Meeke challenging in Rally de Catalunya

Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke heads the Irish challenge after the opening leg of the Rally de Catalunya Rally in Spain.

Driving a Citroen C2, he is just outside the top 20 and is sixth in the junior category of the World Rally Championship.

Wexford’s Eamonn Boland (Subaru WRC) had tyre selection problems on the day’s six stages and was 25th overnight.

Meanwhile, Cork-born Donie O’Sullivan had no anti lag for the opening stages but quickly recovered and brought his Ford Focus back to the overnight halt five places further behind.

The event is being led by Sebastien Loeb (Citroen), two seconds ahead of the Ford Focus of Markko Martin, who headed the time sheets for the sixth stage. Martin’s team mate Francois Duval retired with a broken wheel. Marcus Gronholm (Peugeot) is third.