Donnelly leads in Scotland

IrishTarmac Championship leader, Eugene Donnelly in his Skoda Fabia WRC leads the Jim Clark Memorial Rally in Scotland after the conclusion of last night's six stages.

The Derry driver took a 30.7 second advantage into today's 10 stages, the first of which got underway shortly after 8am this morning.

Donnelly's Skoda leads the Subaru of Eamonn Boland with Tim McNulty, also in a Subaru in third - were in not for the addition of a one-minute penalty, McNulty would be enjoying top spot.

Mark Higgins (Subaru) in fifth place, is the top British Rally Championship contender.

BRC leader, Irish driver, Keith Cronin is fifth in the category and ninth overall - he lost almost two minutes with a puncture on the second test.

McNulty was the fastest driver through the first stage - 1.1 seconds quicker than Donnelly with Boland a fraction of a second behind in third.

McNulty was also quickest through S.S. 2 but the addition of a one-minute dropped him fifth.

Meanwhile, Cronin plummeted to 15th. when his car punctured some two miles into the stage.

Donnelly set the pace on S.S. 3 to lead Boland by 10.8 seconds. Donnelly also set the pace through S.S. 4.

On the night's penultimate test, Donnelly led Boland by 14.2 seconds.

McNulty gave a commanding performance on the sixth and final stage of the opening leg to move into third as Donnelly led at the overnight halt in Kelso.

Gareth MacHale (Ford Focus WRC) is fourth overall.

Mark Higgins (Subaru) is the top BRC contender, however, championship leader, Keith Cronin posted a string of quickest times to improve his position. He is ninth overall and fifth of the BRC drivers.

1. Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Skoda Fabia WRC) 35m. 37.7s.

2. Eamonn Boland/Micky Joe Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 36m. 08.4s.

3. Tim McNulty/David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 36m. 30.6s.

4. Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 36m. 31.6s.

5. Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Subaru N11) 37m. 27.9s.

6. Euan Thorburn/Claire Mole (Subaru N12) 38m. 26.8s.

7. Adam Gould/Sebastian Marshall (Subaru N14) 38m. 36.6s.

8. Alastair Fisher/Barry McNulty (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 38m. 47.8s.

9. Keith Cronin/Greg Shinnors (Mitsubishi Evo 9) 38m. 48.8s.

10. Aaron MacHale/Barry Goodman (Ford Focus WRC) 39m. 21.0s.