Nesbitt battles into lead of Donegal Rally

Andrew Nesbitt was predicted to take the lead of the Shell Donegal International Rally during today's second leg but it didn’t happen as quickly as anticipated.

Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC) withstood the challenge and even extended his lead to 23 seconds by the conclusion of Special Stage 10.

However, the classic stages of Fanad Head and Knockalla gave the rally a different complexion.

Nesbitt, a four-time winner in Donegal, took control and set a devastating pace that his rivals failed to match.

Donnelly had several overshoots on Knockalla and his confidence took a blow, his ‘99 specification Toyota Corolla lacked the technology of Nesbitt’s S9 Subaru.

Nesbitt set a cracking pace on a treacherous final stage at Knockalla where he took 24 seconds out of Donnelly and arrived at the final overnight halt with a 35 second advantage.

Donnelly is relatively secure in second – one minute and 28 seconds ahead of Derek McGarrity, who said he failed to get a correct tyre choice on each of today’s eight stages.

The Subaru of Kevin Lynch is trouble free in fourth.

Fortune has not been so kind to Austin MacHale, who endured intercom woes and gear selection problems in his Ford Focus WRC.

Tim NcNulty (Subaru) closed to within four seconds of MacHale at one point today. Overnight, the margin is 19 seconds.

In Group N, Seamus Leonard (Subaru) is a second ahead of the Mitsubishi of Cahal Arthurs.

The principal retirements were those of teenager, Matthew Wilson, who crashed his Ford Focus on Knockalla, George Cullen and Brendan Kelly, also crashed out today.

Positions & Times at end of Day Two:

1. A. Nesbitt/James O’Brien (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 24m. 38s.

2. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 1h. 25m. 13s.

3. D. McGarrity/D. O’Gorman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 26m. 41s.

4. K. Lynch/F. Regan (Subaru Impreza) 1h. 27m. 31s.

5. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1h. 28m. 23s.

6. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 28m. 42s.

7. P. Harris/J. McCafferty (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1h. 29m. 13s.