Lynch leads Cork rally

With his nearest rival Robbie McGurk putting his Subaru off on this morning’s opening stage, (S.S. 7), overnight leader Kevin Lynch is cruising to victory in the Windscreen Centre Cork Forest Rally, the penultimate round of the McCauley Trailers National Forest Championship.

However, the rally leader reckons there is something wrong with the transmission of his S9 Subaru.

Both Dominic McNeill and John Shanahan have retired and Pat Norris (Subaru) is some 21 seconds ahead of the Subaru of Kevin O’Kane who is followed by Adrian McElvaney, Brian Lawlor and James Murphy.

Cork driver Brendan Murphy (Subaru) now leads Group N

In the Ford Ka category, Kieran Daly leads from Daniel Barry, just two registered competitors left following the retirements of both Thomas O'Brien and Gordon Coleman.

Meanwhile, in Punchestown, Gareth MacHale (Toyota Corolla WRC) leads the PlayStation 2 Rally Experience. Freddy Loix led initially but Peugeot have requested his times over the stages not to be included in the results.

Meanwhile, problems with the timing system caused confusion.

Andrew Nesbitt is second – some 13 seconds behind MacHale with Austin MacHale in third – less than three seconds adrift of Nesbitt.

James Foley (Mitsubishi), Tom Holton (Toyota Celica) and Aaron MacHale (Mitsubishi) complete the top six. Alister MacHale is seventh.