Donnelly wins Ulster rally

Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely have won the Philip White Tyres Ulster Rally, a counting round of the Irish and British Pirelli Championships.

Donnelly has strengthened his position as leader of the Pirelli Irish Tarmac Championship, 10 points ahead of Derek McGarrity.

At the finish of the 18 stage rally, they were 7.9 seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of Tim McNulty and Anthony Nestor, who ensured that the event had a thrilling finish.

Derek McGarrity and co-driver, Dermot O’Gorman took third – 30.5 seconds adrift.

Donnelly began the day in third – some 30 seconds adrift of Mark Higgins and 17 behind Andrew Nesbitt.

Nesbitt had designs on a second Ulster Rally victory and that position improved when Higgins hit the rear of his Ford Focus off a telegraph pole and by the day’s second stage, his lead was cut to 8.1 seconds with Nesbitt ready to pounce.

However, Nesbitt bowed out on Stage 12 when his McKinstry Subaru developed an engine problem and Higgins lost the lead with a propshaft problem leaving Donnelly out in front.

Donnelly withstood the challenge of a hard charging Tim McNulty who ensured the Derry driver couldn’t relax on the closing stages.

McGarrity in third couldn’t failed to make any great impression on the top duo as Eamonn Boland finished fourth.

MacHale was fifth from fellow Ford Focus driver, Mathew Wilson.

Peadar Hurson in a Subaru was seventh with Mark Higgins eighth, his lead over MacHale in the British Championship has been cut six points.

Seamus Leonard in a Mitsubishi won Group N, he was ninth overall with Alan Nesbitt’s Subaru completing the top 10.