MacHale leads Irish challenge in rain-hit Rally Ireland

Rally Ireland kicked off the World Rally Championship in torrential rain, a new a season brings fresh hope but on today's six stages, Sebastien Loeb, the five-time World Rally champion, illustrated, yet again, that he's the one they all have to beat in '09.

The opening stage near Manorhamilton saw Jari Matti Latvala in the driving seat, he was one of the few that selected the snow tyre for his jaunt down the 22 kilmoetre test.