Harrison leads Clare rally

English driver, Jim Harrison in a McKinstry prepared S8 Subaru WRC has a six second lead after the opening loop of three stages of the Lynch Hotels Clare Rally, the penultimate round of the Dunlop National Rally championship.

Fastest on the opening stage was Eugene Donnelly, who was a mere second ahead of Harrison with Niall Maguire, the defending national champion, a further 11 seconds behind in third.

However, Maguire crashed out on the second stage that was subsequently cancelled.

The third stage also came a cropper when local driver Anthony O’Halloran crashed his Opel Manta.

Michael Barrable is third some 24 seconds in arrears with a Subaru quintet being completed by Patrick Elliott and Adrian McElvaney.

Local driver, Mike Moloney, in a Mk. 2 Escort is an impresive sixth followed by Denis Cronin (BMW),

Richard Casey (Escort), Sean Lyons (Escort), and Mac McKenna (Peugeot).

In Baltinglass, Michael Reddy was 31 seconds quicker than the opposition on the first timed run of the restricted single stage rally. Ollie O’Reilly leads the chase – a second ahead of Tom Murphy with Terence Teggart another second in arrears. All four in Mk. 2 Ford Escorts.