Derry's Donnelly leads in Donegal

Derry’s Eugene Donnelly and his Sligo co-driver Paul Kiely have set the pace in the opening stages of the Shell Donegal International Rally.

Fri, 18 Jun, 2004 - 19:50

Derry’s Eugene Donnelly and his Sligo co-driver Paul Kiely have set the pace in the opening stages of the Shell Donegal International Rally.

The rally, round four of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, saw Donnelly was fastest through the opening stage, finishing six seconds quicker than last year’s winner, Andrew Nesbitt.

Nesbitt is competing in his first Irish event of the season.

Reigning tarmac champion, Derek McGarrity also in a Subaru WRC is third – two seconds adrift of Nesbitt, two ahead of Kevin Lynch.

Austin MacHale ended the stage in fifth. His Ford Focus lost brakes.

Mathew Wilson, the 17-year-old son of M-sport boss, Malcolm, was a fine sixth in his Ford Focus WRC.

By the end of the opening loop of three stages, Donnelly remained in front, five seconds ahead of McGarrity with Nesbitt a further 12 adrift in third.

Stage four saw Donnelly lead by 16 seconds with Nesbitt second, 18 seconds ahead of McGarrity.

Overall, at the overnight halt, Donnelly has a 20 second lead over Nesbitt with McGarrity third.

In Group N, Seamus Heron (Mitsubishi) is 11 seconds ahead of Aaron MacHale with Seamus Leonard a second adrift in his Subaru.

Daniel Doherty (Subaru WRC) and Eamonn Boland (Mitsubishi) have both retired.

Top 10:

1. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 32m. 37s.

2. A. Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC) 32m. 47s.

3. D. McGarrity/D. O’Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 33m. 12s.

4. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru Impreza) 33m. 23s.

5. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 33m. 47s.

6. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 34m. 04s.

7. P. Harris/J. McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC) 34m. 08s.