Maguire leads Monaghan rally

Niall Maguire, in a Subaru WRC, leads the Monaghan Rally, the second round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, after the completion of the opening loop of three stages.

On the fist stage, Maguire and his principal rival, British driver Jim Harrison, also in an S8 Subaru, shared the lead, but Harrison rolled his car on the second stage.

Indeed, a number of drivers have already retired from the top frame. They include Patrick Elliott, whose Subaru had a small fire, filling the cockpit of his car with smoke.

Kevin Lynch, who was third after the opening stage, stopped on the third stage, and Alan Nesbitt’s Toyota Celica was forced out with clutch woes, joining Harrison on the retirement list.

Maguire stalled at one junction on the third stage and lost about ten seconds, that allowed McElvaney set the fastest time for the stage. He moves up to second spot – 14 seconds behind Maguire, with Ray Breen third and Cathal Arthurs fourth.

Kevin Barrett (Subaru) and Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth) share sixth and Dessie Keenan, as expected, leads Group N. He also holds eighth overall.

1. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 25m. 23s.

2. A. McElvaney/P. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 25m. 37s.

3. R. Breen/A. Purcell (Subaru WRC) 25m. 42s.

4. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai) 25m. 48s.

5. D. Armstrong/C. Kelly (Escort WRC) 26m. 07s.

=6. K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru WRC)

S. Gallagher/F. Kenny (Escort Cosworth) 26m. 08s.

8. D. Keenan/F. McShane (Mitsubishi) 26m. 09s.

Meanwhile, Cork driver, Michael Keohane, finished 12th in today’s first race in the Nissan World

series in Zolder, Belgium, which was won by his Carlin Motorsport team mate, Tiago Monteiro.