Harrison leads Tipperary rally

After four stages of the Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, Jim Harrison and co-driver Harvey Bell in the McKinstry prepared Subaru WRC have a 20 second advantage over the Subaru of Patrick Elliott/David Moynihan.

Noel Redmond/Diarmuid Falvey, also in a Subaru WRC, are third – 15 seconds further adrift.

Top seed, Niall Maguire crashed out on the opening stage while one stage later, both Cahal Arthurs (Hyundai Accent WRC) and Kevin Lynch (Subaru WRC) also bowed out.

Tipperary driver, Richie Curran (Escort Cosworth) was up to fourth overall by the end of the second stage, but transmission difficulties have seen him drop outside the top ten.

Gabriel Martin (Mitsubishi) is the top Group N driver, he’s also fourth overall followed by class rival Willie Fannin (Subaru) who is seven seconds in arrears.

Kevin Barrett in a Subaru WRC completes the top six – but he’s experiencing gearbox problems.

Despite a big spin on the third stage, Sean Gallagher (Subaru WRC) is seventh in a top ten completed by group N drivers, Kieran Molloy (Mitsubishi), Alan Ring (Subaru) and James O’Sullivan (Mitsubishi).

In the rear wheel drive category, David James (Escort) is 13 seconds ahead of the Escort of James Coleman with Liam Wall and Enda Keenan sharing equal third – 32 seconds further adrift.