Motorsport: Maguire leads Mayo Rally
Former national rally champion, Niall Maguire set the fastest time on the first stage of the Breaffy House Hotel Mayo Rally, the opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.
The Monaghan driver was seven seconds ahead of reigning champion, Paul Harris, also in a Subaru.
Over stages two, three and four, Maguire, partnered by Paul McLoughlin, extended his leading margin and as Harris retired, Jim Harrison in a Subaru WRC, co-driven by Harvey Bell, is now in second place - 15 seconds behind Maguire, who is driving a right hand drive Subaru WRC.
There’s an excellent third place for the Group N Mitsubishi of Trevor Cathers/David Moynihan.
Despite a puncture on the third stage, they remain in third place.
Glen Allen, in the ex-Tommy Graham Escort WRC, is in fourth place - some five seconds ahead of the Escort Cosworth of James Gillen.
Brendan Kelly (Mitsubishi) is second in the showroom category and sixth in overall classification.
Next on the provisional leaderboard are Sean Gallagher (Escort Cosworth), Patrick Elliott (Subaru), George Tracey (Subaru) and Donal O’Donovan (Toyota).
Heavy showers greeted the 131 starters of the rally, however, Eamonn Boland, was one of the non-starters due to a number of problems with his Subaru WRC.
