Donnelly dominates Cavan rally

Derry’s Eugene Donnelly, in his Envirocare Subaru WRC has strengthened his position at the top of the leader board in the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

He has set the pace on all of the six stages completed and having led by ten seconds at the first service, he has arrived at the second service halt with a 30 second advantage over Jim Harrison who is fending off a challenge from defending Dunlop champion, Niall Maguire.

The gap between them is now down to eight seconds.

Michael Barrable, having sorted his earlier difficulties, is now up to fourth with David Armstrong’s Escort – complete with exhaust problems – eight seconds adrift.

Monaghan driver, Adrian McElvaney is pushing hard to reel in Armstrong and with three stages remaining, the margin between them stands at four seconds.

Alan Nesbitt (Toyota Celica) is seventh.

The Group N leader is Dominic Loughran, his Mitsubishi is just four seconds ahead of the similar car of Willie Fannin.

1. E. Donnelly/P. Toner (Subaru WRC) 55m. 48s.

2. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru WRC) 56m. 18s.

3. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 56m. 26s.

4. M. Barrable/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 57m. 24s.

5. D Armstrong/H. Blackburn (Escort WRC) 57m. 32s.

6. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 57m. 36s.

7. A. Nesbitt/E. Sherry (Toyota Celica) 58m. 28s.

Portadown’s, Adam Carroll finished second in today’s 10th round of the British Formula 3 Championship at Silverstone.

Cork driver, Michael Keohane retired on lap six. The race was won by pole sitter, Nelson

Piquet Jr.

In Germany, Cork’s Robby Coleman gained his first podium finish in the German Formula BMW series when he finished third.