Kris Meeke shows his class to lead Donegal International Rally

Meeke and co-driver Liam Regan set the pace on the 12.65km test that began in Derrybeg.

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026 - 02:57

Martin Walsh

Former five-time World Rally Championship event winner Kris Meeke showed his class on the opening leg of the Letterkenny based Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally as he completed the day's six stages around Gweedore with an 11.8s advantage over reigning Irish Tarmac Rally champion and three in-a-row Donegal winner Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Moira's Josh McErlean (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is a further 11.6s behind in third.

Although weather conditions were dry for the opening loop, the roads were very damp in places, especially beneath trees.

As expected, Meeke and co-driver Liam Regan set the pace on the 12.65km test that began in Derrybeg. McErlean and his Killeagh co-driver Eoin Treacy followed - 4s behind and 1.8s ahead of Devine and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan. The order remained the same after SS2 near Gortahork where Meeke increased his lead to 6.2s. only for Devine to respond on SS3 that finished near Cresslough to claim a stage win that moved him into second 6.5s behind Meeke. McErlean lost time with rear differential issues and slipped to third - 11.8s off to spot.

Rally leader Meeke, who commented on the conditions, also referenced the positions of the chicanes. "Anywhere there is cover, be it trees or high hedges, it is still very wet on the road and there is a lot of pollution being pulled out. Whoever decided to put these chicanes in those places, I nearly went off, they put them in the middle of a boreen road with grass up the middle of the road then you have to move on to the grass, it is more dangerous than the reason they put the chicane in, somebody needs to have a serious look at what they are doing. I made a few mistakes at those chicanes and decided to back off."

Devine said, "It's a privilege to be racing the likes of Kris Meeke and be there or thereabouts, the conditions will give us plenty to think about for the repeat loop."

Driveshaft problems upset McErlean's charge as he lost ground.

Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) was, in his own words, "best of the rest" in fourth followed by Philip Allen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who lost time with a spin at a square right on SS2. Meanwhile, on SS3, Declan Boyle slid his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 off the road and out of the rally.

Meeke and Devine set identical times on SS4 before Meeke stretched his lead to 11.8s on the final pair of stages. Without elaborating, McErlean remarked that he had some issues that would be attended to at the morning service in Letterkenny. "We will reset and go again."

A much improved Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) having lost time with a wrong tyre choice for the opening loop, moved from eighth to fourth due to the selection of a hard slick.

Allen held fifth from Eddie Doherty, who lost valuable time at a chicane. Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) was seventh as a margin of less than ten seconds covered fourth to seventh. Turbo issues on the first loop cost Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and he ended the day in eighth from Michael Boyle and Meirion Evans, who admitted he was struggling to adapt to the recent changes to his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. There are eight stages today Saturday and six on Sunday.

Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally (Round 5, Napa Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Letterkenny: 1. K. Meeke/L. Regan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 41m.34.1s; 2. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+11.8s; 3. J. McErlean/E. Treacy (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+23.4s; 4. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+45.7s; 5. P. Allen/C. Drew (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+45.7s; 6. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+52.5s; 7. C. McCourt/B. McNulty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+54.7s; 8. D. Kelly/S. Buckley (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 01.3s; 9. M. Boyle/D. Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+1m. 06.2s; 10. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+1m. 15.1s.