventh overall. The Tyrone man and Ollie O'Donovan (Impreza WRC) finished the day dead level.

They have six stages in East Cork to sort it all out tomorrow.

Liam McCarthy's WRC Corolla lies ninth ahead of the Mitsubishi Evo 7 of Dickie Curran, tenth overall and third in Gp N.

Among the two wheel drive 'entertainers', Kieran O'Neill and his sideways Opel Kadett topped the list in 14th overall, while Escort pilots Padraig Price and David James are locked in battle for 18th overall, ahead of several Class 8 crews.