Donnelly in command in Derry

Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paul Kiely now enjoy a substantial lead in the Meteor Electrical Circuit of Ireland Rally as the second leg concluded in Derry this evening.

Driving their Kumho/Esker liveried Toyota Corolla WRC, the pair have an advantage of two minutes, 18.4 seconds over the Ford Focus WRC of Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan.

Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) are a further 14.3 seconds behind in third place.

The major news earlier today centred on triple Circuit winner, Derek McGarrity, who didn’t start as he had exceeded maximum lateness following a service halt on Saturday.

On today’s first stage (S.S.8), Peadar Hurson crashed his Subaru out of second place leaving Eamonn Boland to become Donnelly’s nearest rival.

Donnelly’s lead margin was over a minute and 20 seconds before Boland punctured his Ford Focus as did third placed MacHale, both on Stage 12.

However, MacHale closed to within 14.6 seconds of second spot.

Gareth Jones (Subaru WRC) increased his pace and duly moved from seventh to fourth. Another upwardly mobile driver was Tim McNulty, who ended the day in fifth place.

Garry Jennings (Mitsubishi) lost sixth place and the lead in Group N when he slid off on the day’s final stage and dropped to eleventh place.

Roy White, who also punctured his Mitsubishi on S.S.12, is the new leader of the showroom category, he is sixth overall.

Sean Devine retired his Subaru with transmission difficulties.

The overnight top ten was completed by John McLaughlin (Mitsubishi), James Cullen (Mitsubishi), Colm Murphy (Subaru) and Connor McCloskey (Mitsubishi).

Andrew Bushe (Peugeot 106) leads the Super1600 category where principal rivals, Brian O'Mahony (Ford Puma) and Darren Gass (Fiesta) both retired.

1. E. Donnelly/P. Kiely (Toyota Corolla WRC) 2h. 02m. 17.0s.

2. E. Boland/F. Regan (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 04m. 35.4s.

3. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 2h. 04m. 49.7s.

4. G. Jones/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 2h. 06m. 28.6s.

5. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru WRC) 2h. 08m. 08.6s.

6. R. White/S. McCauley (Mitsubishi) 2h. 10m. 36.4s.

7. J. McLaughlin/D. McElroy (Mitsubishi) 2h. 10m. 58.0s.

8. J. Cullen/R. Graham (Mitsubishi) 2h. 11m. 08.6s.

9. C. Murphy/G. Loughrey (Subaru) 2h. 11m. 18.3s.

10. C. McCloskey/C. Henderson (Mitsubishi) 2h. 11m. 35.2s.

Meanwhile, Cork driver John McCarthy (Toyota Corolla) won the Circuit of Wicklow to move into the lead of the McCauley Trailers National Forestry Championship after three rounds.

Today, he finished the eight stage rally just two seconds ahead of the N12 Subaru of Brian McGillen.

Donie O'Sullivan in a Subaru WRC was a second behind in third place.

1. J. McCarthy/MJ Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC) 38m. 09s.

2. B. McGillen/D. Doherty (Subaru) 38m. 11s.

3. D. O'Sullivan/S. Mullally (Subaru) 38m. 12s.

4. K. O'Kane/M. Brady (Subaru WRC) 38m. 40s.

5. P. McCullagh/A. Dolan (Mitsubishi) 38m. 51s.

6. O. Murphy/G. Nolan (Mitsubishi) 38m. 54s.