Flying Finn leads Trackrod Rally

Flying Finn, Tapio Laukkanen, leads the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire where Dubliner, Austin MacHale (Subaru WRC) is fourth after the opening three stages.

Laukkanen, who stalled the car and lost a few seconds on the second stage, set a stunning time on the third stage to reel in leader, Jonny Milner (Toyota Corolla WRC) and take top spot 4.5 seconds ahead of the British driver.

Jari-Matti Latvala is third in his Ford Focus WRC.

MacHale commented that his car was a little unsteady at high speed as he quickly settled into fourth from the Hyundai Accent WRC of Steve Petch with Julian Reynolds (Subaru WRC) who rounds off the top six.

Northern Ireland’s, Kris Meeke (Opel Corsa) is only 4.9 seconds behind Gwyndaf Evans (MG ZR) in the Super 1600 category. Fermanagh’s, Garry Jennings (Peugeot) is fifth in the category.

In the Peugeot 206 Super Cup, Chris Moore is only half a second ahead of Donegal’s, Shaun Gallagher in a category where Gareth MacHale is eighth.

S.S.3;

1. Jonny Milner/Nicky Beech (Toyota Corolla WRC) 15.47.0

2. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila (Focus WRC) 15.47.4

3. Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Impreza WRC) 16.07.4

4. Steve Petch/John Richardson (Accent WRC) 16.24.4

5. Julian Reynolds/Ieuan Thomas (Impreza WRC) 16.27.6

6. Barry Johnson/Stewart Merry (Impreza WRC) 16.36.8

In Brands Hatch, Cork driver, Michael Keohane qualified on the sixth row of the grid for tomorrow’s penultimate round of the British Formula 3 Championship. Nelson Piquet Junior is on pole with newly crown champion, Alan van der Merwe on the ninth row.

In the SEAT Cupra Challenge, Emmet O’Brien (Dublin) was third fastest and Gavin Smith eighth fastest in free practice.