Motor Sport Round-upFord Focus WRC drivers Gareth MacHale and Matthew Wilson lead off the 151-car entry today for the start of the 35th Shell Donegal International Rally. Colin McRae is seeded third in a Metro 6R4, ahead of Pirelli Tarmac Championship leader Eugene Donnelly (Toyota Corolla WRC), Derek McGarrity (Subaru), Andrew Nesbitt (Mitsubishi), Tim McNulty (Subaru) and the Focus pair of Eamonn Boland and Austin MacHale.
Donnelly, on 42 points, will want to consolidate his championship lead over Boland (31), McNulty (22), Gareth Jones (20), McGarrity (18) and McHale (15).
MacHale and his British rival Wilson are doing the Donegal event in between their respective World Rally Championship campaigns and will push hard for victory. McRae's Metro 6R4 will really be no match for the latest WRC cars, but no doubt the Flying Scotsman will thrill the many fans on the great stages of Donegal, such as Knockalla and Atlantic Drive.
Others worth watching include Kevin Lynch, Gareth Jones and National Championship leader Patrick Elliott.
The top 10 contenders in Group N are Jonny Milner, Colm Murphy, Roy White, Shaun Gallagher, Mike Curran, Willie Fannin, James Foley, Philip Morrow, James Cullen and Kevin Kelleher. The main rally has no fewer than 79 reserves. Entry for the Historics class is 16 crews and for the Juniors 30.
Irish drivers Patrick Hogan and Christopher Evans both lead British Championships. Hogan (Dublin) has a 19-point lead in Formula Renault, and Evans leads Dermot Carnegie by five points in the British Rallycross Championship.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday: 35th Donegal International Rally, starts Letterkenny, 11.30am.
Saturday: Donegal International Rally, restarts Letterkenny, 8am.
Sunday: Donegal International Rally, restarts Letterkenny, 10.10am; Midland MC, Autocross, Kilrooskey, Co Roscommon.
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