Laukkanen wins Ulster Rally

Tapio Laukkanen (Subaru) has won the Answercall Direct Ulster Rally, a counting round of both the Toshiba Computers Irish Tarmac and Pirelli British Championships.

He inherited the lead after the demise of Andrew Nesbitt on S.S. 8 and over the remaining stages he

protected his advantage and ended with a winning margin of one minute and 50 seconds.

Derek McGarrity (Subaru), who clinched the Irish Tarmac Championship after Nesbitt’s retirement, set a few fastest times to leapfrog Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Focus) and take second place.

Another driver to increase his pace on today’s stages was Yorkshire’s, Jonny Milner (Toyota Corolla), who reeled in both Austin MacHale and Latvala to claim third and extend his lead in the Pirelli British Rally championship.

Austin MacHale (Subaru) was fifth.

One of the top performances came from Kris Meeke in his Opel Corsa. He won the Super 1600 battle after moving ahead of the MG ZR of Gwyndaf Evans, who was set for second in class and seventh overall until engine failure on the final road section.

The top ten was completed by Dougie Hall (Mitsubishi), Ryan Champion (Ford Puma) and the Mitsubishi’s of Group N winner, Roy White and Andrew Stewart.

Today’s round of the British Formula 3 Championship at Donington Park was won by Nelson Piquet (Jr.). Richard Antinucci and Rob Austin were second and third respectively.

Irish driver, Michael Keohane retired on the twelfth lap.

Even though Alan van der Merwe also failed to finish, the South African has been crowned the 2003 British Formula 3 Champion.

In the Renault Clio series, Irish driver, Jonathan Fildes was first past the chequered flag, his win

promotes him into the lead of the championship.

At the A1 Ring in Austria, Michael Devaney won the latest round of the German Formula BMW Championship. Robby Coleman was fourth.

In Donegal, John Leinster (Pilbeam) won the penultimate round of the Dunlop Hillclimb Championship.