Nesbitt leads first leg of Ulster Rally

A display of total domination through the six stages has seen Armagh’s, Andrew Nesbitt finish the first leg of the AnswerCall Direct Ulster Rally with a commanding lead of one minute and 27.9 seconds.

The reigning Irish Tarmac Champion was unstoppable through the stages of his native county.

Driving his McKinstry hired Subaru S8, he remarked at the overnight halt I’m surprised that I’m leading the rally by this amount of time, it could have been more except I overshot on the last stage tonight.” As for tomorrow, he said “More of the same.”

Tapio Laukkanen (Subaru) lies in second place with fellow Finn, Jari Matti Latvala in a Ford Focus in

third.

Derek McGarrity is taking no chances, he fourth and he remains on course to clinch the Irish series.

Austin MacHale (Subaru) was one of many drivers to remark on the slippery conditions of the night stages.

The Super 1600 category is being led by the MG ZR of Gwyndaf Evans.

In Group N, Seamus Leonard (Subaru) gambled on slick tyres for stage four and it paid dividends as he leads the showroom class from the Mitsubishi of Roy White by some 20 seconds.

In the Peugeot 206 super Cup, Shaun Gallagher leads Joan Roca by 47 seconds.

The rally resumes shortly before 6. 00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

.

1. A. Nesbitt/J. O'Brien (Subaru WRC) 49m. 49.5s.

2. T. Laukkanen/I. Riipinen (Subaru WRC) 51m. 17.4s.

3. J.M. Latvala/M. Anttila (Focus WRC) 52m. 04.6s.

4. D. McGarrity/D. O'Gorman (Subaru WRC) 52m. 23.8s.

5. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Subaru WRC) 52m. 43.9s.

6. J. Milner/N. Beech (Toyota Corolla WRC) 53m. 22.2s.

7. G. Evans/C. Mole (MG ZR) 53m. 35.5s.

8. M. Gass/A. Cullen (Subaru WRC) 53m. 50.7s.

9. K. Meeke/D. Senior (Opel Corsa) 53m. 56.8s

10. L. Pesticcio/T. Sturla (Fiat) 54m. 03.0s.