Donnelly leads Jim Clark in Scotland

After five stages of the Jim Clark Rally, a counting round of both the Irish and British Rally Championships, Derry’s Eugene Donnelly (Subaru WRC) has an 8.6 second lead over the Mitsubishi of British Touring Car champion, James Thompson.

Meanwhile, Warrenpoint’s Peadar Hurson (Subaru) is a mere 0.2 of a second adrift in third.

Donnelly is in superb form and is thriving in the wet conditions.

Finland’s, Tapio Laukkanen, driving a Subaru WRC, is fourth followed by Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC), the latter overshot in the slippery conditions.

Irish Tarmac champion, Andrew Nesbitt spun on the opening stage, he’s now seventh while his British counterpart, Jonny Milner lost time with a puncture on today’s opening stage near Duns.

Finland’s, jar-Matti Latvala, was sixth but he crashed on the sixth stage.

Other Irish drivers in the top 10 include Austin MacHale, Eamonn Boland and Tim McNulty, who are

eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.

Seamus Leonard (Subaru) leads the Group N category from Roy White (Mitsubishi).

In the Super 1600, now being led by Chris Meeke (Opel Corsa), both Gary Jennings and Gwyndaf Evans have retired.

S.S. 5: 1. Eugene Donnelly (Subaru WRC) 25m. 44.5s.

2. James Thompson (Mitsubishi) 25m. 53.1s

3. Peadar Hurson (Subaru WRC) 25m. 53.2s

4. Tapio Laukkanen (Subaru WRC) 25m. 54.0s.

5. Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) 26m. 00.1s.