Lynch leads Shell Donegal International Rally

Kevin Lynch and Allan Harryman in a Subaru WRC lead the Shell Donegal International Rally at the end of the opening leg.

The Derry driver is 5.5 seconds in front of the Subaru of Meath’s, Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor.

Welsh ace Gareth Jones and his Cork co-driver, David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) are a further 7.1 seconds behind.

Lynch was quickest on all three stages of the first loop and led Eugene Donnelly’s Toyota at the service halt by 4.5 seconds even though Lynch had some transmission problems.

Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) followed in third.

Donnelly snatched the lead on S.S. 4 but it was only for a brief tenure.

A fire in the engine compartment of his Toyota near the end of special stage saw him lose some four minutes on the day’s final stage; he’s 26th overnight.

There was confusion about Tim McNulty's time cards, however, he’s was shown as second overall prior to the Stewards’ meeting.

Behind third placed Jones is young Gareth MacHale, who shared equal time with Derek McGarrity.

Eamonn Boland (Ford Focus) is sixth from Andrew Nesbitt, who set a few fastest times in the works Mitsubishi and remains a threat.

Matthew Wilson finished the day in eighth ahead of Austin MacHale (Ford Focus) and Mark Higgins (Mitsubishi) and local ace, Paul Harris (Toyota Corolla).

Former World rally champion, Colin McRae (Metro) leads the national category, interestingly, his time is equal to ninth in the International event.

1. K. Lynch/A. Harryman (Subaru WRC) 35m. 36.4s.

2. T. McNulty/A. Nestor (Subaru WRC) 35m. 41.9s.

3. G. Jones/D. Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 35m. 49.0s.

4. G. MacHale/P. Nagle (Ford Focus WRC) 35m. 53.9s.

5. D. McGarrity/C. Patterson (Subaru WRC) 35m. 53.9s.

6. E. Boland/F. Regan (Ford Focus WRC) 35m. 56.5s.

7. A. Nesbitt/J. O'Brien (Mitsubishi WRC) 35m. 58.3s.

8. M. Wilson/M. Orr (Ford Focus WRC) 36m. 11.1s.

9. A. MacHale/B. Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 36m. 29.7s.

10. M. Higgins/R. Kennedy (Mitsubishi WRC) 36m. 30.3s.

Group N.

1. S. Gallagher/C. McGinty (Mitsubishi) 37m. 48.0s.

2. G. Jennings/D. Connolly (Mitsubishi) 38m. 05.3s.

3. M. Curran/F. McShane (Mitsubishi) 38m. 14.9s.

National:

1. C. McRae/N. Grist (Metro 6R4) 36m. 16.0s.

2. P. Collins/D. Brannigan (Escort) 38m. 22.0s.

3. T. Dalton/G. Jones (Darrian T90) 38m. 44.7s.