Maguire and Elliott share Cavan Rally lead

After the opening loop of three stages in the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally, the third round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, both Monaghan’s, Niall Maguire and Cavan’s, Patrick Elliott in Subaru WRC’s share the lead with the Hyundai WRC of Cahal Arthurs a mere second adrift in third.

The surprise leader after the opening stage, Crosserlough was Cavan born Willie Fannin in his Group N Subaru, he was two seconds clear of Arthurs and Elliott, who tied for second with Maguire another second behind in third on the very slippery stage.

Daniel Doherty (Subaru WRC) retired before the start of the stage with clutch failure.

Out on the second stage, Maguire, Arthurs and Elliott all recorded the same time while Maguire made the third stage his sole property, although Elliott traversed the stage only a second slower than the Dunlop Championship leader.

Kevin Lynch in a Subaru WRC is fourth at the service halt in Ballyjamesduff – the Derry driver is a second ahead of British driver, Jim Harrison who spun on stages one and three.

In Group N, Gabriel Martin holds the advantage - 20 seconds ahead of Willie Fannin.

Non-starters included Adrian McElvaney and Ray Breen.

Times after S.S. 3:

=1. N. Maguire/P. McLaughlin (Subaru WRC) 21m. 22s.

P. Elliott/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC)

3. C. Arthurs/J. Kelly (Hyundai WRC) 21m. 23s.

4. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 21m. 51s.

5. J. Harrison/H. Bell (Subaru WRC) 21m. 52s.

6. G. Martin/M. Kane (Mitsubishi) 22m. 11s.

=7. M. Gass/J. McKee (Subaru WRC) 22m. 17s.

K. Barrett/B. Goodman (Subaru WRC) 22m. 17s.

9. W. Fannin/R. Price (Subaru) 22m. 31s.

10. M. McKenna/J. Loughran (Peugeot 205 RWD) 22m. 40s.