Nesbitt leads Donegal International Rally

Setting the pace on the opening stage, Andrew Nesbitt in his ADL backed Subaru led throughout the opening leg of the Shell Donegal International Rally.

Although he was quickest on four of today’s six stages, his overnight advantage over rival Eugene Donnelly is just 6.3 seconds.

Meanwhile, Donnelly, who was fastest through the second test near Newtown Cunningham, had a gear cut problem – he lost fraction of a second as he moved through first, second and third gears.

Kevin Lynch (Subaru) was second initially, but the Derry driver lost close on 30 seconds when he stalled his Subaru on the start line of S.S. 4.

McGarrity stalled on the next stage but his time loss was not that significant and he trails second placed Donnelly by 12.7 seconds.

Lynch is fourth followed by the untroubled Subaru WRC’s of Tim NcNulty and Eamonn Boland.

After suffering differential woes and a spin, Austin MacHale (Ford Focus) is seventh in a top ten that also includes Paul Harris, even though his Subaru has a gearbox problem.

Steve Perez (Ford Focus) on his first visit to Donegal, is ninth and Group N leader, Shaun Gallagher (Mitsubishi) completes the top ten.

Provisional positions at end of Leg 1:

1. A. Nesbitt/J. O’Brien (Subaru WRC) 32m. 15.3s.

2. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 32m. 21.6s.

3. D. McGarrity/D. O’Gorman (Subaru WRC) 32m. 34.3s.

4. K. Lynch/G. Noble (Subaru WRC) 32m. 50.2s.

5. T. McNulty/E. O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) 33m. 04.5s.

6. E. Boland/F. Regan (Subaru WRC) 33m. 04.8s.

7. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford focus WRC) 33m. 59.4s.

8. P. Harris/J. McCafferty (Subaru WRC) 34m. 09.0s.

9. S. Perez/N. Dashfield (Ford Focus WRC) 34m. 54.0s.

10. S. Gallagher/C. McGinty (Mitsubishi) 34m. 56.4s.