Lynch leads Cork Forest Rally

Derry’s Kevin Lynch and his co-driver Francis Regan in their KPL backed Subaru WRC will begin today's second and final leg of the Windscreen Company Cork Forest Rally with a comfortable lead of well over a minute.

They are on course to clinch the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship on this penultimate round based in Mallow.

They led from the start - and as their rivals suffered a few overshoots - they stretched their lead on each of yesterday’s six stages.

Robbie McGurk/David Moynihan in a hired Subaru, are second – a minute and 16 seconds adrift.

Dominic McNeill/Francis Kenny (Escort WRC) began well, they were only a few seconds behind Lynch on the opening stage but punctured on the second test and dropped outside the top ten.

However, they fashioned a fine recovery and are only some 20 seconds off second place.

One of the performances of the rally is coming from Cork driver John Shanahan in his Group N Subaru with co-driver Liam McLaughlin. He’s fourth overall and leading Group N.

They are just some eight seconds off third overall.

Having sorted a power steering difficulty, Dermot Kelly/Greg Shinnors (Escort WRC) have improved their position and are currently in fifth place.

The top ten also includes Kevin O'Kane (Subaru WRC). Lismore’s Pete Willoughby, in a Mitsubishi, is competing for the first time in over a year. With Paul Nagle as co-driver, he’s second in the Group N category while Brian Lawlor, the top rear wheel drive exponent in his Mk. 2 Escort and Adrian McElvaney (Subaru) round off the top ten.

Today's six stages are in the Buttevant/Charleville region in the Ballyhoura forest complex.